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Post by plainsman on Dec 18, 2015 17:39:44 GMT
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Post by plainsman on Dec 18, 2015 17:54:43 GMT
The mekugi came out fairly easily. I used a piece of chopstick and a small mallet to pound them out. The tsuka and tsuba had a very tight press fit on the blade. I used a towel wrap with some light tapping from a heavier mallet to loosen them. You can see a name engraved on one side of the nakago "Steward Lee" (the same name that is on the certificate as the sword maker). On the other side are engraved several Chinese figures. The nakago is very rough, and it has a wavy bend in it. It looks to be roughly 3/4 of the length of the tsuka. The really disconcerting issue for me is that the tsuka is hollowed out all the way to the very end. So you have about 2.5" of hollow space at the end of the tsuka. Is this normal at this price point? Everything went back together fine. Everything is tight, secure, and feels solid.
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Post by ragnar25 on Dec 18, 2015 19:47:34 GMT
Curious as to which Musahi katana this is?, also when using the Flitz polish did you simply use the cloth shown? a newbie would appreciate the knowledge!
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Post by plainsman on Dec 18, 2015 20:31:22 GMT
Curious as to which Musahi katana this is?, also when using the Flitz polish did you simply use the cloth shown? a newbie would appreciate the knowledge! I'm a newbie too! The katana is the Musashi Shirakawa Siver Series Mantis, with brown saya. This model comes with either a black or brown saya. The brown one I have is described as burgundy by some sellers. It's kind of a reddish brown color. I used the white cloth in the photo to polish the blade. That is an old white 100% cotton t-shirt. I cut it in half, and used one half to apply the paste, and the other half to polish it out. It just takes a tiny amount of paste. I then lightly oiled the sword with a blended camellia oil, food grade for cutlery. I always use food grade oil on my knives and blades, never know when I'll need to make a peanut butter sandwich.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Dec 18, 2015 21:22:08 GMT
The channel for the tang in the tsuka going all the way through shouldn't be something to worry about. It's that way on a lot of swords. As long as it's tight and doesn't wiggle around, it'll be fine.
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Post by ragnar25 on Dec 18, 2015 21:32:26 GMT
The channel for the tang in the tsuka going all the way through shouldn't be something to worry about. It's that way on a lot of swords. As long as it's tight and doesn't wiggle around, it'll be fine. I'm assuming the Tsuka is made in two pieces the channel being chiseled and then the pieces glued together,the wrap adding strength.same with the Saya.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Dec 18, 2015 21:44:24 GMT
Yup. That's how it works. However, on mass produced katanas, the tsukas (handle) has generic slots cut in them. They are not cut perfectly to each blade. They they are shimmed to fit or, the less preferable way, are made too small and shoved on and then it cracks the handle.
Unless you notice cracks in the wood core, you'll most likely be alright.
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Post by nddave on Dec 18, 2015 22:07:15 GMT
Looks good. I figured the habaki was just out of place, glad to see it fits properly. Glad too to see the Flitz helped polish off what I suspected to be shipping muck.
Also looks like you have a sword from a new batch as Sam Sung used to me the name of the smith on older models.
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Post by ragnar25 on Dec 18, 2015 22:13:39 GMT
LOL I watched one of the videos posted on YouTube that showed Saya's stacked to the ceiling,so know where your coming from!!!!
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Post by plainsman on Dec 19, 2015 14:59:57 GMT
Looks good. I figured the habaki was just out of place, glad to see it fits properly. Glad too to see the Flitz helped polish off what I suspected to be shipping muck. Also looks like you have a sword from a new batch as Sam Sung used to me the name of the smith on older models. Is there just one smith for Musashi? The same guy makes them all? That's interesting. I wonder if the serial number has any meaning?
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Post by nddave on Dec 19, 2015 17:41:18 GMT
Looks good. I figured the habaki was just out of place, glad to see it fits properly. Glad too to see the Flitz helped polish off what I suspected to be shipping muck. Also looks like you have a sword from a new batch as Sam Sung used to me the name of the smith on older models. Is there just one smith for Musashi? The same guy makes them all? That's interesting. I wonder if the serial number has any meaning? I think it's more of a supervisory signature if that makes sense. Sung or Lee as is on yours now would be the lead smiths of the forge that overlook the final product. Their signature means the blade was made under their supervision at the forge. The serial number is what it is on any other mass produced product. A number placed on each item for the manufacture that registers the item in their registry.
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Post by plainsman on Dec 19, 2015 18:26:09 GMT
nddave - Thanks, makes sense about the signature.
I just wondered if anyone had ever compiled a database, or even just compared serial numbers, to see if they correlate to a date. Like "x" range was made in 2015.
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Post by ragnar25 on Dec 19, 2015 20:32:40 GMT
One thing I've noticed on mine is the the fit between the Habaki and the throat of the Saya is very very tight,have to really use a lot of pressure when pulling it out. would it be advisable to use small flat sanding sticks on the Saya throat to ease the pressure on the Habaki when drawing the sword out or will this problem solve it self in time?
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Post by nddave on Dec 19, 2015 21:16:32 GMT
One thing I've noticed on mine is the the fit between the Habaki and the throat of the Saya is very very tight,have to really use a lot of pressure when pulling it out. would it be advisable to use small flat sanding sticks on the Saya throat to ease the pressure on the Habaki when drawing the sword out or will this problem solve it self in time? The wood will eventually wear down. Honestly with production katana a tight fit is usually hard to come by and not very long lasting, so I'd appreciate the tight fit. I wouldn't worry about sanding as you could take off too much and loose the fit, it's not going to hurt the sword itself or habaki being a little too tight. If it draws and sheaths well after releasing the habaki then it should be fine. If you're having difficulty sheathing the sword then you might want to sand a bit.
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Post by ragnar25 on Dec 19, 2015 22:11:01 GMT
Well that's a relief ! Yes it just seemed really tight about half way on the Habaki,the sword it's self fits fine,I did order a tube of the Flitz polish to spruce up the blade! It's my Xmas present and I'm suppose to leave it alone!
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Post by plainsman on Dec 20, 2015 12:25:15 GMT
Well that's a relief ! Yes it just seemed really tight about half way on the Habaki,the sword it's self fits fine,I did order a tube of the Flitz polish to spruce up the blade! It's my Xmas present and I'm suppose to leave it alone! ragnar25 - Which Musashi did you get? Happy early Christmas!
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Post by ragnar25 on Dec 20, 2015 13:25:45 GMT
It's the Musahi Midnight Kame,I have looked for reviews on this particular sword but haven't found any as yet.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Dec 20, 2015 14:14:40 GMT
That's your opening, give us one. Cheepers. I am still half asleep and realized that you described the sword well in the beginning. Stuff like that makes me feel foolish.
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Post by plainsman on Dec 20, 2015 17:08:49 GMT
It's the Musahi Midnight Kame,I have looked for reviews on this particular sword but haven't found any as yet. Oh yeah, that looks nice! I don't think their are any reviews up here of the folded Gold Series. We need your info man!
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Post by jrock on Dec 22, 2015 0:56:10 GMT
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