Looking for recommendations for a TH katana
Oct 9, 2023 6:21:16 GMT
Post by blairbob on Oct 9, 2023 6:21:16 GMT
So $500/1k/1.5
To start off with, you sound like you want a tank and a lot of Cloudhammers don't seem to be built that way stock that can be custom. The tougher steels may make up for being built lighter.
For $500, you can get into the DragonKing, various entry level Hanwei (Raptors and hard target models) and I think there are some DynastyForge TH models on discount.
No, I probably wouldn't tinker around with Hanbon or Jkoo or RyanSwords. Maybe Ryanswords but I don't remember how tough they are.
RVA has some Moritaka (ShinkenOfSwords) 9260 models coming in under or at $200. 28.5" 2.5lbs so right in the middle for length and weight. I think they have cut green thick bamboo with them. 9260 on paper should be tougher than 1566/1060 besides 5160.
9260 should be tougher than 5160 and 51CRV4 besides 1566. But it also depends on blade profile and the actual heat treat. You know this, everyone says this every day here. L6 on paper should be a bit sharper but ShinkenOfSwords offers it only DH. I'm sure there is probably some other LongQuan brand that offers it TH.
or you can get into the entry level Cloudhammers with German 51CRV4 or sx105. 51CRV is basically a high manganese 1050 with some chromium and a smidge of silicon and vanadium.
the one thing I would say is most of the Cloudhammer stock swords are built around 70cm and from reviews, seem to be on the lighter side between 2-2.25lbs.
DragonKing and Raptors definitely have some models heavier than this and some of the Raptors and DragonKing TH offerings are 29+" long (but also longass handles that some may find too axe-handly) Most come in at or above 2.5lbs.
Cloudhammer seem to come stock with that leather of theirs (dunno if real or faux). It looks really nice, I prefer the Hanwei Faux Suede/Doeskin ito because I found the leather on my PPK to be too slippery. I guess I could have just worn some gloves. But maybe it feels fine even with my natural somewhat oily slippery hands. Hope to find out one day.
sx105 is a high carbon (0.75-0.95), silicon and manganese and chromium with a smidge of molybdenum and vanadium for the carbides (just like chromium). this sounds like a big step up from CRV4.
Quality of the heat treat aside, sx105 should be a lot tougher than 5160 or 1566 besides hold an edge longer.
Under 1k and you want something as tough as possible: Cloudhammer S5 and you can bling it up a bit, custom length/width/tsuka but also means custom tsuka (but expect it to take 3-6months).
Their in stock go for just under $700. These seem to be 70cm nagasa and built ligher than some of the medium tanks like Raptors and DragonKing
cloudhammerforge.com/products/0-katana-practical-elite-s5-32-nagasa-deep-koshizori that's a biggie. But 2.7lbs at 31.5" nagasa isn't too beastly compared to some kats that weigh in towards 3lbs.
TBH, I'm not sure what other katana from China are in that $500-1k bracket yet are TH. Skyjiro are folded in that price bracket. Huawei are DH. Most stuff is either folded or DH. Bugei have 5160 blades for $750. These would basically be prettier Raptor's.
cloudhammerforge.com/products/odachi-nodachi-practical-customizable-sup12-47-nagasa hyooge
cloudhammerforge.com/products/katana-onyx-sakura-assab88-steel
I see an assab88 hard target cutter which I'm guessing is built beefier than standard. That steel is another high carbon, silicon with manganese and vanadium steel with a lot of chromium (under 8%) and molybdenum. The old k120C by ASSAB seems to have been tough and sharp AF on the high end Hanwei/Bugei swords.
And you can't get into the L6 Korean stuff with $1.5k.
$1-1.5k Hanwei L6 supposedly bainite if you wanna gamble.
To start off with, you sound like you want a tank and a lot of Cloudhammers don't seem to be built that way stock that can be custom. The tougher steels may make up for being built lighter.
For $500, you can get into the DragonKing, various entry level Hanwei (Raptors and hard target models) and I think there are some DynastyForge TH models on discount.
No, I probably wouldn't tinker around with Hanbon or Jkoo or RyanSwords. Maybe Ryanswords but I don't remember how tough they are.
RVA has some Moritaka (ShinkenOfSwords) 9260 models coming in under or at $200. 28.5" 2.5lbs so right in the middle for length and weight. I think they have cut green thick bamboo with them. 9260 on paper should be tougher than 1566/1060 besides 5160.
9260 should be tougher than 5160 and 51CRV4 besides 1566. But it also depends on blade profile and the actual heat treat. You know this, everyone says this every day here. L6 on paper should be a bit sharper but ShinkenOfSwords offers it only DH. I'm sure there is probably some other LongQuan brand that offers it TH.
or you can get into the entry level Cloudhammers with German 51CRV4 or sx105. 51CRV is basically a high manganese 1050 with some chromium and a smidge of silicon and vanadium.
the one thing I would say is most of the Cloudhammer stock swords are built around 70cm and from reviews, seem to be on the lighter side between 2-2.25lbs.
DragonKing and Raptors definitely have some models heavier than this and some of the Raptors and DragonKing TH offerings are 29+" long (but also longass handles that some may find too axe-handly) Most come in at or above 2.5lbs.
Cloudhammer seem to come stock with that leather of theirs (dunno if real or faux). It looks really nice, I prefer the Hanwei Faux Suede/Doeskin ito because I found the leather on my PPK to be too slippery. I guess I could have just worn some gloves. But maybe it feels fine even with my natural somewhat oily slippery hands. Hope to find out one day.
sx105 is a high carbon (0.75-0.95), silicon and manganese and chromium with a smidge of molybdenum and vanadium for the carbides (just like chromium). this sounds like a big step up from CRV4.
Quality of the heat treat aside, sx105 should be a lot tougher than 5160 or 1566 besides hold an edge longer.
Under 1k and you want something as tough as possible: Cloudhammer S5 and you can bling it up a bit, custom length/width/tsuka but also means custom tsuka (but expect it to take 3-6months).
Their in stock go for just under $700. These seem to be 70cm nagasa and built ligher than some of the medium tanks like Raptors and DragonKing
cloudhammerforge.com/products/0-katana-practical-elite-s5-32-nagasa-deep-koshizori that's a biggie. But 2.7lbs at 31.5" nagasa isn't too beastly compared to some kats that weigh in towards 3lbs.
TBH, I'm not sure what other katana from China are in that $500-1k bracket yet are TH. Skyjiro are folded in that price bracket. Huawei are DH. Most stuff is either folded or DH. Bugei have 5160 blades for $750. These would basically be prettier Raptor's.
cloudhammerforge.com/products/odachi-nodachi-practical-customizable-sup12-47-nagasa hyooge
cloudhammerforge.com/products/katana-onyx-sakura-assab88-steel
I see an assab88 hard target cutter which I'm guessing is built beefier than standard. That steel is another high carbon, silicon with manganese and vanadium steel with a lot of chromium (under 8%) and molybdenum. The old k120C by ASSAB seems to have been tough and sharp AF on the high end Hanwei/Bugei swords.
And you can't get into the L6 Korean stuff with $1.5k.
$1-1.5k Hanwei L6 supposedly bainite if you wanna gamble.