|
Post by Robert in California on Jun 21, 2024 19:24:16 GMT
|
|
|
Post by LeFaust on Jun 21, 2024 20:12:46 GMT
Attractive price
|
|
|
Post by treeslicer on Jun 22, 2024 1:53:50 GMT
Interesting. Thanks for posting this.
|
|
|
Post by MessengerofDarkness on Jun 22, 2024 2:28:14 GMT
Decided to buy one myself since the price is good. I've had spotty results from Jkoo's koshirae in the past, but at least think they make solid blades.
Will do a post thing here once it eventually arrives.
|
|
|
Post by larason2 on Jun 22, 2024 13:41:12 GMT
I agree it looks good, but I have too many already! I have a custom naginata blade from them on the way. If I didn't though, I'd go for it. Their koshirae are standard Chinese, but as mentioned, the blades are good.
|
|
|
Post by Robert in California on Jun 22, 2024 17:01:26 GMT
I am tempted. But I would request a full rayskin wrap for extra cost. Mine are all full wrap because I normally use Jkoo's custom order menu. Two things deter me presently though. One, injury to shoulder and hip. And more importantly, the wife thinks my dozen or so Jkoo swords is enough. What I have observed for all my Jkoo/Sinosword swords, katana and waki's, is that the tsuka wraps are well done and of Huawei level tightness (good). And that the blades are good and when not, Jkoo has been good about discounting the next order or doing a replacement depending on the issue. And that the habaki fit has normally been a bit loose...noticeable with the bare blade...slide on the habaki and there is usually some, usually minor, play. This I fix with JBWeld auto grade, steel-impregnated..the stick version, not the "liquid" version. Put a small bit in the habaki...usually the bottom, grease the blade. Put on the habaki, forcing the stiff JBWeld to fill the "play" area. Let sit til stiff but not hard. Remove habaki and let harden for a couple days. BE SURE to check to make REALLY SURE one is adding the JBWeld where the blade/habaki/tsuka alignment is not changed. Measure twice, cut once as the old saying goes.
Occasionally there is a very small amount of tsuka play, normally vertically...last katana had about 1 mm vertical play. This fix can be done various ways, the best but the most risky is to mash some small amount of JBWeld, the one for wood, down the tsuka with a thin rod. Then grease the nakago and reassemble the sword (to make sure original alignment is good...don't want the tsuka and nakago mekugi holes to no longer line up. Let JBWeld get stiff but not hard, and remove the koshire (the tsuka, tsuba, seppa and habaki) so one can still assemble and disassemble the sword in the future.
Works, but it is not a task for weak hearts. Done incorrectly, one's sword can not be disassembled anymore. RinC
|
|
|
Post by Robert in California on Jun 22, 2024 17:04:47 GMT
Yes, Jkoo can do custom blades but they use mass-produced furniture, and it is hard to make a blade/nakago that perfectly fits the mass produced furniture. The price one pays for saving money over the alternative of paying big bucks for furniture custom made for the blade. BTW, I regard Jkoo blades as better finished than Katana2011 blades, but the K2011 blades have been good cutters and good edge holders too.
|
|
|
Post by Robert in California on Jun 22, 2024 17:10:39 GMT
I have had pretty good luck with Jkoo, perhaps because other than hamon and blade length specs, I have not asked for changes to their standard blades (which IMO likely are made with an eye to maximizing their fit to the factory/mass produced furniture.)
Also, blade rattle is common. I get synthetic cotton balls. Add a small amount of thin oil (choji + thin gun oil) to the balls. Use a long thin rod to push the balls (usually 3 is enough, 2 sometimes) all the way down the saya to the very end. This is harder than one might think. A thin rod is required but the cotton balls seem to have a mind of their own and it takes a lot to get them all the way down.
In life, everything is work or money. Do the work or pay the money.
|
|
|
Post by noktorn on Jun 30, 2024 8:03:00 GMT
I decided due to the price to purchase one. I got the notification that mine was shipped this evening. Hopefully it winds up decent for the price.
|
|
|
Post by MessengerofDarkness on Jun 30, 2024 14:55:13 GMT
Same here, mine was shipping out about 7 hours ago. I haven't seen any pictures of the finished result though, so I'm hoping for the best and bracing myself for the usual Jkoo shortcomings. I did go with a somewhat attractive theme though, so if they can pull it off then I'll be pleasantly surprised (I'd also be interested to see if anyone can recognize the inspiration).
|
|
|
Post by LeFaust on Jun 30, 2024 15:29:01 GMT
Did you guys do any customization or just their standard drop down menu in the listing?
|
|
|
Post by MessengerofDarkness on Jun 30, 2024 15:35:41 GMT
Did you guys do any customization or just their standard drop down menu in the listing? I paid to upgrade the saya and asked for a change in the menuki placement. I also asked for an ito colour that they have, but was not included in the listing, which they obliged.
|
|
|
Post by LeFaust on Jun 30, 2024 15:59:19 GMT
Did you guys do any customization or just their standard drop down menu in the listing? I paid to upgrade the saya and asked for a change in the menuki placement. I also asked for an ito colour that they have, but was not included in the listing, which they obliged. I emailed and paid additional $$ to upgrade the tsuka and saya. Hoping he will send photos when it's ready. I haven't bought from one of these custom longquan forges in years. I'm guessing mine will take maybe a week longer based on your timing.
|
|
|
Post by noktorn on Jun 30, 2024 19:12:05 GMT
Did you guys do any customization or just their standard drop down menu in the listing? I more or less just used the drop down menu. I figure the less customization I ask for, the smaller the chance of there being issues (wrong fittings, etc.). I opted for the $25 upgrade for their "nicest" "accessories"--i'm not sure if that just covers the kashira/fuchi/tsuba alone or (hopefully) also means you get horn for the koiguchi/kojiri. The only outside options I asked for are copper seppa/habaki.
|
|
|
Post by LeFaust on Jun 30, 2024 21:23:37 GMT
Did you guys do any customization or just their standard drop down menu in the listing? I more or less just used the drop down menu. I figure the less customization I ask for, the smaller the chance of there being issues (wrong fittings, etc.). I opted for the $25 upgrade for their "nicest" "accessories"--i'm not sure if that just covers the kashira/fuchi/tsuba alone or (hopefully) also means you get horn for the koiguchi/kojiri. The only outside options I asked for are copper seppa/habaki. Horn koiguchi/kojiri are an additional cost i had to pay for when i upgraded my saya.
|
|
|
Post by noktorn on Jun 30, 2024 22:43:34 GMT
I more or less just used the drop down menu. I figure the less customization I ask for, the smaller the chance of there being issues (wrong fittings, etc.). I opted for the $25 upgrade for their "nicest" "accessories"--i'm not sure if that just covers the kashira/fuchi/tsuba alone or (hopefully) also means you get horn for the koiguchi/kojiri. The only outside options I asked for are copper seppa/habaki. Horn koiguchi/kojiri are an additional cost i had to pay for when i upgraded my saya. Ah, I should've figured. Oh well. Still, for the price, I can't complain too much. Provided everything else is solid when I get it. Thanks for the heads up though!
|
|
|
Post by MessengerofDarkness on Jul 1, 2024 0:19:09 GMT
Horn koiguchi/kojiri are an additional cost i had to pay for when i upgraded my saya. Ah, I should've figured. Oh well. Still, for the price, I can't complain too much. Provided everything else is solid when I get it. Thanks for the heads up though! My own saya upgrade (had buffalo horn fittings and rattan) was just an extra $30 for reference, so assuming that everything's good and tight then I think that's a reasonable price imo.
|
|
|
Post by MessengerofDarkness on Jul 5, 2024 22:41:28 GMT
Mine arrived. Overall it was actually looking quite nice, though the habaki wasn't the one I asked for, and the fuchi/kashira and tsuba were finished differently than in Jkoo's photos, despite being the correct model. Unfortunately mine arrived with some fairly deep rust putting on both sides of the kissaki, to the point where the edge itself is slightly serrated. The blade had a lot of oil on it, but not enough apparently. I would assume that the blade was not cleaned off enough after whatever acid etching was done to brighten the hamon, and thus the kissaski rusted even beneath the oil. ![20240705_183423.jpg](//storage.forums.net/1694914/thumbnailer/PJBGPJtaKZPdGWuvoMMg.png) Attachments:![20240705_183434.jpg](//storage.forums.net/1694914/thumbnailer/ASSrSwIlfkBymxrvfbwB.png)
|
|
|
Post by noktorn on Jul 5, 2024 23:40:45 GMT
Mine arrived. Overall it was actually looking quite nice, though the habaki wasn't the one I asked for, and the fuchi/kashira and tsuba were finished differently than in Jkoo's photos, despite being the correct model. Unfortunately mine arrived with some fairly deep rust putting on both sides of the kissaki, to the point where the edge itself is slightly serrated. The blade had a lot of oil on it, but not enough apparently. I would assume that the blade was not cleaned off enough after whatever acid etching was done to brighten the hamon, and thus the kissaski rusted even beneath the oil. Oof, man i'm sorry you got a lemon. Hopefully JKOO will make it right. Now nervously awaiting mine. Should arrive between tomorrow or Monday.
|
|
|
Post by MessengerofDarkness on Jul 5, 2024 23:47:17 GMT
Mine arrived. Overall it was actually looking quite nice, though the habaki wasn't the one I asked for, and the fuchi/kashira and tsuba were finished differently than in Jkoo's photos, despite being the correct model. Unfortunately mine arrived with some fairly deep rust putting on both sides of the kissaki, to the point where the edge itself is slightly serrated. The blade had a lot of oil on it, but not enough apparently. I would assume that the blade was not cleaned off enough after whatever acid etching was done to brighten the hamon, and thus the kissaski rusted even beneath the oil. Oof, man i'm sorry you got a lemon. Hopefully JKOO will make it right. Now nervously awaiting mine. Should arrive between tomorrow or Monday. Hoping for the best on yours. I took the tsuka off mine and found that it has two cracks. Was full of sawdust and drill shavings, meaning it was drilled and pinned after assembly. Nothing unexpected for the price. The nakago is etched with the 19th anniversary design for Jkoo, mine is number 7 of 19. I think that the tsuka was mounted slightly off-center the nakago, although I may be mistaken. It could be an optical illusion caused by the habaki being slightly too small. The blade itself just seems to be not properly in-line with the tsuka; it seems much closer to the back of the tsuka than the front. I have swapped the habaki for one I already owned, but it is the same size as the one that came from Jkoo. I hope what I mean can be seen. ![20240705_194612.jpg](//storage.forums.net/1694914/thumbnailer/nuxRZQqxHWJImmOGeAQR.png) EDIT: Apparently rainy season in China is causing the saya to retain moisture, which is causing many other blades to rust even through oil. I do remember seeing something similar happening with Hanbon forge a short while ago. I have replied to Mr. Kane, who both offered to repolish the blade if it is sent back to him (don't know if possible to send swords to China), or to find someone myself to repolish it and he will cover the cost. Very kind, but given how expensive US polishers can be I don't think I can take an offer like that in good consciousness. I will communicate with Mr. kane and see what can be worked out.
|
|