Kris Cutlery Wakizashi II
Mar 6, 2009 4:04:14 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2009 4:04:14 GMT
Kris Cutlery Wakizashi II
Reviewed by Jim Dalton AR USA
I am relatively new to cutting and have already acquired a passion for it. I have a son who is 11 and the first time he saw me cutting pool noodles and plastic cups he started pestering me to let him cut something. Ordinarily I wouldn't let him touch a 4 foot razor but he is a 2nd degree black belt and has a generous amount of discipline, so I let him "give it a whack." My 39"-42" Musashis seemed a little unwieldy for him and since he is my #1 son ( I only have one son) I decided to get him something more manageable. Not to mention it was a good excuse for me to buy another sword After consulting the SBG forums and seeing some good feedback on KC swords I decided to take the plunge.
Ordering
I chose to call KC directly rather than order over the internet as I was hoping to get a good deal on buying 3 swords. The lady I spoke with was very pleasant and I did wrangle an excellent deal, but not on the Wakizashi. I paid full price for my son's Wakizashi $165.00. During the conversation I was informed that this blade and the blade on one of the Korean swords I ordered were both forged by 3rd generation sword smiths. I was told that when I got the sword I would probably want to keep it for myself. Overall I must say I was pleased with the pre-sale experience. Often times I feel like I am being rushed into placing an order so the person on the other end of the phone can get on to "more important" business. Not the case with KC! The lady I spoke with was very patient in answering all my questions and genuinely made me feel that KC wanted my business and expected me to be happy with their product.
Unpacking
The packaging, much like the fittings on the KC wak were plain and simple. No presentation box to appease the emperor here! I ordered 3 swords the Wakizashi and 2 Korean swords and they all arrived in the same plain brown box filled with bubble wrap. The packaging is very telling of the swords themselves, no frills but gets the job done.
Initial dry handling impressions
The simple wood saya is deceiving. It doesn't look like much but when you touch it there is an understated feeling of elegance. I must admit that my first impression of the Wakizashi was , in a word, ugly. the handling of it on the other hand is excellent indeed. It feels very well balanced and light. It is small in comparison to my other katanas, so small that it compelled to liken it to a toy. the weight of it makes it a deceptively dangerous sword and make no mistake, it is a sword! Additionally the sword has a wonderful sound as it slices the air, I forget the technical term for this so someone please flame me into knowledge
Overview of statistics
Blade length: 18.75"
Hilt length: 10.0"
Overall: 28.75"
Guard Height: ?.?"
POB (point of balance): 4.5" from base of guard
COP (center of percussion - 'the sweet spot'): ??.?" from the guard
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
I'm not positive on the exact length of the tsuka or the POB, these are approximate. I'll update it when I get an accurate measurement.
DESIGN, FIT & FINISH
The Blade
The blade is simple and deadly. It does have real hamon, but the hamon is straight and hard to see. I will be etching the blade to bring this out later and will post pics after. Cecil at KC was most helpful in telling me step by step the process to etch the blade. The blade is made of 5160 carbon steel and is 3/16 thick moving to 1/4 thick at the habaki.
Yokote - yes!
The KC wakizashi II does feature a real geometric yokote that is quite attractive to me. I love this feature on the blade.
The Habaki and Seppa
The habaki is made of iron and the seppa is brass. Both are done in the same simplistic style as the rest of the fittings.
The Grip
The Tsuka is a hardwood core wrapped in a flat black cord ito(not sure what kind of cord.) Beneath the ito are a pair of brass dragon menuki. the Fuchi and Kashira are matched blackened iron and a single bamboo mekugi finishes it off.
The Kashira
The kashira is a matched black iron that fits well with the rest of the sword.
The Tsuba
The tsuba is a simple black iron round design. While this seems rather plain I must admit it grows on me each day. It is almost an enigma for a sword to look so plain and cut so well. It's understated simplicity lends it a feel of raw elegance that seems to be more likable each time I cut with it.
The Saya
The light hardwood saya is again beautifully understated. It looks deceptively plain but has a warmth to the smooth unlaquered wood. It's kinda like a guitar I used to own that had an unfinished neck, there was no polyurethane to slow you down while playing. This saya feels much the same, as though it were made to be handled. I must admit that the lack of sageo was a bother to me..I don't know why.
The kurikata and koiguchi
The kurikata is real black water buffalo horn and the koiguchi is blackened iron to match the other fittings.
The Kojiri
The Kojiri is again the blackened iron found in the other fittings.
TESTING
Cutting paper
Since I did buy this for my number one son and it is his sword I decided to let him star in his own you tube video to demonstrate the KC wakizashi in all it's glory. Besides, what better way to test a sword than put it in the hands of a novice? ;D The video of his cuts are posted below. This was his second time EVER cutting paper.
Yes, of course I did! You didn't really think I would abstain from the fun did you?
The sword comes extremely sharp. It is very light and easily maneuverable. I cut paper and empty water bottles with it to great effect in spite of me being a noob at this. The more I cut, the more I wanted to cut. This wakizashi really compels you to swing it. It is lighter than I'm used to so I found myself just getting caught up in the fun of watching the cute little sword cause devastating cuts to whatever it targeted.
CONCLUSION and SBG Ratings
The blade is excellent. The fittings are tight and functional. There is a little rattle in the saya with mine but that may be attributed to change in environment. Cecil was excellent at giving me some advice on how to correct this and I will be doing so soon. While this particular Wakizashi is a little short for me it is perfect for my son. It is deceptively dangerous and contains an understated elegance that gives it a warm, almost live feeling. The grip feels good in the hands and is comfortable. This sword, in spite of it's plain looks, has a lot of character. If you are looking for flash I wouldn't recommend this one but if cutting ability is your primary goal...BINGO! I am extremely happy with this purchase and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a Wakizashi in this size. Furthermore, I must state that the customer service at Kris Cutlery is beyond compare. They went above and beyond to answer questions and make me happy with what I purchased.
Historical Accuracy: ?/5 I'm an idiot and know nothing of this
Fit and Finish: 4/5 -1 for rattle in saya- may be nothing though
Handling: 5/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5 - I did hit a wood dowel and not even a scratch or blur.
Value for Money: 5/5 For the price I think it'd be hard to find a better Wakizashi
OVERALL: 4.5/5
Pros
- Sharpens up nicely to razor edged
- Nice blade
- Simple elegance
- Cutting with it is just plain fun!
Cons
- Tsuka slightly short for 2 handed strikes
- Plain looking - but grows on you
The Bottom Line
I would reccomend this to anyone looking for a short lightweight wakizashi. For me, it fit perfectly with my goal of getting a high quality sword at a reasonable price to start my son out with. Heck, I have to admit the light weight, sharpness and overall feel of this one made it one of my favorites also. The short sword lends itself to being a favorite for pure cutting fun.
Reviewed by Jim Dalton AR USA
I am relatively new to cutting and have already acquired a passion for it. I have a son who is 11 and the first time he saw me cutting pool noodles and plastic cups he started pestering me to let him cut something. Ordinarily I wouldn't let him touch a 4 foot razor but he is a 2nd degree black belt and has a generous amount of discipline, so I let him "give it a whack." My 39"-42" Musashis seemed a little unwieldy for him and since he is my #1 son ( I only have one son) I decided to get him something more manageable. Not to mention it was a good excuse for me to buy another sword After consulting the SBG forums and seeing some good feedback on KC swords I decided to take the plunge.
Ordering
I chose to call KC directly rather than order over the internet as I was hoping to get a good deal on buying 3 swords. The lady I spoke with was very pleasant and I did wrangle an excellent deal, but not on the Wakizashi. I paid full price for my son's Wakizashi $165.00. During the conversation I was informed that this blade and the blade on one of the Korean swords I ordered were both forged by 3rd generation sword smiths. I was told that when I got the sword I would probably want to keep it for myself. Overall I must say I was pleased with the pre-sale experience. Often times I feel like I am being rushed into placing an order so the person on the other end of the phone can get on to "more important" business. Not the case with KC! The lady I spoke with was very patient in answering all my questions and genuinely made me feel that KC wanted my business and expected me to be happy with their product.
Unpacking
The packaging, much like the fittings on the KC wak were plain and simple. No presentation box to appease the emperor here! I ordered 3 swords the Wakizashi and 2 Korean swords and they all arrived in the same plain brown box filled with bubble wrap. The packaging is very telling of the swords themselves, no frills but gets the job done.
Initial dry handling impressions
The simple wood saya is deceiving. It doesn't look like much but when you touch it there is an understated feeling of elegance. I must admit that my first impression of the Wakizashi was , in a word, ugly. the handling of it on the other hand is excellent indeed. It feels very well balanced and light. It is small in comparison to my other katanas, so small that it compelled to liken it to a toy. the weight of it makes it a deceptively dangerous sword and make no mistake, it is a sword! Additionally the sword has a wonderful sound as it slices the air, I forget the technical term for this so someone please flame me into knowledge
Overview of statistics
Blade length: 18.75"
Hilt length: 10.0"
Overall: 28.75"
Guard Height: ?.?"
POB (point of balance): 4.5" from base of guard
COP (center of percussion - 'the sweet spot'): ??.?" from the guard
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
I'm not positive on the exact length of the tsuka or the POB, these are approximate. I'll update it when I get an accurate measurement.
DESIGN, FIT & FINISH
The Blade
The blade is simple and deadly. It does have real hamon, but the hamon is straight and hard to see. I will be etching the blade to bring this out later and will post pics after. Cecil at KC was most helpful in telling me step by step the process to etch the blade. The blade is made of 5160 carbon steel and is 3/16 thick moving to 1/4 thick at the habaki.
Yokote - yes!
The KC wakizashi II does feature a real geometric yokote that is quite attractive to me. I love this feature on the blade.
The Habaki and Seppa
The habaki is made of iron and the seppa is brass. Both are done in the same simplistic style as the rest of the fittings.
The Grip
The Tsuka is a hardwood core wrapped in a flat black cord ito(not sure what kind of cord.) Beneath the ito are a pair of brass dragon menuki. the Fuchi and Kashira are matched blackened iron and a single bamboo mekugi finishes it off.
The Kashira
The kashira is a matched black iron that fits well with the rest of the sword.
The Tsuba
The tsuba is a simple black iron round design. While this seems rather plain I must admit it grows on me each day. It is almost an enigma for a sword to look so plain and cut so well. It's understated simplicity lends it a feel of raw elegance that seems to be more likable each time I cut with it.
The Saya
The light hardwood saya is again beautifully understated. It looks deceptively plain but has a warmth to the smooth unlaquered wood. It's kinda like a guitar I used to own that had an unfinished neck, there was no polyurethane to slow you down while playing. This saya feels much the same, as though it were made to be handled. I must admit that the lack of sageo was a bother to me..I don't know why.
The kurikata and koiguchi
The kurikata is real black water buffalo horn and the koiguchi is blackened iron to match the other fittings.
The Kojiri
The Kojiri is again the blackened iron found in the other fittings.
TESTING
Cutting paper
Since I did buy this for my number one son and it is his sword I decided to let him star in his own you tube video to demonstrate the KC wakizashi in all it's glory. Besides, what better way to test a sword than put it in the hands of a novice? ;D The video of his cuts are posted below. This was his second time EVER cutting paper.
Yes, of course I did! You didn't really think I would abstain from the fun did you?
The sword comes extremely sharp. It is very light and easily maneuverable. I cut paper and empty water bottles with it to great effect in spite of me being a noob at this. The more I cut, the more I wanted to cut. This wakizashi really compels you to swing it. It is lighter than I'm used to so I found myself just getting caught up in the fun of watching the cute little sword cause devastating cuts to whatever it targeted.
CONCLUSION and SBG Ratings
The blade is excellent. The fittings are tight and functional. There is a little rattle in the saya with mine but that may be attributed to change in environment. Cecil was excellent at giving me some advice on how to correct this and I will be doing so soon. While this particular Wakizashi is a little short for me it is perfect for my son. It is deceptively dangerous and contains an understated elegance that gives it a warm, almost live feeling. The grip feels good in the hands and is comfortable. This sword, in spite of it's plain looks, has a lot of character. If you are looking for flash I wouldn't recommend this one but if cutting ability is your primary goal...BINGO! I am extremely happy with this purchase and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a Wakizashi in this size. Furthermore, I must state that the customer service at Kris Cutlery is beyond compare. They went above and beyond to answer questions and make me happy with what I purchased.
Historical Accuracy: ?/5 I'm an idiot and know nothing of this
Fit and Finish: 4/5 -1 for rattle in saya- may be nothing though
Handling: 5/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5 - I did hit a wood dowel and not even a scratch or blur.
Value for Money: 5/5 For the price I think it'd be hard to find a better Wakizashi
OVERALL: 4.5/5
Pros
- Sharpens up nicely to razor edged
- Nice blade
- Simple elegance
- Cutting with it is just plain fun!
Cons
- Tsuka slightly short for 2 handed strikes
- Plain looking - but grows on you
The Bottom Line
I would reccomend this to anyone looking for a short lightweight wakizashi. For me, it fit perfectly with my goal of getting a high quality sword at a reasonable price to start my son out with. Heck, I have to admit the light weight, sharpness and overall feel of this one made it one of my favorites also. The short sword lends itself to being a favorite for pure cutting fun.