Jkoo (Sinosword) mono 1095 sughua wakizashi
Jun 23, 2019 11:03:55 GMT
Post by Robert in California on Jun 23, 2019 11:03:55 GMT
Sword Review: Jkoo 1095 Sughua Wakizashi.
pic: Jkoo (sales site is www.sinosword.com but the Company is called Jkoo with Van Yang as the representative)
This is a review of a Jkoo (www.sinosword.com) mono 1095 steel, sughua hamon wakizashi.
pic: other side of this Jkoo (Sinosword) mono 1095 sughua hamon wakizashi
Overall Thoughts:
I have come to appreciate Jkoo (www.sinosword.com) swords. The customer service is excellent. The sword quality is good value for the money. The menu for choosing options for a custom sword at www.sinosword.com is fun and offers many options for both blade and furniture.
JKOO / Sinosword 1095 Sughua Hamon Wakizashi Specifications:
The Sword:
Cost: Want one? about $285 usa + $51usa shipping (China to USA)
Weight: 2 pounds (.91 kg) (sword only)
Weight: 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg)
Total Length (sword + saya) = 34.5 inches (87.6 cm)
Total sword length = 32.5 inches (82.6 cm)
Sword Point of Balance: 4 inches (10 cm) ahead of the tsuba.
Sword sharpness: Not sharp for the first 2 inches (5 cm) ahead of habaki
(to reduce chance of koguichi damage)
Paper-slicing sharp elsewhere, with niku.
The Habaki:
pic: Jkoo brass habaki (different habaki's are offered at www.sinosword.com but this one is my favorite)
Habaki: brass, subdued finish with angular scratches
Habaki length = 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Habaki fit: within 1/2mm (.02") of perfect, so I shimmed with a very small amount of steel-impregnated JBWeld. Not necessary, but I am kind of a perfectionist.
pic: habaki
pic: the grey is automotive engine repair grade (steel impregnated) JBWeld
The Tsuba:
pic: tsuba
Tsuba: brass, circular, subdued finish, waves, trees and birds
Tsuba thickness: 1/8” (" = "inch") (.3 cm)
Tsuba length (ha to mune direction): 3 inches (7.6 cm)
Tsuba width side to side): 3 inches (7.6 cm)
pic: signature side of brass tsuba
pic: non-signature side of brass tsuba (normally this side faces the blade & signature side faces the tsuka)
The Tsuka:
pic: very tight wrap. All my 6 Jkoo swords have amazingly tight tsuka ito wraps with no tsuka wood cracking. Very well done.
Tsuka length: 9.75 inches (24.8 cm)
Tsuka: full wrap of white, small nodules ray skin
Tsuka ito: dark brown, Chinese cotton
Tsuka ito wrap: traditional “criss-cross”. Very tight. Diamonds even.
Tsuka Mekugi: 2 bamboo mekugis
Tsuka width (ha to mune) at fuchi: 1.5 inches (with ito) (3.8 cm)
Tsuka width (ha to mune, half way between fuchi & kashira): 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm) (with ito)
Tsuka width (ha to mune) at kashira: 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm) (with ito)
Tsuka thickness (side to side) near fuchi: 1 inch (2.54 cm) (with ito)
Tsuka thickness (side to side) near kashira: 1 inch (2.54 cm) (with ito)
pic: tsuka ito of dark brown Chinese cotton
pic: tsuka has full wrap (stronger than panels) of real samegawa (ray skin of small, even nodules)
pic: one of the two bamboo mekugi's (pins holding tsuka on to nakago (tang))
pic: brass seppa (sword came with two, but I removed one...later I talk about this)
The Fuchi:
pic: brass fuchi
Fuchi: brass, subdued finish, flowers and vines
Fuchi length: 1.75 inches (4.45 cm)
Fuchi width: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
pic: another view of brass fuchi
pic: fuchi (fit was ok, but I had some JBWeld left over and hate to waste so put a little here too)
The Kashira:
pic: brass kashira
Kashira: brass, subdued finish, flowers and vines
Kashira length: 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm)
Kashira width: 3/4 inches (1.9 cm)
pic: another view of brass kashira (many other choices available...this just happens to be the one I chose)
The Menuki:
pic: brass menuki (one of multiple choices at www.sinosword.com, Jkoo's web site)
Menuki: brass, subdued coloring, flowers & vines
The Saya:
pic: gloss black saya, one of many choices available
Saya length: 24.5 inches (62.2 cm)
Saya width (ha to mune) at kojiri: 1.5 inches (3.8 cm)
Saya width (thickness) at kojiri: 7/8 inches (2.2 cm)
Saya width (ha to mune) at koguichi: 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm)
Saya width (thickness) at koguichi: 1 inches (2.54 cm)
Saya furniture (kojiri, kurigata, koguichi): black laquered buffalo horn
Saya color: gloss black
Saya shito-done: bright gold
Saya sageo: black&white, synthetic silk
Saya weight: .4 pounds (.18 kg)
pic: shito-done of bright golden brass
pic: koguichi, shows buffalo horn
pic: sageo (cord) of black and white
pic: gloss black saya
pic: black buffalo horn kojiri (end cap of saya). In hindsight I wish I had asked for the natural (non-dyed) which is much prettier.
pic: excellent fit of buffalo horn to wood fit of koguichi
The Blade:
pic: mono 1095 steel forged blade with sughua (straight) hamon
Blade weight: 1 1/4 pounds (.57 kg)
Blade length: 21 13/16 inches (55.4 cm) without habaki
Blade construction: mono 1095 steel, differentially hardened
Blade polish: JKOO's "cosmetic" polish which loioks like a finger stones polish
Blade (with niku) sharpness: slices paper
Blade sori: 5/8 inches (1.6 cm)
Blade thickness at yokote: 5mm (.2 inches)
Blade thickness ½ way down blade: 6mm (.24 inches)
Blade thickness at habaki: 8mm (.3 inches)
Blade width (ha to mune) at yokote: 24mm (.94 inches)
Blade width (ha to mune) ½ way down: 29mm (1.14 inches)
Blade width (ha to mune) at habaki: 32mm (1.26 inches)
Bohi width: 8mm (.31 inch)
Kissaki length: 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) (chu (medium) kissaki)
Blade hamon: suguha
Blade boshi (hamon of kissaki): sughua with curve back
pic: one bohi, straight (sughua) hamon
pic: other side of blade
pic: chu (medium) kissaki
pic: start of nakago (tang)
pic: nakago (non-signature side)
pic: nakago (signature side)
My Thoughts:
Summary and nit picking:
I like the swords JKOO makes. Perfect swords? No. For around $300 cost, one gets a good sword, but a $300 sword is not going to be a perfect sword. I have, yet to review, a $500 Jkoo katana which so far, looks to be pretty perfect. But this almost $300 sword, what was not perfect? The habaki fit was almost perfect, but about 1/2mm (.02") off from being perfect. And one other thing, mekugi holes were drilled, the wakizashi was assembled, and then the assembler realized only one seppa had been installed. The assembler then added the normal second seppa, but that caused damage to the bamboo mekugis. I ended up removing one seppa, because the mekugi ana (bamboo pin holes) better aligned the tsuka and nakago with one seppa.
The Good:
Good:
Attractive wakizashi with a good looking, single bohi, sughua hamon with a beautifully polished blade. This wakizashi is more light and nimble than my powerful, heavier Jkoo mono T10 wakizashi. Well done tight tsukaito. Good fitting of saya and sword furniture, except for that overlooked seppa. A blade made to my specs at JKOO’s own forge. The JKOO custom menu allows ordering a personally-designed sword, blade specifications and furniture choices, though already finished swords are also offered for sale for those who don't want to wait a couple or so months for a custom.
The Bad:
Bad:
Habaki alignment with blade was off vertically by about 1/2 mm (.02 inch). Easy fix with a very small bit of auto engine repair grade JBWeld. Thus far, I have found Van Lang of Jkoo to be an honest man who seeks continuing improvement in product quality, without making swords unaffordable. Not everyone has a $1,000 plus sword budget. For me, $300 is pushing it.
All in all? I see JKOO swords as being good value for the money.
R Hamilton, California June 2019
pic: Jkoo (sales site is www.sinosword.com but the Company is called Jkoo with Van Yang as the representative)
This is a review of a Jkoo (www.sinosword.com) mono 1095 steel, sughua hamon wakizashi.
pic: other side of this Jkoo (Sinosword) mono 1095 sughua hamon wakizashi
Overall Thoughts:
I have come to appreciate Jkoo (www.sinosword.com) swords. The customer service is excellent. The sword quality is good value for the money. The menu for choosing options for a custom sword at www.sinosword.com is fun and offers many options for both blade and furniture.
JKOO / Sinosword 1095 Sughua Hamon Wakizashi Specifications:
The Sword:
Cost: Want one? about $285 usa + $51usa shipping (China to USA)
Weight: 2 pounds (.91 kg) (sword only)
Weight: 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg)
Total Length (sword + saya) = 34.5 inches (87.6 cm)
Total sword length = 32.5 inches (82.6 cm)
Sword Point of Balance: 4 inches (10 cm) ahead of the tsuba.
Sword sharpness: Not sharp for the first 2 inches (5 cm) ahead of habaki
(to reduce chance of koguichi damage)
Paper-slicing sharp elsewhere, with niku.
The Habaki:
pic: Jkoo brass habaki (different habaki's are offered at www.sinosword.com but this one is my favorite)
Habaki: brass, subdued finish with angular scratches
Habaki length = 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Habaki fit: within 1/2mm (.02") of perfect, so I shimmed with a very small amount of steel-impregnated JBWeld. Not necessary, but I am kind of a perfectionist.
pic: habaki
pic: the grey is automotive engine repair grade (steel impregnated) JBWeld
The Tsuba:
pic: tsuba
Tsuba: brass, circular, subdued finish, waves, trees and birds
Tsuba thickness: 1/8” (" = "inch") (.3 cm)
Tsuba length (ha to mune direction): 3 inches (7.6 cm)
Tsuba width side to side): 3 inches (7.6 cm)
pic: signature side of brass tsuba
pic: non-signature side of brass tsuba (normally this side faces the blade & signature side faces the tsuka)
The Tsuka:
pic: very tight wrap. All my 6 Jkoo swords have amazingly tight tsuka ito wraps with no tsuka wood cracking. Very well done.
Tsuka length: 9.75 inches (24.8 cm)
Tsuka: full wrap of white, small nodules ray skin
Tsuka ito: dark brown, Chinese cotton
Tsuka ito wrap: traditional “criss-cross”. Very tight. Diamonds even.
Tsuka Mekugi: 2 bamboo mekugis
Tsuka width (ha to mune) at fuchi: 1.5 inches (with ito) (3.8 cm)
Tsuka width (ha to mune, half way between fuchi & kashira): 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm) (with ito)
Tsuka width (ha to mune) at kashira: 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm) (with ito)
Tsuka thickness (side to side) near fuchi: 1 inch (2.54 cm) (with ito)
Tsuka thickness (side to side) near kashira: 1 inch (2.54 cm) (with ito)
pic: tsuka ito of dark brown Chinese cotton
pic: tsuka has full wrap (stronger than panels) of real samegawa (ray skin of small, even nodules)
pic: one of the two bamboo mekugi's (pins holding tsuka on to nakago (tang))
pic: brass seppa (sword came with two, but I removed one...later I talk about this)
The Fuchi:
pic: brass fuchi
Fuchi: brass, subdued finish, flowers and vines
Fuchi length: 1.75 inches (4.45 cm)
Fuchi width: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
pic: another view of brass fuchi
pic: fuchi (fit was ok, but I had some JBWeld left over and hate to waste so put a little here too)
The Kashira:
pic: brass kashira
Kashira: brass, subdued finish, flowers and vines
Kashira length: 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm)
Kashira width: 3/4 inches (1.9 cm)
pic: another view of brass kashira (many other choices available...this just happens to be the one I chose)
The Menuki:
pic: brass menuki (one of multiple choices at www.sinosword.com, Jkoo's web site)
Menuki: brass, subdued coloring, flowers & vines
The Saya:
pic: gloss black saya, one of many choices available
Saya length: 24.5 inches (62.2 cm)
Saya width (ha to mune) at kojiri: 1.5 inches (3.8 cm)
Saya width (thickness) at kojiri: 7/8 inches (2.2 cm)
Saya width (ha to mune) at koguichi: 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm)
Saya width (thickness) at koguichi: 1 inches (2.54 cm)
Saya furniture (kojiri, kurigata, koguichi): black laquered buffalo horn
Saya color: gloss black
Saya shito-done: bright gold
Saya sageo: black&white, synthetic silk
Saya weight: .4 pounds (.18 kg)
pic: shito-done of bright golden brass
pic: koguichi, shows buffalo horn
pic: sageo (cord) of black and white
pic: gloss black saya
pic: black buffalo horn kojiri (end cap of saya). In hindsight I wish I had asked for the natural (non-dyed) which is much prettier.
pic: excellent fit of buffalo horn to wood fit of koguichi
The Blade:
pic: mono 1095 steel forged blade with sughua (straight) hamon
Blade weight: 1 1/4 pounds (.57 kg)
Blade length: 21 13/16 inches (55.4 cm) without habaki
Blade construction: mono 1095 steel, differentially hardened
Blade polish: JKOO's "cosmetic" polish which loioks like a finger stones polish
Blade (with niku) sharpness: slices paper
Blade sori: 5/8 inches (1.6 cm)
Blade thickness at yokote: 5mm (.2 inches)
Blade thickness ½ way down blade: 6mm (.24 inches)
Blade thickness at habaki: 8mm (.3 inches)
Blade width (ha to mune) at yokote: 24mm (.94 inches)
Blade width (ha to mune) ½ way down: 29mm (1.14 inches)
Blade width (ha to mune) at habaki: 32mm (1.26 inches)
Bohi width: 8mm (.31 inch)
Kissaki length: 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) (chu (medium) kissaki)
Blade hamon: suguha
Blade boshi (hamon of kissaki): sughua with curve back
pic: one bohi, straight (sughua) hamon
pic: other side of blade
pic: chu (medium) kissaki
pic: start of nakago (tang)
pic: nakago (non-signature side)
pic: nakago (signature side)
My Thoughts:
Summary and nit picking:
I like the swords JKOO makes. Perfect swords? No. For around $300 cost, one gets a good sword, but a $300 sword is not going to be a perfect sword. I have, yet to review, a $500 Jkoo katana which so far, looks to be pretty perfect. But this almost $300 sword, what was not perfect? The habaki fit was almost perfect, but about 1/2mm (.02") off from being perfect. And one other thing, mekugi holes were drilled, the wakizashi was assembled, and then the assembler realized only one seppa had been installed. The assembler then added the normal second seppa, but that caused damage to the bamboo mekugis. I ended up removing one seppa, because the mekugi ana (bamboo pin holes) better aligned the tsuka and nakago with one seppa.
The Good:
Good:
Attractive wakizashi with a good looking, single bohi, sughua hamon with a beautifully polished blade. This wakizashi is more light and nimble than my powerful, heavier Jkoo mono T10 wakizashi. Well done tight tsukaito. Good fitting of saya and sword furniture, except for that overlooked seppa. A blade made to my specs at JKOO’s own forge. The JKOO custom menu allows ordering a personally-designed sword, blade specifications and furniture choices, though already finished swords are also offered for sale for those who don't want to wait a couple or so months for a custom.
The Bad:
Bad:
Habaki alignment with blade was off vertically by about 1/2 mm (.02 inch). Easy fix with a very small bit of auto engine repair grade JBWeld. Thus far, I have found Van Lang of Jkoo to be an honest man who seeks continuing improvement in product quality, without making swords unaffordable. Not everyone has a $1,000 plus sword budget. For me, $300 is pushing it.
All in all? I see JKOO swords as being good value for the money.
R Hamilton, California June 2019