nihonto-wholesale (AVOID AT ALL COSTS) 1060 Wakizashi
Dec 8, 2020 23:50:45 GMT
Post by samuraisoul on Dec 8, 2020 23:50:45 GMT
Introduction
I had been looking for a solid wakizashi to pair with my Ronin Katana Dojo Pro, but could not justify the full price of one of their wakizashi. From the pictures this wakizashi looked to be a solid, middle of the road offering with koshirae that I could live with, and a decently shaped tsuka.
Historical overview
This is a bog standard Wakizashi that could have been tucked into the obi of any Bushi, Townsperson, or Yakuza from 1500 to 1800. Other than the metal flake paintjob on the saya, this companion sword would not look out of place in feudal Japan, at all. No Toshi would ever have let such a poorly polished kissaki out of his workshop, though.
Full Disclosure
I paid full price from this sword on the big auction site, and discovered that they were a reseller for JKOO/Sinosword through my own research. I considered this to be a plus.
Initial Impressions
The wakizashi came packaged in the normal yellow wrapped styrofoam sword box. Effective, and exactly as expected. Inside the wakizashi was wrapped in a sword bag made from a material similar to a pair of track pants. Odd, but it was a free sword bag that will now live in a drawer forever, so no biggie. The tsuka had the normal shrink wrap. The blade was coated in something that smelled like motor oil, and took a full 24 hours for the smell to mostly dissipate. The ito has slight fraying near the knot, but was overall pretty tight, though shoelacy.
Statistics
Blade/Nagasa Length:
19.5 from kissaki to munemachi
Handle/Tsuka Length:
8 inches from fuchi to kashira
Overall Length:
29.5 inches
Guard/Tsuba Width:
3 inches
POB (Point of Balance):
4 inches from the tsuba
COP (Center of Percussion):
N/A
Weight:
2.15 lbs in the saya
Components
All of the koshirae are brass, and are a very simple, generic bamboo theme. The seppa are brass and are the fine toothed variety. The menuki are brass, and match the bamboo theme. The same appears to be real, though crinkled near the Kashira.
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade is nice until you get to the kissaki. The shaping is fairly crisp, the hamon is bright and has alot of activity. However, once you reach the kissaki it's a nightmare. The counter polish is the worst I've ever seen, the edge has an 8mm roll in it, and there is a 1mm deep chip in the ha. Sending a message to the seller has only gotten me ignored by them. Buyer beware, this has the potential to be a very good sword, but don't expect any kind of customer service from this seller.
The Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka was nicely shaped, having a slight taper, and finished nicely into the kashira. The tsuka is my favorite part of this sword's build. The ito is tight, and it's the old style shoelace ito, but will be serviceable. The menuki are nice, a pretty bamboo theme, and not the usual weird dragon/thing I've found on lower priced blades.
The Guard/Tsuba
The tsuba is brass, fairly thin, well cast, and has a patina that matches the fuchi and kashira. It depicts a bamboo theme.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
The fuchi and kashira are cast and antiqued brass, though they have an almost copper tone to them. They are generic and very middle of the road, but they are functional, and do not detract from the appearance of the sword.
The Scabbard/Saya
The saya is light. As in the lightest saya I've ever seen. I will be very careful with it, and will reinforce the koiguchi at some point. The saya also came with a scuffed up metal flaked paintjob. As in the saya is scuffed and nicked.
Handling Characteristics
This wakizashi is surprisingly authoritative in the hand. It moves similarly to a scaled down cold steel chisa katana. It is definitely far more stout than my Munetoshi T10 wakizashi. I enjoy the way the blade handles, and will be using the sword. I will even attempt to polish the nick out of the blade and try to rectify the horrid counter polishing on the kissaki.
Test Cutting (if applicable)
I have not cut with the sword. I have handled and done enough kata with the blade to know that this will be an authoritative cutter, and being DH 1060 with a fairly thick mune, will cut well.
Conclusions
The wakizashi has potential. With work I can make the blade into what should have been sent to me. I am extremely disappointed with this seller, their lack of care of quality control, and the complete lack of customer service. I have never purchased from JKOO/Sinosword, and I took a chance buying from one of their resellers on the big auction site. They had a few blades listed on a "christmas sale" but had no feedback for the last 12 months. I messaged them to make certain they were actively doing business, and they said that I should "bid with confidence because *blank* was not their normal selling venue." I took a chance, purchased one at full price, and waited a full week without seeing any shipping info pop up. I messaged them and asked for a tracking number. I got a very confusing exchange of messages, and suddenly my sword was shipped. It arrived 4 days later than the expected arrival posted, damaged. I messaged them showing them the edge roll and chip, and got no replies. In conclusion, I will never do business with nihonto-wholesale on the big auction site again.
Pros
- tight ito
- good heft
- hamon has some nice activity
Cons
- edge had an 8mm long roll
- edge had a 1mm deep chip
The Bottom Line
If this sword were being sold by anyone else, I could honestly recommend it. I don't dislike the sword, just that it arrived damaged and that the seller couldn't care less.
UPDATE: Gave seller every opportunity to make right, wound up not delivering on their promises to make right. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
I had been looking for a solid wakizashi to pair with my Ronin Katana Dojo Pro, but could not justify the full price of one of their wakizashi. From the pictures this wakizashi looked to be a solid, middle of the road offering with koshirae that I could live with, and a decently shaped tsuka.
Historical overview
This is a bog standard Wakizashi that could have been tucked into the obi of any Bushi, Townsperson, or Yakuza from 1500 to 1800. Other than the metal flake paintjob on the saya, this companion sword would not look out of place in feudal Japan, at all. No Toshi would ever have let such a poorly polished kissaki out of his workshop, though.
Full Disclosure
I paid full price from this sword on the big auction site, and discovered that they were a reseller for JKOO/Sinosword through my own research. I considered this to be a plus.
Initial Impressions
The wakizashi came packaged in the normal yellow wrapped styrofoam sword box. Effective, and exactly as expected. Inside the wakizashi was wrapped in a sword bag made from a material similar to a pair of track pants. Odd, but it was a free sword bag that will now live in a drawer forever, so no biggie. The tsuka had the normal shrink wrap. The blade was coated in something that smelled like motor oil, and took a full 24 hours for the smell to mostly dissipate. The ito has slight fraying near the knot, but was overall pretty tight, though shoelacy.
Statistics
Blade/Nagasa Length:
19.5 from kissaki to munemachi
Handle/Tsuka Length:
8 inches from fuchi to kashira
Overall Length:
29.5 inches
Guard/Tsuba Width:
3 inches
POB (Point of Balance):
4 inches from the tsuba
COP (Center of Percussion):
N/A
Weight:
2.15 lbs in the saya
Components
All of the koshirae are brass, and are a very simple, generic bamboo theme. The seppa are brass and are the fine toothed variety. The menuki are brass, and match the bamboo theme. The same appears to be real, though crinkled near the Kashira.
The Blade/Nagasa
The blade is nice until you get to the kissaki. The shaping is fairly crisp, the hamon is bright and has alot of activity. However, once you reach the kissaki it's a nightmare. The counter polish is the worst I've ever seen, the edge has an 8mm roll in it, and there is a 1mm deep chip in the ha. Sending a message to the seller has only gotten me ignored by them. Buyer beware, this has the potential to be a very good sword, but don't expect any kind of customer service from this seller.
The Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka was nicely shaped, having a slight taper, and finished nicely into the kashira. The tsuka is my favorite part of this sword's build. The ito is tight, and it's the old style shoelace ito, but will be serviceable. The menuki are nice, a pretty bamboo theme, and not the usual weird dragon/thing I've found on lower priced blades.
The Guard/Tsuba
The tsuba is brass, fairly thin, well cast, and has a patina that matches the fuchi and kashira. It depicts a bamboo theme.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
The fuchi and kashira are cast and antiqued brass, though they have an almost copper tone to them. They are generic and very middle of the road, but they are functional, and do not detract from the appearance of the sword.
The Scabbard/Saya
The saya is light. As in the lightest saya I've ever seen. I will be very careful with it, and will reinforce the koiguchi at some point. The saya also came with a scuffed up metal flaked paintjob. As in the saya is scuffed and nicked.
Handling Characteristics
This wakizashi is surprisingly authoritative in the hand. It moves similarly to a scaled down cold steel chisa katana. It is definitely far more stout than my Munetoshi T10 wakizashi. I enjoy the way the blade handles, and will be using the sword. I will even attempt to polish the nick out of the blade and try to rectify the horrid counter polishing on the kissaki.
Test Cutting (if applicable)
I have not cut with the sword. I have handled and done enough kata with the blade to know that this will be an authoritative cutter, and being DH 1060 with a fairly thick mune, will cut well.
Conclusions
The wakizashi has potential. With work I can make the blade into what should have been sent to me. I am extremely disappointed with this seller, their lack of care of quality control, and the complete lack of customer service. I have never purchased from JKOO/Sinosword, and I took a chance buying from one of their resellers on the big auction site. They had a few blades listed on a "christmas sale" but had no feedback for the last 12 months. I messaged them to make certain they were actively doing business, and they said that I should "bid with confidence because *blank* was not their normal selling venue." I took a chance, purchased one at full price, and waited a full week without seeing any shipping info pop up. I messaged them and asked for a tracking number. I got a very confusing exchange of messages, and suddenly my sword was shipped. It arrived 4 days later than the expected arrival posted, damaged. I messaged them showing them the edge roll and chip, and got no replies. In conclusion, I will never do business with nihonto-wholesale on the big auction site again.
Pros
- tight ito
- good heft
- hamon has some nice activity
Cons
- edge had an 8mm long roll
- edge had a 1mm deep chip
The Bottom Line
If this sword were being sold by anyone else, I could honestly recommend it. I don't dislike the sword, just that it arrived damaged and that the seller couldn't care less.
UPDATE: Gave seller every opportunity to make right, wound up not delivering on their promises to make right. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.