Review: custom-made T10 katana from JKOO sword
Feb 25, 2016 13:36:52 GMT
Post by kw on Feb 25, 2016 13:36:52 GMT
Greetings! Just received my customized T10 katana a few days ago from JKOO sword (sinosword.com), and I'd like to do a quick photo review of the sword.
First I must say that I've made a rather extensively customized order via email exchanges. I made many additional specifications on the blade dimensions that are beyond the customization options listed on their website. Basically was looking for a wide and robust blade with plenty of niku. It took them a little over 2 months to finish my sword. Overall I am quite satisfied with the quality of the final product. I'm most impressed withthe fact that the blade's measurements are exactly the same as I specified. The specifications of the katana are as follows:
Blade length (nagasa):2.5 shaku (75.8 cm / 30 inches)
Kasane (thickness near habaki): 8.5mm / 0.34 in
Sakikasane (thickness near the kissaki): 6.5mm / 0.26 in
Motohaba (blade width at habaki): 34mm / 1.35 in
Sakihaba (blade width near the tip): 25mm / 0.98 in
Tsuka: 30cm (12 inches), black leather tsuka-ito with hishi-gami
Blade material: T10 folded steel, with differential heat hardening
Shape: shinogi-zukuri, midare hamon, chu-kissaki, no bohi
Polish: "traditional polishing" with niku
Weight: ~1200g (2.6lbs) bare blade
Here's the sword out-of-the-box. The size and weight of the sword is similar to the original Hanwei Wind and Thunder katana. The Saya is fitted with buffalo horn Koiguchi, kurigata & kojiri, which allows better sealing of the habaki. The paint on the saya looks rather thin and could've done better IMO.
This is what the blade looks like under direct lamp light:
The folded Ji pattern and the Midare hamon is clearly visible when the blade is under direct lighting. Note from the picture below that the actual temper line of the blade is closer to a straight line (suguha), and is much narrower than the hamon. The Midare pattern appears to be enhanced via polishing work rather than chemical etching. The hamon on this blade does not have that natural "whitish" color like those chemically enhanced ones, and it is barely visible under normal lighting condition.
Here's the blade under natural sunlight. Note that the folded steel pattern and hamon appears much more subtle under natural lighting conditions (which is a plus for me).
Let's take a closer look at the kissaki region. The yokote is actually geometrically shaped rather than "cosmetic", the yokote line can be physically felt when wiping down the blade. This is a striking contrast to those cosmetically created yokote found in many production katanas out there. However, IMO the shaping of the kissaki could've done better.
The tsukamaki is very tightly wrapped in leather with hishigami. The tsuba is made of steel rather than brass or cast iron. Very surprised to see that the handle features full Same rayskin wrapping (instead of the more common partial same wrapping) :
Given the dimension of the blade itself, the sword understandably feels a little heavy (roughly 2.6 to 2.7 lbs w/o saya), but overall well-balanced with POB around 10cm from the habaki
It was a leap of faith to contact this little-known retailer and wait 12+ weeks for arrival of the final product. But based on my first glance, the sword far exceeded my original expectation, especially for a relatively low priced production-grade katana. There are down two minor issues: [1] the kissaki shaping could've done better, [2] the saya and sageo are slightly different from what I requested. Those problems are of course cosmetic only, and IMO did not significantly impact the overall look of this otherwise beautifully made blade
First I must say that I've made a rather extensively customized order via email exchanges. I made many additional specifications on the blade dimensions that are beyond the customization options listed on their website. Basically was looking for a wide and robust blade with plenty of niku. It took them a little over 2 months to finish my sword. Overall I am quite satisfied with the quality of the final product. I'm most impressed withthe fact that the blade's measurements are exactly the same as I specified. The specifications of the katana are as follows:
Blade length (nagasa):2.5 shaku (75.8 cm / 30 inches)
Kasane (thickness near habaki): 8.5mm / 0.34 in
Sakikasane (thickness near the kissaki): 6.5mm / 0.26 in
Motohaba (blade width at habaki): 34mm / 1.35 in
Sakihaba (blade width near the tip): 25mm / 0.98 in
Tsuka: 30cm (12 inches), black leather tsuka-ito with hishi-gami
Blade material: T10 folded steel, with differential heat hardening
Shape: shinogi-zukuri, midare hamon, chu-kissaki, no bohi
Polish: "traditional polishing" with niku
Weight: ~1200g (2.6lbs) bare blade
Here's the sword out-of-the-box. The size and weight of the sword is similar to the original Hanwei Wind and Thunder katana. The Saya is fitted with buffalo horn Koiguchi, kurigata & kojiri, which allows better sealing of the habaki. The paint on the saya looks rather thin and could've done better IMO.
This is what the blade looks like under direct lamp light:
The folded Ji pattern and the Midare hamon is clearly visible when the blade is under direct lighting. Note from the picture below that the actual temper line of the blade is closer to a straight line (suguha), and is much narrower than the hamon. The Midare pattern appears to be enhanced via polishing work rather than chemical etching. The hamon on this blade does not have that natural "whitish" color like those chemically enhanced ones, and it is barely visible under normal lighting condition.
Here's the blade under natural sunlight. Note that the folded steel pattern and hamon appears much more subtle under natural lighting conditions (which is a plus for me).
Let's take a closer look at the kissaki region. The yokote is actually geometrically shaped rather than "cosmetic", the yokote line can be physically felt when wiping down the blade. This is a striking contrast to those cosmetically created yokote found in many production katanas out there. However, IMO the shaping of the kissaki could've done better.
The tsukamaki is very tightly wrapped in leather with hishigami. The tsuba is made of steel rather than brass or cast iron. Very surprised to see that the handle features full Same rayskin wrapping (instead of the more common partial same wrapping) :
Given the dimension of the blade itself, the sword understandably feels a little heavy (roughly 2.6 to 2.7 lbs w/o saya), but overall well-balanced with POB around 10cm from the habaki
It was a leap of faith to contact this little-known retailer and wait 12+ weeks for arrival of the final product. But based on my first glance, the sword far exceeded my original expectation, especially for a relatively low priced production-grade katana. There are down two minor issues: [1] the kissaki shaping could've done better, [2] the saya and sageo are slightly different from what I requested. Those problems are of course cosmetic only, and IMO did not significantly impact the overall look of this otherwise beautifully made blade