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Post by Robert in California on Mar 25, 2021 4:51:03 GMT
Here's what I do that seems to work for me on Jkoo custom orders.
I specify not just specifications, but also specify workmanship details.
I ask for the one choice I like the best for habaki, mekuni, fuchi & kashira furniture.
But for tsuba choice, I do something different in order to end up with a "best tsuba fit" sword:
For tsuba choice, I look carefully thru the custom menu tsuba choices and make a list of tsubas I would be ok with.
Preferred tsubas go to the top of the list.
I list all my "I'm ok with these choices" tsubas in the custom menu comment section at the bottom of the custom menus.
And instruct Jkoo to choose the best fit tsuba.
So Jkoo sees my custom menu order with say 6 or 8 so tsuba choices and instructions to choose the best fitting tsuba off my list.
And I end up with a tsuba with minimal tsuba play.
The thing with factory made tsubas (affordable) on the Jkoo custom order tsuba listings is that
the holes for the nakagos are not all the same size.
Or shape.
Do this...look carefully at all the Jkoo tsubas....at the holes for the nakago.
Notice how neither size nor shape is uniform.
So when we choose just one tsuba, its hole may not be the right size nor shape for our blade's nakago.
So?
So give Jkoo a list of choices and instruct Jkoo to choose the tsuba on your multi-tsuba list that is best fit to your sword's nakago.
If some choices on my "ok tsubas" list are say, brass and some iron, I'll say...if iron, use such and such a fuchi/kashira (iron).
If best fit is one of my brass tsuba choices, I'll say if brass, use such and such a fuchi/kashira (brass).
Also what I do, that seems a good thing to do on a Jkoo custom order, is in each section's comments block,
I'll not just give specs as needed but I also list workmanship requests.
Requests like...no blade-in-saya rattle, good habaki fit, no sharp edges on nakago, smooth rough edge of nakago mekugi hole,
paper slicing sharp near yokote (sometimes the yokote area of blade is not very sharp).
So...on Jkoo custom orders, specs AND workmanship details.
And of course, I say to charge for the extra time and effort for the additional workmanship.
For example, since I desire as good a habaki2nakago fit as possible, I specify words like, '
make the nakago slightly oversize with grinder and then use hand file to remove excess nakago steel to get "perfect habaki fit".
Otherwise, Jkoo tends to try to do even final nakago shaping with a power grinder....and so no surprise when the habaki is not a great fit to the nakago.
If the Jkoo people working on my order are good and paying attention, then I get a better made sword than
if I did not specify both specs and workmanship details that I wanted.
I'm starting a review of a 'factory second" Jkoo sanmai katana...and it is really done well.
This is not a guarantee of success but does seem to help.
Example, on one order I asked for a spare saya...well Jkoo did a great job (no rattle) on one of the two sayas sent, but the spare saya rattled.
RinC
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Post by vidar on Mar 25, 2021 7:45:40 GMT
I think that returning customers, like yourself, are VIPs in their system and they do extra their best. But if a new customer like myself would send an email with instructions, as long as your post here, they probably won’t read it all the way to the end... Just my guess, could be wrong  |
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Post by loveofswords on Mar 25, 2021 10:59:13 GMT
Here's what I do that seems to work for me on Jkoo custom orders. I specify not just specifications, but also specify workmanship details. I ask for the one choice I like the best for habaki, mekuni, fuchi & kashira furniture. But for tsuba choice, I do something different in order to end up with a "best tsuba fit" sword: For tsuba choice, I look carefully thru the custom menu tsuba choices and make a list of tsubas I would be ok with. Preferred tsubas go to the top of the list. I list all my "I'm ok with these choices" tsubas in the custom menu comment section at the bottom of the custom menus. And instruct Jkoo to choose the best fit tsuba. So Jkoo sees my custom menu order with say 6 or 8 so tsuba choices and instructions to choose the best fitting tsuba off my list. And I end up with a tsuba with minimal tsuba play. The thing with factory made tsubas (affordable) on the Jkoo custom order tsuba listings is that the holes for the nakagos are not all the same size. Or shape. Do this...look carefully at all the Jkoo tsubas....at the holes for the nakago. Notice how neither size nor shape is uniform. So when we choose just one tsuba, its hole may not be the right size nor shape for our blade's nakago. So? So give Jkoo a list of choices and instruct Jkoo to choose the tsuba on your multi-tsuba list that is best fit to your sword's nakago. If some choices on my "ok tsubas" list are say, brass and some iron, I'll say...if iron, use such and such a fuchi/kashira (iron). If best fit is one of my brass tsuba choices, I'll say if brass, use such and such a fuchi/kashira (brass). Also what I do, that seems a good thing to do on a Jkoo custom order, is in each section's comments block, I'll not just give specs as needed but I also list workmanship requests. Requests like...no blade-in-saya rattle, good habaki fit, no sharp edges on nakago, smooth rough edge of nakago mekugi hole, paper slicing sharp near yokote (sometimes the yokote area of blade is not very sharp). So...on Jkoo custom orders, specs AND workmanship details. And of course, I say to charge for the extra time and effort for the additional workmanship. For example, since I desire as good a habaki2nakago fit as possible, I specify words like, ' make the nakago slightly oversize with grinder and then use hand file to remove excess nakago steel to get "perfect habaki fit". Otherwise, Jkoo tends to try to do even final nakago shaping with a power grinder....and so no surprise when the habaki is not a great fit to the nakago. If the Jkoo people working on my order are good and paying attention, then I get a better made sword than if I did not specify both specs and workmanship details that I wanted. I'm starting a review of a 'factory second" Jkoo sanmai katana...and it is really done well. This is not a guarantee of success but does seem to help. Example, on one order I asked for a spare saya...well Jkoo did a great job (no rattle) on one of the two sayas sent, but the spare saya rattled. RinC Do you think it’s going to work this time ? |
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Post by Stef on Mar 25, 2021 14:09:15 GMT
the fact that you need to write this is all the prof I need to avoid them.
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Post by JubbeiSamuro on Mar 25, 2021 14:37:48 GMT
I'd definitely avoid this company from now, after all the testimonies plus THIS exact post you wrote. That's a lengthy tutorial and an awful lot to do for a "not a guarantee of success..." product yikes!
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Post by Robert in California on Mar 25, 2021 16:43:42 GMT
I wish I had done this a few years back when I was ordering customs from Huawei...maybe if I had specified "no saya rattle", I would not have ended up with 4 Huawei's with sword-in-saya rattle.
Jkoo's weakness has been q.c.
But Jkoo has been pretty good about meeting specs on custom orders.
So putting what workmanship specs in with the feature specs, is probably a good idea.
RinC
So JS, what Company would you recommend for consistent quality in the $250 to $350usd range?
Your comments would have greater forum value if when pointing out a problem, you also suggested a solution.
It is like being a good employee at work...it is ok to tell the boss about a problem, if you also have a recommended solution.
Example...stef is heavy on the "Sword seller "A" sucks" side in his posts, but light on the "Sword seller "A" sucks so buy from Sword seller B instead" side. Which is what a low forum value post is like.
A criticism is not without forum value....especially if it is not made up or supposed.
But less of value than a criticism that also offers an alternative that is a solution.
i.e. Jkoo sucks so buy Motohara instead (which is a solution, if one ignores the cost difference....but honestly, don't mess around with cheaper makers if one can afford a top quality maker....buying quality is never a mistake.)
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Post by loveofswords on Mar 25, 2021 17:05:58 GMT
I wish I had done this a few years back when I was ordering customs from Huawei...maybe if I had specified "no saya rattle", I would not have ended up with 4 Huawei's with sword-in-saya rattle. Jkoo's weakness has been q.c. But Jkoo has been pretty good about meeting specs on custom orders. So putting what workmanship specs in with the feature specs, is probably a good idea. RinC So JS, what Company would you recommend for consistent quality in the $250 to $350usd range? Your comments would have greater forum value if when pointing out a problem, you also suggested a solution. It is like being a good employee at work...it is ok to tell the boss about a problem, if you also have a recommended solution. Example...stef is heavy on the "Sword seller "A" sucks" side in his posts, but light on the "Sword seller "A" sucks so buy from Sword seller B instead" side. Which is what a low forum value post is like. A criticism is not without forum value....especially if it is not made up or supposed. But less of value than a criticism that also offers an alternative that is a solution. i.e. Jkoo sucks so buy Motohara instead (which is a solution, if one ignores the cost difference....but honestly, don't mess around with cheaper makers if one can afford a top quality maker....buying quality is never a mistake.) There are other makers beside motohara that offers a CONSISTENT quality product . Demanding a maker to work on their craftsmanship is really like pushing boulders up the mountain and seem counterproductive. Why waste time on one sword when you can pound out multiple swords at once and make more profit and revenue this way. If they wanted to improve their QC they would’ve done it by now without your suggestions/inputs . There are a lot of experience and qualified workers in longquan and it doesn’t take much to hire them for onsite consultations. You’re just pouring too much faith and hope that they would do the right thing instead of actually looking at it objectively. Why be the test subject for their QC when your input has fallen on deaf ears time and time again . Why are you pushing this maker to improve ? |
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Post by JubbeiSamuro on Mar 25, 2021 17:20:33 GMT
Robert - You're absolutely right; I should've offered my two cents on alternatives than Jkoo. I would suggest Hanwei and Huawei for good pre-made Japanese blades. For customs I'd also go with Huawei, and maybe even Swords of Northshire (definitely not my top choice) if you're not trying to max out on all aspects of your custom.
loveofswords - That's my feeling exactly. Why put so much hope, faith, and luck on wishing Jkoo can come up with something passable when there are more qualified and actual buyers (not fabricated feedbacks) testified makers in the same price range?
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Post by JubbeiSamuro on Mar 25, 2021 17:25:09 GMT
I wish I had done this a few years back when I was ordering customs from Huawei...maybe if I had specified "no saya rattle", I would not have ended up with 4 Huawei's with sword-in-saya rattle. Jkoo's weakness has been q.c. But Jkoo has been pretty good about meeting specs on custom orders. So putting what workmanship specs in with the feature specs, is probably a good idea. RinC So JS, what Company would you recommend for consistent quality in the $250 to $350usd range? Your comments would have greater forum value if when pointing out a problem, you also suggested a solution. It is like being a good employee at work...it is ok to tell the boss about a problem, if you also have a recommended solution. Example...stef is heavy on the "Sword seller "A" sucks" side in his posts, but light on the "Sword seller "A" sucks so buy from Sword seller B instead" side. Which is what a low forum value post is like. A criticism is not without forum value....especially if it is not made up or supposed. But less of value than a criticism that also offers an alternative that is a solution. i.e. Jkoo sucks so buy Motohara instead (which is a solution, if one ignores the cost difference....but honestly, don't mess around with cheaper makers if one can afford a top quality maker....buying quality is never a mistake.) There are other makers beside motohara that offers a CONSISTENT quality product . Demanding a maker to work on their craftsmanship is really like moving boulders up the mountain and seem counterproductive. Why waste time on one sword when you can pound out multiple swords at once and make more profit and revenue this way. If they wanted to improve their QC they would’ve done it by now without your suggestions/inputs . There are a lot of experience and qualified workers in longquan and it doesn’t take much to hire them for onsite consultations. You’re just pouring too much faith and hope that they would do the right thing instead of actually looking at it objectively. I also never suggested Motohara, their starting price is $1900+ as of 2021. |
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Post by JH Lee on Mar 25, 2021 18:38:43 GMT
Yeah... no thank you. For the amount of time and money I'd waste on a JKOO gamble, I'd rather buy some nice antique fittings that I actually like.
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Post by Stef on Mar 25, 2021 19:41:17 GMT
I wish I had done this a few years back when I was ordering customs from Huawei...maybe if I had specified "no saya rattle", I would not have ended up with 4 Huawei's with sword-in-saya rattle. Jkoo's weakness has been q.c. But Jkoo has been pretty good about meeting specs on custom orders. So putting what workmanship specs in with the feature specs, is probably a good idea. RinC So JS, what Company would you recommend for consistent quality in the $250 to $350usd range? Your comments would have greater forum value if when pointing out a problem, you also suggested a solution. It is like being a good employee at work...it is ok to tell the boss about a problem, if you also have a recommended solution. Example...stef is heavy on the "Sword seller "A" sucks" side in his posts, but light on the "Sword seller "A" sucks so buy from Sword seller B instead" side. Which is what a low forum value post is like. A criticism is not without forum value....especially if it is not made up or supposed. But less of value than a criticism that also offers an alternative that is a solution. i.e. Jkoo sucks so buy Motohara instead (which is a solution, if one ignores the cost difference....but honestly, don't mess around with cheaper makers if one can afford a top quality maker....buying quality is never a mistake.) the difference between the two is night and day for the price. you keep going on about rattling saya from years ago, meanwhile huawei has steadily improved and left jkoo behind. I currently own 5 from different years and can see a distinct improvement .also I do not push huawei or continuously create conversation regarding huawei like you do with jkoo. if asked I recommend it when it applies. you seem to be on an endless crusade to get people to buy jkoo swords and I cannot for the life of me understand how you can honestly do that after all the issues they have. by all means do as you wish but you just look silly and you still look like a jko rappresentative. |
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Post by Stef on Mar 25, 2021 19:43:23 GMT
There are other makers beside motohara that offers a CONSISTENT quality product . Demanding a maker to work on their craftsmanship is really like moving boulders up the mountain and seem counterproductive. Why waste time on one sword when you can pound out multiple swords at once and make more profit and revenue this way. If they wanted to improve their QC they would’ve done it by now without your suggestions/inputs . There are a lot of experience and qualified workers in longquan and it doesn’t take much to hire them for onsite consultations. You’re just pouring too much faith and hope that they would do the right thing instead of actually looking at it objectively. I also never suggested Motohara, their starting price is $1900+ as of 2021. you are spot on |
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Post by Cottontail Customs on Mar 25, 2021 19:56:23 GMT
From what I've personally seen inspecting multiple jkoo katana, this is my assessment of likely issues and issue difficulty:
Ill fitting habaki: this has been a fairly common problem with many jkoo swords. it's not easy to fix habaki fit, at east not in a permanent way that will allow easy disassembly and reassembly without shims falling out or shifting. replacing the habaki is not a great solution since most of these production habaki are all the same size and proportion and it's the fact that the blade/ha and mune machi weren't cut and shaped correctly that is causing the problem.
Misaligned mune center line: I've seen at least a few that had a drifting mune when it gets close to the tip of the kissaki. unless you're willing to re-polish the entire blade and adjust this drift, this is a permanent flaw. won't really affect cutting but is a part of the blade's general geometry that is bothersome when done incorrectly.
Poorly constructed and shaped tsuka: the biggest issue I've seen on jkoo katana and not something easily fixed. cracks, splits and rot have been found on multiple examples. the shaping often doesn't flow well with the fittings and the tsukamaki is inconsistent, due to different craftspeople doing the work from piece to piece. I would especially recommend avoiding the "full wrap samegawa" upgrades as they are not done well and I've witnessed use of patched pieces of low grade skins. it often makes the tsuka bloated, uncomfortable and aesthetically unappealing.
Poor polish: I find their polish inconsistent as well, also because they get their blades from different sources and they range from gaudy mirror polishes to spotty standard polishes. I've seen streaks and muddy spots and soft lines in the geometry. this is not an easy fix and would require a total re-polish to fix. again, it won't prevent you from cutting with it but it's not attractive and poor polish can sometimes result in premature rusting and staining.
Poorly applied fittings: ito sitting higher than fittings rims, wobbly tsuba, habaki and kashira, dirty, grind marks, visible casting lines, scratched powder coating and other issues have been found many times on jkoo swords. scratches and visible casting lines won't affect functionality but they can't be fixed without having to repaint/patina, which isn't always that easy to do yourself. fitment issues are nearly impossible to fix without swapping them out or replacing/altering the tsuka or tsukamaki.
Run-off hamon: this is not fixable and can possibly negatively affect cutting and could also be dangerous, depending on how well the rest of the heat treat was done and how much and where it runs off.
Poorly shaped and finished nakago: while the nakago is usually not seen often, issues like sharp edges, awkward shaping and mekugi-ana burrs can make it more difficult to disassemble and reassemble the sword. it can also chew up the inside of the core and possibly lead to premature wear and tear and loosening fit.
on the other hand, a rattling saya can be fixed in about 30 seconds with a knot of clean hair. I personally don't see how a saya rattle would be a problem if you're not actually shaking the saya. I wore one with a rattling saya on my hip for a while, walking around the house and doing different activities and did not notice it rattling once. I haven't heard anybody complain that their saya rattled while doing iai or while cutting so again, unless you're trying to make it rattle, it typically won't. from what I've seen and heard, at least. easy fix, not a big problem irl and won't have any effect on functional use.
maybe the op's list can help cut down a bit on these issues, if they even acknowledge it, but I wouldn't count on it. if you don't think you'd be able to tolerate any or all of the above listed potential issues, I'd recommend trying another brand. and just to note, all production swords will have some degree of issues at some point, some much more than others, but you'll just have to decide what you're willing to take a chance with or not.
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Post by Stef on Mar 25, 2021 20:03:17 GMT
From what I've personally seen inspecting multiple jkoo katana, this is my assessment of likely issues and issue difficulty: Ill fitting habaki: this has been a fairly common problem with many jkoo swords. it's not easy to fix habaki fit, at east not in a permanent way that will allow easy disassembly and reassembly without shims falling out or shifting. replacing the habaki is not a great solution since most of these production habaki are all the same size and proportion and it's the fact that the blade/ha and mune machi weren't cut and shaped correctly that is causing the problem. Misaligned mune center line: I've seen at least a few that had a drifting mune when it gets close to the tip of the kissaki. unless you're willing to re-polish the entire blade and adjust this drift, this is a permanent flaw. won't really affect cutting but is a part of the blade's general geometry that is bothersome when done incorrectly. Poorly constructed and shaped tsuka: the biggest issue I've seen on jkoo katana and not something easily fixed. cracks, splits and rot have been found on multiple examples. the shaping often doesn't flow well with the fittings and the tsukamaki is inconsistent, due to different craftspeople doing the work from piece to piece. I would especially recommend avoiding the "full wrap samegawa" upgrades as they are not done well and I've witnessed use of patched pieces of low grade skins. it often makes the tsuka bloated, uncomfortable and aesthetically unappealing. Poor polish: I find their polish inconsistent as well, also because they get their blades from different sources and they range from gaudy mirror polishes to spotty standard polishes. I've seen streaks and muddy spots and soft lines in the geometry. this is not an easy fix and would require a total re-polish to fix. again, it won't prevent you from cutting with it but it's not attractive and poor polish can sometimes result in premature rusting and staining. Poorly applied fittings: ito sitting higher than fittings rims, wobbly tsuba, habaki and kashira, dirty, grind marks, visible casting lines, scratched powder coating and other issues have been found many times on jkoo swords. scratches and visible casting lines won't affect functionality but they can't be fixed without having to repaint/patina, which isn't always that easy to do yourself. fitment issues are nearly impossible to fix without swapping them out or replacing/altering the tsuka or tsukamaki. Run-off hamon: this is not fixable and can possibly negatively affect cutting and could also be dangerous, depending on how well the rest of the heat treat was done and how much and where it runs off. Poorly shaped and finished nakago: while the nakago is usually not seen often, issues like sharp edges, awkward shaping and mekugi-ana burrs can make it more difficult to disassemble and reassemble the sword. it can also chew up the inside of the core and possibly lead to premature wear and tear and loosening fit. on the other hand, a rattling saya can be fixed in about 30 seconds with a knot of clean hair. I personally don't see how a saya rattle would be a problem if you're not actually shaking the saya. I wore one with a rattling saya on my hip for a while, walking around the house and doing different activities and did not notice it rattling once. I haven't heard anybody complain that their saya rattled while doing iai or while cutting so again, unless you're trying to make it rattle, it typically won't. from what I've seen and heard, at least. easy fix, not a big problem irl and won't have any effect on functional use. maybe the op's list can help cut down a bit on these issues, if they even acknowledge it, but I wouldn't count on it. if you don't think you'd be able to tolerate any or all of the above listed potential issues, I'd recommend trying another brand. and just to note, all production swords will have some degree of issues at some point, some much more than others, but you'll just have to decide what you're willing to take a chance with or not. always on point Mr |
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Post by jyamada on Mar 25, 2021 23:00:44 GMT
From what I've personally seen inspecting multiple jkoo katana, this is my assessment of likely issues and issue difficulty: Ill fitting habaki: this has been a fairly common problem with many jkoo swords. it's not easy to fix habaki fit, at east not in a permanent way that will allow easy disassembly and reassembly without shims falling out or shifting. replacing the habaki is not a great solution since most of these production habaki are all the same size and proportion and it's the fact that the blade/ha and mune machi weren't cut and shaped correctly that is causing the problem. Misaligned mune center line: I've seen at least a few that had a drifting mune when it gets close to the tip of the kissaki. unless you're willing to re-polish the entire blade and adjust this drift, this is a permanent flaw. won't really affect cutting but is a part of the blade's general geometry that is bothersome when done incorrectly. Poorly constructed and shaped tsuka: the biggest issue I've seen on jkoo katana and not something easily fixed. cracks, splits and rot have been found on multiple examples. the shaping often doesn't flow well with the fittings and the tsukamaki is inconsistent, due to different craftspeople doing the work from piece to piece. I would especially recommend avoiding the "full wrap samegawa" upgrades as they are not done well and I've witnessed use of patched pieces of low grade skins. it often makes the tsuka bloated, uncomfortable and aesthetically unappealing. Poor polish: I find their polish inconsistent as well, also because they get their blades from different sources and they range from gaudy mirror polishes to spotty standard polishes. I've seen streaks and muddy spots and soft lines in the geometry. this is not an easy fix and would require a total re-polish to fix. again, it won't prevent you from cutting with it but it's not attractive and poor polish can sometimes result in premature rusting and staining. Poorly applied fittings: ito sitting higher than fittings rims, wobbly tsuba, habaki and kashira, dirty, grind marks, visible casting lines, scratched powder coating and other issues have been found many times on jkoo swords. scratches and visible casting lines won't affect functionality but they can't be fixed without having to repaint/patina, which isn't always that easy to do yourself. fitment issues are nearly impossible to fix without swapping them out or replacing/altering the tsuka or tsukamaki. Run-off hamon: this is not fixable and can possibly negatively affect cutting and could also be dangerous, depending on how well the rest of the heat treat was done and how much and where it runs off. Poorly shaped and finished nakago: while the nakago is usually not seen often, issues like sharp edges, awkward shaping and mekugi-ana burrs can make it more difficult to disassemble and reassemble the sword. it can also chew up the inside of the core and possibly lead to premature wear and tear and loosening fit. on the other hand, a rattling saya can be fixed in about 30 seconds with a knot of clean hair. I personally don't see how a saya rattle would be a problem if you're not actually shaking the saya. I wore one with a rattling saya on my hip for a while, walking around the house and doing different activities and did not notice it rattling once. I haven't heard anybody complain that their saya rattled while doing iai or while cutting so again, unless you're trying to make it rattle, it typically won't. from what I've seen and heard, at least. easy fix, not a big problem irl and won't have any effect on functional use. maybe the op's list can help cut down a bit on these issues, if they even acknowledge it, but I wouldn't count on it. if you don't think you'd be able to tolerate any or all of the above listed potential issues, I'd recommend trying another brand. and just to note, all production swords will have some degree of issues at some point, some much more than others, but you'll just have to decide what you're willing to take a chance with or not. Good to have an experienced craftsman like CC lay this out. New buyers take note... CC is one source to listen to for good info to make buying decisions. |
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Post by treeslicer on Mar 26, 2021 2:44:43 GMT
How to maximize your chance of not getting a flawed Jkoo/Sino custom sword? To misquote Delenn, "Buy somewhere else!".  |
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karl j
Manufacturer/Vendor
Posts: 174
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Post by karl j on Mar 26, 2021 3:04:47 GMT
That's quite a list RiC
I would venture to say, that things like fittings, that actually fit, shouldn't have to be something that is asked for.
The notion of a "custom sword" from a er... vendor like jkoo is flawed for lack of a better term.
No one is ever going to be happy with a fast food steak. Go and get prime grade.
There are plenty of smiths out there making great blades. No they aren't going to be 200 dollars, but a 5 dollar rib eye doesn't taste as good as a 65 dollar ribeye.
To each is own though
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Post by Lord Newport on Mar 26, 2021 3:17:33 GMT
That's quite a list RiC I would venture to say, that things like fittings, that actually fit, shouldn't have to be something that is asked for. The notion of a "custom sword" from a er... vendor like jkoo is flawed for lack of a better term. No one is ever going to be happy with a fast food steak. Go and get prime grade. There are plenty of smiths out there making great blades. No they aren't going to be 200 dollars, but a 5 dollar rib eye doesn't taste as good as a 65 dollar ribeye.
To each is own though ^^^^ Winner winner Ribeye dinner! |
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Post by haon on Mar 26, 2021 9:23:38 GMT
From what I've personally seen inspecting multiple jkoo katana, this is my assessment of likely issues and issue difficulty: Ill fitting habaki: this has been a fairly common problem with many jkoo swords. it's not easy to fix habaki fit, at east not in a permanent way that will allow easy disassembly and reassembly without shims falling out or shifting. replacing the habaki is not a great solution since most of these production habaki are all the same size and proportion and it's the fact that the blade/ha and mune machi weren't cut and shaped correctly that is causing the problem. Misaligned mune center line: I've seen at least a few that had a drifting mune when it gets close to the tip of the kissaki. unless you're willing to re-polish the entire blade and adjust this drift, this is a permanent flaw. won't really affect cutting but is a part of the blade's general geometry that is bothersome when done incorrectly. Poorly constructed and shaped tsuka: the biggest issue I've seen on jkoo katana and not something easily fixed. cracks, splits and rot have been found on multiple examples. the shaping often doesn't flow well with the fittings and the tsukamaki is inconsistent, due to different craftspeople doing the work from piece to piece. I would especially recommend avoiding the "full wrap samegawa" upgrades as they are not done well and I've witnessed use of patched pieces of low grade skins. it often makes the tsuka bloated, uncomfortable and aesthetically unappealing. Poor polish: I find their polish inconsistent as well, also because they get their blades from different sources and they range from gaudy mirror polishes to spotty standard polishes. I've seen streaks and muddy spots and soft lines in the geometry. this is not an easy fix and would require a total re-polish to fix. again, it won't prevent you from cutting with it but it's not attractive and poor polish can sometimes result in premature rusting and staining. Poorly applied fittings: ito sitting higher than fittings rims, wobbly tsuba, habaki and kashira, dirty, grind marks, visible casting lines, scratched powder coating and other issues have been found many times on jkoo swords. scratches and visible casting lines won't affect functionality but they can't be fixed without having to repaint/patina, which isn't always that easy to do yourself. fitment issues are nearly impossible to fix without swapping them out or replacing/altering the tsuka or tsukamaki. Run-off hamon: this is not fixable and can possibly negatively affect cutting and could also be dangerous, depending on how well the rest of the heat treat was done and how much and where it runs off. Poorly shaped and finished nakago: while the nakago is usually not seen often, issues like sharp edges, awkward shaping and mekugi-ana burrs can make it more difficult to disassemble and reassemble the sword. it can also chew up the inside of the core and possibly lead to premature wear and tear and loosening fit. on the other hand, a rattling saya can be fixed in about 30 seconds with a knot of clean hair. I personally don't see how a saya rattle would be a problem if you're not actually shaking the saya. I wore one with a rattling saya on my hip for a while, walking around the house and doing different activities and did not notice it rattling once. I haven't heard anybody complain that their saya rattled while doing iai or while cutting so again, unless you're trying to make it rattle, it typically won't. from what I've seen and heard, at least. easy fix, not a big problem irl and won't have any effect on functional use. maybe the op's list can help cut down a bit on these issues, if they even acknowledge it, but I wouldn't count on it. if you don't think you'd be able to tolerate any or all of the above listed potential issues, I'd recommend trying another brand. and just to note, all production swords will have some degree of issues at some point, some much more than others, but you'll just have to decide what you're willing to take a chance with or not. I might wrong about this, but as far as I know, you would have to get a new saya if you decide to get a new, fitting habaki as the new one likely won't fit as well, if at all. However, correct me if I'm wrong, please. |
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Post by Robert in California on Mar 26, 2021 14:09:55 GMT
Huawei swords are indeed a step above average, though can have issues as well.
And are a good choice for someone happy with a Huawei, off the shelf, standard dimensions item.
Where Huawei used to be good, is variety and custom orders.
Pretty hard to get a custom out of Huawei in any reasonable time frame.
Jkoo and others offer variety and shorter turn around.
Folks order Jkoo's with a variety of custom specs and Jkoo normally can do the order in about 3 months.
IMO Jkoo is a true custom forge.
Huawei is not.
No criticism to Huawei for that...a plate of standardized swords may well help with q.c. and be a good business strategy for them.
BTW, Jkoo has a single custom forge they get their rough blade blanks from.
Jkoo then forges the rough blank to shape, heat treats, finishes the blade and does the furniture itself.
Unlike some Longquan sellers.
Jkoo has room for improvement in habaki fit....perhaps it is hard to fit standard size habaki's to varied customer blade dimension specifications.
I think the habaki fit issue could be solved with nakago standardization.
Is that a practical solution?
Jkoo could raise prices to Huawei level to pay for the extra work.
Huawei has some $600 category swords I like...except to get a longer tsuka and a few other tweaks, they would not be a $600usd sword anymore.
When I ordered that $268 Huawei (nice sword) but asked for all buffalo horn saya furniture and a longer tsuka, it was no longer a $268 order, it became a $480usd order. Huawei gave me a $50usd discount off of that price for reason of a previous Huawei with workmanship problems. I paid half. Six months later, the order had not been started. Status request emails unanswered for months. After 6 months, Huawei refunded my 50% deposit. I still wanted a custom so Jkoo got the nod.
Not hard to fix a loose habaki, but I don't think I should have to, so I push Jkoo about it.
Turned out Jkoo did not understand what I was complaining about...they do the finished sword and when ready to ship, inspect it...a loose habaki is noticed really only when the tsuka is off...when it is just the bare blade and the habaki. I have asked Jkoo to do the habaki fit inspection with the tsuka off. I am hoping that is a change they will make.
Look at the Jkoo ready2buy offerings....what is the average price? Around $200usd maybe?
If a person doesn't want a custom and has a bigger budget then by all means, go Huawei.
I have had problem swords from Jkoo...but their service has been really good..to the point of when I can show proof of a serious problem, they make me a new sword for free or at a sizable discount.
All I was doing with this thread was showing what seems to have been a help for me with my Jkoo orders....specifying workmanship AND material specs instead of just material and dimension specs.
RinC
BTW,for the otherwise uninformed, this kind of subjective opinion and response is not unique to this forum. Other hobby forums can have similar....folks have strong opinions will express them. Some speak from first hand experience...I have now about a dozen Jkoo's. Some bring up what they heard from others. I don't have any Hanwei's. Those who do, I've heard both good and bad.
But I talk my own experience. Not that of others.
When I first started here, Hamwei was the go-to sword and I really wanted a Hanwei Lion Dog. They sold I think around $800usd back then. Over my limited budget. Later a friend bought a Hanwei Lion Dog....didn't really have any complaints...but later asked me if I'd buy it off him for $400. In very good condition. If I had bought it, I'd have been able to review it and speak about it. I didn't. So I don't.
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