$170 Oni Forge (kensei) Shobu Zukuri Katana
Nov 18, 2008 0:05:08 GMT
Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2008 0:05:08 GMT
this is my review of the oni forge shobu zukuri katana
by kenpachi316, Ric, of England
firstly i have to talk about the price
i picked this up for $170 and there are still some left for this price.
however normally i think they retail for around $200.
oni forge is changing to kensei at www.sword-saint.com
im sure that when kensei is fully up, running, and established that the shobu they sell will be nearly, if not, identical.
why i bought this sword;
i have been looking at shobu's for a while now, with thier different kissaki geometry it was a new one for me.
i didnt want another cheness (although i must point out that there is nothing wrong with the ones i have)
and i have been wanting to try out oni forge
when i saw this for $170 i lapped it up.
in comparisson to chenesses shobus i would say this is more like the kurome than the ayame
here is the kissaki so you can judge for yourselves.
the stats;
nagasa (blade length)- 28.5"
tsuka (handle)- 11"
overall - 41"
weight 2.4 lbs
the sword handles very much like my tenchi and i rather like it
onto...
The Blade;
this is a 1060 mono hardened blade
very sharp
very sturdy
with an etched hamon
normally i dont care for etched hamons
but i find this one to be quite subtle and easy on the eye
The Fittings;
this sword has an 11" tsuka
as i have mentioned before i think 11" is perfect
it has black same and brown cotton ito
a combination seen on cheness iaitos
in my opinion a great looking combination
the tang is double pegged with bamboo
the menuki are dragons
the fittings on the tsuka are all metal
the ito wrap is tight
the tsuba is of some blackened metal or other with a cut out butterfly, and while it is nothing spectacular it does fit with the sword in both looks and feel, so i do like it.
it is i think a black version of a cheness kochou tsuba.
the saya is finished in a standard black gloss
brown cotton sageo, matches the sword nicely i think.
but one think i have to mention is the fit
the sword fits the saya perfectly
snug yet smooth at the collar
with absolutely no blade movement/rattle at all, even with shaking, when the sword is sheathed.
now then, back to handling,
i have been using a cheness iaito ever since i started iaido 5 months ago, not only does this sword (sheathed) look the same, but (unsheathed) it handles the same.
i can say however, that the second i drew this new sword, i felt like i already knew it well.
i was very very much looking forward to...
TESTING
first up, plastic water bottles, i neglected to film
but i only had 3 bottles saved up anyway.
i have a bunch coming so i will be adding a vid.
it went exactly as i hoped, my cuts were great, i left all 3 bottles standing on thier separate stands.
in conclusion this sword can handle bottles, well.
it felt like i was cutting with my iaito
i also had one double roll beach mat soaked.
i had high hopes.
i havent yet managed a nukitsuke straight accross clean cut on a double roll mat,
i have managed up & downwards kesa nukitsukes with clean cuts, just not straight accross (it must be harder) i always seem to get it stuck.
i thought my time had come
taking into account i have done horizontal nukitsuke 1000's of times in iaido practice with a sword that feels the same, and also taking into account the kissaki geomety here.
i stood just a few inches further back than i normally do for the draw...
waited for the sirens to pass..
and...
my closest yet
it seems i was half an inch too far back
in conclusion, this sword can handle mats well.
Ratings
historical accuracy;
3/5 although this feels somewhat of a guess im sure etched (even if faint) hamons are historically semprinis.
there is some discussion in the forums at presant concerning shobus
i am interested in thier geometrys
maybe someone can help me with this
fit and finish;
4.5/5
the fit is great
tight as it could be
the finish lacks one thing, a real hamon (or no hamon)
but at this price i think im being unrealistic with a real hamon
-0.5 for the etched hamon, everything else is perfect
handling;
5/5
i honestly want to rate it 6/5 because it is better than i ever thought it would be
performance;
5/5
consistantly very sharp
if anything it was me who let the sword down
(meh, back to training lol)
structural integ;
5/5
i dont plan on destruction testing it
i do plan on using it to cut every bottle i come accross
i cant imagine ever breaking a 1060 mono
just look at the mokko
value for money;
if you hurry and get an oni forge one for £170
then 6/5
if you wait and buy a kensei one for im guessing maybe $200+
then 4/5
OVERALL
5/5
this is simply the best thing i have ever bought for $170
UNDER ONE HUNDRED POUNDS
(at the time)
in my opinion an excellent first shobu
by kenpachi316, Ric, of England
firstly i have to talk about the price
i picked this up for $170 and there are still some left for this price.
however normally i think they retail for around $200.
oni forge is changing to kensei at www.sword-saint.com
im sure that when kensei is fully up, running, and established that the shobu they sell will be nearly, if not, identical.
why i bought this sword;
i have been looking at shobu's for a while now, with thier different kissaki geometry it was a new one for me.
i didnt want another cheness (although i must point out that there is nothing wrong with the ones i have)
and i have been wanting to try out oni forge
when i saw this for $170 i lapped it up.
in comparisson to chenesses shobus i would say this is more like the kurome than the ayame
here is the kissaki so you can judge for yourselves.
the stats;
nagasa (blade length)- 28.5"
tsuka (handle)- 11"
overall - 41"
weight 2.4 lbs
the sword handles very much like my tenchi and i rather like it
onto...
The Blade;
this is a 1060 mono hardened blade
very sharp
very sturdy
with an etched hamon
normally i dont care for etched hamons
but i find this one to be quite subtle and easy on the eye
The Fittings;
this sword has an 11" tsuka
as i have mentioned before i think 11" is perfect
it has black same and brown cotton ito
a combination seen on cheness iaitos
in my opinion a great looking combination
the tang is double pegged with bamboo
the menuki are dragons
the fittings on the tsuka are all metal
the ito wrap is tight
the tsuba is of some blackened metal or other with a cut out butterfly, and while it is nothing spectacular it does fit with the sword in both looks and feel, so i do like it.
it is i think a black version of a cheness kochou tsuba.
the saya is finished in a standard black gloss
brown cotton sageo, matches the sword nicely i think.
but one think i have to mention is the fit
the sword fits the saya perfectly
snug yet smooth at the collar
with absolutely no blade movement/rattle at all, even with shaking, when the sword is sheathed.
now then, back to handling,
i have been using a cheness iaito ever since i started iaido 5 months ago, not only does this sword (sheathed) look the same, but (unsheathed) it handles the same.
i can say however, that the second i drew this new sword, i felt like i already knew it well.
i was very very much looking forward to...
TESTING
first up, plastic water bottles, i neglected to film
but i only had 3 bottles saved up anyway.
i have a bunch coming so i will be adding a vid.
it went exactly as i hoped, my cuts were great, i left all 3 bottles standing on thier separate stands.
in conclusion this sword can handle bottles, well.
it felt like i was cutting with my iaito
i also had one double roll beach mat soaked.
i had high hopes.
i havent yet managed a nukitsuke straight accross clean cut on a double roll mat,
i have managed up & downwards kesa nukitsukes with clean cuts, just not straight accross (it must be harder) i always seem to get it stuck.
i thought my time had come
taking into account i have done horizontal nukitsuke 1000's of times in iaido practice with a sword that feels the same, and also taking into account the kissaki geomety here.
i stood just a few inches further back than i normally do for the draw...
waited for the sirens to pass..
and...
my closest yet
it seems i was half an inch too far back
in conclusion, this sword can handle mats well.
Ratings
historical accuracy;
3/5 although this feels somewhat of a guess im sure etched (even if faint) hamons are historically semprinis.
there is some discussion in the forums at presant concerning shobus
i am interested in thier geometrys
maybe someone can help me with this
fit and finish;
4.5/5
the fit is great
tight as it could be
the finish lacks one thing, a real hamon (or no hamon)
but at this price i think im being unrealistic with a real hamon
-0.5 for the etched hamon, everything else is perfect
handling;
5/5
i honestly want to rate it 6/5 because it is better than i ever thought it would be
performance;
5/5
consistantly very sharp
if anything it was me who let the sword down
(meh, back to training lol)
structural integ;
5/5
i dont plan on destruction testing it
i do plan on using it to cut every bottle i come accross
i cant imagine ever breaking a 1060 mono
just look at the mokko
value for money;
if you hurry and get an oni forge one for £170
then 6/5
if you wait and buy a kensei one for im guessing maybe $200+
then 4/5
OVERALL
5/5
this is simply the best thing i have ever bought for $170
UNDER ONE HUNDRED POUNDS
(at the time)
in my opinion an excellent first shobu