Shinken-Sword 1075 Steel Folded Katana
Dec 31, 2020 21:19:45 GMT
Post by samuraisoul on Dec 31, 2020 21:19:45 GMT
Introduction
I had been browsing the big auction site before christmas, picking out my christmas sword. That's a thing in my household. I had just missed out on a Hanwei Musashi, and wasn't finding a whole lot on there. I kept running across a sword that had been labeled as a 1055 Katana, though. I messaged the seller more out of curiosity than anything else, and he showed me the link where he'd bought the sword from. Turns out she's a Shinken-Sword made 1075 folded katana with a steel tsuba, and brass fuchi and kashira. We haggled alittle bit and I acquired the sword, shipped, for $110. It turns out that I got an absolute steal, as this sword is kind of amazing.
Historical overview
She's a katana,and has very clean lines, but I doubt her powdercoated tsuba or synthetic silk ito would look any kind of correct during the Sengoku Jidai or even during the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Full Disclosure
I paid close to the original asking price from the gentleman, as the sword had never been cut with, and had just been stuck up on a rack for her whole life.
Initial Impressions
She felt light, at first. I then picked up one of my Ronin Katana, and she's not really any lighter, but her balance makes her float. The Ronin that I was comparing her to is one of the standard 5/8" sori models of theirs, whereas her sori is just alittle deeper. My Ronin 1" sori katana has a balance similar. For some reason deeper sori katana just balance better for me.
Her tsuka is an absolute joy to grip. Something about the shaping is just perfect for my hands.
The blade is truly gorgeous. I wasn't intially crazy about a folded steel blade, but I have to admit that this one is beautiful.
Statistics
(These are the Manufacturer's Specs, mostly)
Blade/Nagasa Length: 28 inches
Handle/Tsuka Length: 10.6 inches
Overall Length: 40.9 inches
Guard/Tsuba Width: 2.9 inches
POB (Point of Balance): About 4.75 inches
COP (Center of Percussion): N/A
Weight: Feels about 2 lbs 7 oz. (That's just comparing her to other Katana of known weights, in hand)
Components
Steel Tsuba. Brass fuchi and kashira, powdercoated black. Synthetic silk. Real samegawa panels. Black powdercoated menuki. Tight syntehtic silk ito. I'm not removing the tsuka, but feels solid. No creaking, no cracking.
The Blade/Nagasa
Gorgeous, folded 1075 steel. Subtle flowing Tori-sori, beautiful folding pattern that reminds me of an actual Hada, and not some junky "damascus" finish. The finish looks gaudier in photos than in real life. Definitely heavily acid etched, though I don't mind it. I've never owned a folded sword, so had no idea what to expect. Hamon does run really close to the Ha in a couple of places, so won't make her a dedicated heavy cutter. I don't know how this would affect durability or cutting ability, honestly. I will use her for Iai, mostly, though.
The Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka doesn't taper, isn't waisted, and gently follows the sori. I am amazed that this tsuka feels this good in the hand. My grip just naturally settles into my version of Te-no-uchi though, so I'm not going to question it. The ito is tight, the kashira was alittle loose, so I put a couple of drops of superglue underneath and it's good now. Menuki is some kind of dragon. Fuchi and kashira are painted and a pebbled finish. They're comfortable and don't interfere with my grip. No hishigami. Well put together, overall.
The Guard/Tsuba
2.9 inches of some kind of ferromagnetic material. I suspect steel because the magnetic attraction is there, but doesn't pull as hard a piece of iron does. If you've never used a magnet to compare the two, iron almost snatches the magnet out of your hand, whereas steel is a more gentle pull. Powdercoated, super generic Mokko themed. Thicker than I expected, and doesn't have any sharp edges to snag my thumb while holding her in her saya, or performing Iai.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
Brass (I'm pretty sure, doesn't have that weird feeling that zinc alloy has) that has been powdercoated. Kind of muddy castings, but very serviceable, and are attractive.
The Scabbard/Saya
Surprisingly nice ishime finish. Hefty. Has reinforced koiguchi and kojiri. Am unsure if they're buffalo horn, but they're present and not painted over, which is a nice touch. Sageo is typically thick synthetic silk. Serviceable and well done. Friction fit from habaki to koiguchi is perfect. She makes a click when fully seated into her saya. Nicest saya fit I've ever had.
Handling Characteristics
Like. A. Dream.
I've had some fantastically handling katana. Last Legend Tsunami, my Ronin 1" sori, plus I've probably owned 20 katana or more over the years. Everything from Paul Chen's early practicals and various models, to nearly half a dozen Ronins. Ryujin, Ryumon, Valiant Armoury, and no name beaters. I'm sure that I'm forgetting some. This sword is in the top 5. Right now, she and my Ronin 1" are the two I'd choose between if I had to fight a formal duel, or do anything Niten with a shinken.
Test Cutting (if applicable)
Haven't done any. Probably won't do much. I don't really get into "Art Swords" but she's pretty enough to be one, so will keep her finish intact for as long as I can. I don't really have any "safe queens" so she'll wind up getting scuffed up at some point, and then I'll update on how her finish holds up.
Conclusions
Bought from a random guy who needed cash, so was in the right place at the right time. I love this sword, would buy from the parent company, Shinken-Sword (Tsunami-Dragon, etc) because I like their workmanship on this blade.
Pros
- Fantastic Handling
- Balance is outstanding for a Katana
- Beautiful folded pattern
- Beautiful hamon
- Tight ito
- Tasteful koshirae
Cons
- Hamon runs close to the edge, about 1/8 inch away in two places
- Kashira was loose
- Slight wood showing near kashira (but come on it was a $110 sword)
The Bottom Line
Based on the quality of this sword, I would buy from this manufacturer again, in a heartbeat.
Also, enjoy the awesome tiger blanket on my futon. When a pretty lady gives you a blanket, if you're smart, you make sure it's on your bed when she is over.
I had been browsing the big auction site before christmas, picking out my christmas sword. That's a thing in my household. I had just missed out on a Hanwei Musashi, and wasn't finding a whole lot on there. I kept running across a sword that had been labeled as a 1055 Katana, though. I messaged the seller more out of curiosity than anything else, and he showed me the link where he'd bought the sword from. Turns out she's a Shinken-Sword made 1075 folded katana with a steel tsuba, and brass fuchi and kashira. We haggled alittle bit and I acquired the sword, shipped, for $110. It turns out that I got an absolute steal, as this sword is kind of amazing.
Historical overview
She's a katana,and has very clean lines, but I doubt her powdercoated tsuba or synthetic silk ito would look any kind of correct during the Sengoku Jidai or even during the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Full Disclosure
I paid close to the original asking price from the gentleman, as the sword had never been cut with, and had just been stuck up on a rack for her whole life.
Initial Impressions
She felt light, at first. I then picked up one of my Ronin Katana, and she's not really any lighter, but her balance makes her float. The Ronin that I was comparing her to is one of the standard 5/8" sori models of theirs, whereas her sori is just alittle deeper. My Ronin 1" sori katana has a balance similar. For some reason deeper sori katana just balance better for me.
Her tsuka is an absolute joy to grip. Something about the shaping is just perfect for my hands.
The blade is truly gorgeous. I wasn't intially crazy about a folded steel blade, but I have to admit that this one is beautiful.
Statistics
(These are the Manufacturer's Specs, mostly)
Blade/Nagasa Length: 28 inches
Handle/Tsuka Length: 10.6 inches
Overall Length: 40.9 inches
Guard/Tsuba Width: 2.9 inches
POB (Point of Balance): About 4.75 inches
COP (Center of Percussion): N/A
Weight: Feels about 2 lbs 7 oz. (That's just comparing her to other Katana of known weights, in hand)
Components
Steel Tsuba. Brass fuchi and kashira, powdercoated black. Synthetic silk. Real samegawa panels. Black powdercoated menuki. Tight syntehtic silk ito. I'm not removing the tsuka, but feels solid. No creaking, no cracking.
The Blade/Nagasa
Gorgeous, folded 1075 steel. Subtle flowing Tori-sori, beautiful folding pattern that reminds me of an actual Hada, and not some junky "damascus" finish. The finish looks gaudier in photos than in real life. Definitely heavily acid etched, though I don't mind it. I've never owned a folded sword, so had no idea what to expect. Hamon does run really close to the Ha in a couple of places, so won't make her a dedicated heavy cutter. I don't know how this would affect durability or cutting ability, honestly. I will use her for Iai, mostly, though.
The Handle/Tsuka
The tsuka doesn't taper, isn't waisted, and gently follows the sori. I am amazed that this tsuka feels this good in the hand. My grip just naturally settles into my version of Te-no-uchi though, so I'm not going to question it. The ito is tight, the kashira was alittle loose, so I put a couple of drops of superglue underneath and it's good now. Menuki is some kind of dragon. Fuchi and kashira are painted and a pebbled finish. They're comfortable and don't interfere with my grip. No hishigami. Well put together, overall.
The Guard/Tsuba
2.9 inches of some kind of ferromagnetic material. I suspect steel because the magnetic attraction is there, but doesn't pull as hard a piece of iron does. If you've never used a magnet to compare the two, iron almost snatches the magnet out of your hand, whereas steel is a more gentle pull. Powdercoated, super generic Mokko themed. Thicker than I expected, and doesn't have any sharp edges to snag my thumb while holding her in her saya, or performing Iai.
The Pommel/Fuchi-Kashira
Brass (I'm pretty sure, doesn't have that weird feeling that zinc alloy has) that has been powdercoated. Kind of muddy castings, but very serviceable, and are attractive.
The Scabbard/Saya
Surprisingly nice ishime finish. Hefty. Has reinforced koiguchi and kojiri. Am unsure if they're buffalo horn, but they're present and not painted over, which is a nice touch. Sageo is typically thick synthetic silk. Serviceable and well done. Friction fit from habaki to koiguchi is perfect. She makes a click when fully seated into her saya. Nicest saya fit I've ever had.
Handling Characteristics
Like. A. Dream.
I've had some fantastically handling katana. Last Legend Tsunami, my Ronin 1" sori, plus I've probably owned 20 katana or more over the years. Everything from Paul Chen's early practicals and various models, to nearly half a dozen Ronins. Ryujin, Ryumon, Valiant Armoury, and no name beaters. I'm sure that I'm forgetting some. This sword is in the top 5. Right now, she and my Ronin 1" are the two I'd choose between if I had to fight a formal duel, or do anything Niten with a shinken.
Test Cutting (if applicable)
Haven't done any. Probably won't do much. I don't really get into "Art Swords" but she's pretty enough to be one, so will keep her finish intact for as long as I can. I don't really have any "safe queens" so she'll wind up getting scuffed up at some point, and then I'll update on how her finish holds up.
Conclusions
Bought from a random guy who needed cash, so was in the right place at the right time. I love this sword, would buy from the parent company, Shinken-Sword (Tsunami-Dragon, etc) because I like their workmanship on this blade.
Pros
- Fantastic Handling
- Balance is outstanding for a Katana
- Beautiful folded pattern
- Beautiful hamon
- Tight ito
- Tasteful koshirae
Cons
- Hamon runs close to the edge, about 1/8 inch away in two places
- Kashira was loose
- Slight wood showing near kashira (but come on it was a $110 sword)
The Bottom Line
Based on the quality of this sword, I would buy from this manufacturer again, in a heartbeat.
Also, enjoy the awesome tiger blanket on my futon. When a pretty lady gives you a blanket, if you're smart, you make sure it's on your bed when she is over.