Oborozuki katana (Ron Chen Forge)
Oct 31, 2022 8:08:18 GMT
Post by swordfriend on Oct 31, 2022 8:08:18 GMT
Introduction
Bought this from Swords n More (excellent customer service btw!). I like swords with koshi sori and larger size (obviously some sort of compensation for something). It's also not a "made in China" which is "unique", despite all my other swords except my Motohara are all made in China. Limited edition which apparently makes it more valuable and thus more expensive, obviously I need to throw money on that!
Mostly I got tired of all those axe handle Hanwei and crowbar Bugei and wanted to try something different, also I have only seen a handful of reviews on Ron Chen's work. Not strange since he mostly do custom works.
Anyway, this is the Oborozuki series Full Moon. The japanese for it is 満月 which google translate translates to "magnetsu", probably spot on for what I know. My japanese stops at car manufacturers. This is the series heavy cutter, as such that it is intended for heavy targets. There's a youtube video of James Williams cutting bamboo with the Full Moon.
Historical overview
Made by Ron Chen, owner of (now defuncted?) Sakae Forge. Swordsmith from Taiwan and the son of former Daddy Hanwei - Paul Chen. Ron studied under highly celebrated Yoshindo Yoshihara in Japan (the extent of his studies is unknown for me). He makes nice swords and the only negative I've read or seen is that his tsukamaki could be better and some swords has the typical Hanwei axe handle.
Full Disclosure
Paid for it with my own money. The only interaction I had with Ron or his associates (whoever handles his business instagram) is that I asked about the weight of the Oborozuki models.
I study Iaido and do cutting on my own, since we don't have tameshigiri in our curriculum. I mostly cut pool noodles and soaked rolled up newspapers. Sometimes I cut tatami when I get a hold of it.
Initial Impressions
Sword came in a large package box, which had a smaller package box in it inside lots of foam bits, which had a wooden case in it, which had a sword stuck inside lots of foam bits, which had a sword bag in finally got to the sword. Can't argue regarding packaging.
First impression was "uhm, this is light!". The specifications of this piece (see below) made me assume it was going to feel heavy. Most of my swords with similar specs (Bugei, Hanwei, Cold Steel) feel heavy right out of the box. I was beginning to think that I might have gotten the lighter models of this series. Koshirae and blade specs matched that of the Full Moon model so this is basically me being judgmental based on previous "heavy cutters".
More impressions below.
Statistics
My measurements
Total length: 109,8 cm / 43,22"
Nagasa: 76,6 cm / 30,15"
Nagasa+habaki: 79,2 cm / 31.18"
Tsuka: 30 cm / 11.81"
Motohaba: 3.1 cm / 1.22"
Motokasane: 0.7 cm / 0.27"
Sakihaba: 2.5 cm / 0.98"
Sakikasane: 0.5 cm / 0.19"
Sori: 2.7 cm / 1.06"
Weight: dunno ... advertised as 1180 grams / 2lbs 9oz ... feels lighter.
Components
Koshirae
Koshirae is in the theme of the moon, this version being the Full Moon. Kashira and Fuchi shows a full moon among clouds. They're simple yet beautiful, not poking up but smooth inprinted. Menuki is a full moon among clouds on the omote side, and a crescent among clouds on the ura side. Tsuba is supposed to be a full moon among clouds, but basically impossible to figure out without the other koshirae.
Tsuka
Tsuka is a tad under 12" (30 cm). If this was a Bugei you bet your sweet lemon juice it would be 14"+. It has a nice slight hourglass shape and about 0.5 cm / 0.19" sori. Silk ito which is very tight. Nicely shaped diamonds and no ledges. The ura side has a little antiqued touch on the samegawa, while the omote has regular (with emperor node). Would be nice if both sides had antiqued samegawa. In all I'm happy the tsukamaki is good and the shape is excellent.
Saya
Simple ishime with buffalo horn koiguchi/kojiri/kurigata. It fits with the theme. Kurigata is 8.5 cm / 3.34" from the opening. The length of the saya is 86 cm / 33.8" and it tapers in both thickness and width (as it should be). Something I noticed is that when you slide the blade into the saya the the last third of the sheathing the saya "air cushing"/"slows down" the movement. I first thought that it was some kind of binding but drawing isn't affected and the same cushing is noticed in different angles and letting the blade free fall into the saya. Makes me think this is intentional.
Blade
Unfolded monosteel. Apparently made from maraging steel which has undergone a "special heat treatment", so ancient Taiwanese secret or something like that. Don't know the proporties of maraging steel or the reason for choosing it. Ron usually work with SN490. This is the heavy version for hard targets so there is a good amount of niku. Paper cut test isn't the easiest and when I slaughtered some pool nodles it more brutally murdered them than sliced through them. Me thinks it would fare better on bamboo/wood dowlings/harder tatami. Compared to my other "heavy cutters" (Bugei, Hanwei) this one feels well balanced and light. You notice a little more tip heavyness while moving but control is way superior to the crowbars of for example Bugei...despite the light tsuba and "small" tsuka.
And for the looks (same as on Tinder, we all go for looks first)...That hamon bro...Sugoi ne (*^.^*) Easily visible in any light. It has some nice small tobiyaki spread out, with the highlight is the full moon which is present on both sides (the ura side is larger though). It's a non folded blade but there's some nice activity below the hamon and very nice polish. As noted above good tapering and nice koshi sori.
Conclusions
Packaging: 10/10 ... better security than what Nato can give you.
Koshirae: 7/10 ... lackluster average habaki and unimaginative tsuba brings otherwise excellent execution and theme down.
Tsuka: 9/10 ... feels extremely good and looks nice, I would however like a more morozori shape on it but that is a personal preference.
Blade dynamics: 8 (handling) ? (cutting)/10 ... feels good while swinging around, but don't pass the paper cut test and pool noodles laugh at it, but there is a amount of niku. Can't really judge until I tried it on tatami/wood dowels/harder targets.
Blade cosmetics: 10/10 Not a big fan of folded steel for cutting, so I judge it based as a cutting sword...and it is extremely gorgeous.
TLDR
+ Beautiful hamon
+ Beautiful blade.
+ Well balanced
+ Tsuka feels comfortable
+ Nice koshirae and theme
+/- Edge is not razor sharp, but this is ment for heavy targets and thus has amount of niku.
- Tsuba isn't bad in any way, but I would like more of a "hand made" that fits the theme better.
- Lackluster habaki.
- Could have thrown in antiqued samegawa on both sides.
Videos
www.veed.io/view/d881fba3-ec45-495d-910a-902af25a1363
www.veed.io/view/4d63ef26-a5df-4d4c-bdf1-43333b434525
www.veed.io/view/9d667f19-764b-47b0-9829-bc8134d46183
Bought this from Swords n More (excellent customer service btw!). I like swords with koshi sori and larger size (obviously some sort of compensation for something). It's also not a "made in China" which is "unique", despite all my other swords except my Motohara are all made in China. Limited edition which apparently makes it more valuable and thus more expensive, obviously I need to throw money on that!
Mostly I got tired of all those axe handle Hanwei and crowbar Bugei and wanted to try something different, also I have only seen a handful of reviews on Ron Chen's work. Not strange since he mostly do custom works.
Anyway, this is the Oborozuki series Full Moon. The japanese for it is 満月 which google translate translates to "magnetsu", probably spot on for what I know. My japanese stops at car manufacturers. This is the series heavy cutter, as such that it is intended for heavy targets. There's a youtube video of James Williams cutting bamboo with the Full Moon.
Historical overview
Made by Ron Chen, owner of (now defuncted?) Sakae Forge. Swordsmith from Taiwan and the son of former Daddy Hanwei - Paul Chen. Ron studied under highly celebrated Yoshindo Yoshihara in Japan (the extent of his studies is unknown for me). He makes nice swords and the only negative I've read or seen is that his tsukamaki could be better and some swords has the typical Hanwei axe handle.
Full Disclosure
Paid for it with my own money. The only interaction I had with Ron or his associates (whoever handles his business instagram) is that I asked about the weight of the Oborozuki models.
I study Iaido and do cutting on my own, since we don't have tameshigiri in our curriculum. I mostly cut pool noodles and soaked rolled up newspapers. Sometimes I cut tatami when I get a hold of it.
Initial Impressions
Sword came in a large package box, which had a smaller package box in it inside lots of foam bits, which had a wooden case in it, which had a sword stuck inside lots of foam bits, which had a sword bag in finally got to the sword. Can't argue regarding packaging.
First impression was "uhm, this is light!". The specifications of this piece (see below) made me assume it was going to feel heavy. Most of my swords with similar specs (Bugei, Hanwei, Cold Steel) feel heavy right out of the box. I was beginning to think that I might have gotten the lighter models of this series. Koshirae and blade specs matched that of the Full Moon model so this is basically me being judgmental based on previous "heavy cutters".
More impressions below.
Statistics
My measurements
Total length: 109,8 cm / 43,22"
Nagasa: 76,6 cm / 30,15"
Nagasa+habaki: 79,2 cm / 31.18"
Tsuka: 30 cm / 11.81"
Motohaba: 3.1 cm / 1.22"
Motokasane: 0.7 cm / 0.27"
Sakihaba: 2.5 cm / 0.98"
Sakikasane: 0.5 cm / 0.19"
Sori: 2.7 cm / 1.06"
Weight: dunno ... advertised as 1180 grams / 2lbs 9oz ... feels lighter.
Components
Koshirae
Koshirae is in the theme of the moon, this version being the Full Moon. Kashira and Fuchi shows a full moon among clouds. They're simple yet beautiful, not poking up but smooth inprinted. Menuki is a full moon among clouds on the omote side, and a crescent among clouds on the ura side. Tsuba is supposed to be a full moon among clouds, but basically impossible to figure out without the other koshirae.
Tsuka
Tsuka is a tad under 12" (30 cm). If this was a Bugei you bet your sweet lemon juice it would be 14"+. It has a nice slight hourglass shape and about 0.5 cm / 0.19" sori. Silk ito which is very tight. Nicely shaped diamonds and no ledges. The ura side has a little antiqued touch on the samegawa, while the omote has regular (with emperor node). Would be nice if both sides had antiqued samegawa. In all I'm happy the tsukamaki is good and the shape is excellent.
Saya
Simple ishime with buffalo horn koiguchi/kojiri/kurigata. It fits with the theme. Kurigata is 8.5 cm / 3.34" from the opening. The length of the saya is 86 cm / 33.8" and it tapers in both thickness and width (as it should be). Something I noticed is that when you slide the blade into the saya the the last third of the sheathing the saya "air cushing"/"slows down" the movement. I first thought that it was some kind of binding but drawing isn't affected and the same cushing is noticed in different angles and letting the blade free fall into the saya. Makes me think this is intentional.
Blade
Unfolded monosteel. Apparently made from maraging steel which has undergone a "special heat treatment", so ancient Taiwanese secret or something like that. Don't know the proporties of maraging steel or the reason for choosing it. Ron usually work with SN490. This is the heavy version for hard targets so there is a good amount of niku. Paper cut test isn't the easiest and when I slaughtered some pool nodles it more brutally murdered them than sliced through them. Me thinks it would fare better on bamboo/wood dowlings/harder tatami. Compared to my other "heavy cutters" (Bugei, Hanwei) this one feels well balanced and light. You notice a little more tip heavyness while moving but control is way superior to the crowbars of for example Bugei...despite the light tsuba and "small" tsuka.
And for the looks (same as on Tinder, we all go for looks first)...That hamon bro...Sugoi ne (*^.^*) Easily visible in any light. It has some nice small tobiyaki spread out, with the highlight is the full moon which is present on both sides (the ura side is larger though). It's a non folded blade but there's some nice activity below the hamon and very nice polish. As noted above good tapering and nice koshi sori.
Conclusions
Packaging: 10/10 ... better security than what Nato can give you.
Koshirae: 7/10 ... lackluster average habaki and unimaginative tsuba brings otherwise excellent execution and theme down.
Tsuka: 9/10 ... feels extremely good and looks nice, I would however like a more morozori shape on it but that is a personal preference.
Blade dynamics: 8 (handling) ? (cutting)/10 ... feels good while swinging around, but don't pass the paper cut test and pool noodles laugh at it, but there is a amount of niku. Can't really judge until I tried it on tatami/wood dowels/harder targets.
Blade cosmetics: 10/10 Not a big fan of folded steel for cutting, so I judge it based as a cutting sword...and it is extremely gorgeous.
TLDR
+ Beautiful hamon
+ Beautiful blade.
+ Well balanced
+ Tsuka feels comfortable
+ Nice koshirae and theme
+/- Edge is not razor sharp, but this is ment for heavy targets and thus has amount of niku.
- Tsuba isn't bad in any way, but I would like more of a "hand made" that fits the theme better.
- Lackluster habaki.
- Could have thrown in antiqued samegawa on both sides.
Videos
www.veed.io/view/d881fba3-ec45-495d-910a-902af25a1363
www.veed.io/view/4d63ef26-a5df-4d4c-bdf1-43333b434525
www.veed.io/view/9d667f19-764b-47b0-9829-bc8134d46183