Sword Reviews

**ACRAWFORD** · 08-27-2004, 10:09

Ok, I am starting this thread so that it can eventually contain enough information to be placed in the best of forum.

Please give information about what sword you use where you got it from and how much it costs. I would also ask that you give your opinion on the quality of the blade.

I personally use the nami iaito from Paul Chen, it retails for $300 dollars but I purchaced it at a large discoulnt from mantiss swords. For the practice of iaido I find this to be an excellent blade for beginners and somewhat advanced students. The wrapping on the tsuka is superb and has withstood months and months of use. The blade is still secure in the tsuka and shows no signs of wear and tear. The only thing I had to replace was the sageo due to the fact that it was too short. I would recomend this blade to anyone looking to buy a good blade at a resonable price.

**David Craik** · 08-27-2004, 17:37

I use a Hanwei Shinto katana. It is a light, fast sword; which I suppose could be desirable or undesirable depending on the user's preference. The blade of is of monosteel, which means that it is a single piece of high carbon steel (in this case from the old railroad tracks of the trans-Siberian railroad) and not folded. It is differentially hardened to achieve a Rockwell hardness of about 60 on the ha and approximately 40-something on the mune. It retails for under $600.I got it from Museum Replicas Ltd. about 5 years ago.

The polish is a 'working' one, and the hamon is real but rather plain. It cuts very well. I especially like the fittings, which are a dragon theme and very detailed - especially the iron tsuba. The same is real, but the nodes are small and a bit flat. The cotton ito and sageo are good - functional but nothing spectacular. The lacquer on the saya looks very nice, and the kojiri and koiguchi are genuine horn.

Aesthetics aside, it is a good functional sword which would be great for a first shinken, those who particularly like lighter swords, or those on a rather tight budget (like me

). The only functional improvement I would really like is a thicker tsuka, as my hands are pretty big.

**David Craik** · 08-30-2004, 16:00

Dang guys...I see a lot of people viewing the forum...no one has a sword?

**Paul B** · 08-30-2004, 17:05

Huhh? Do I have a sword? Oh yeah...I guess I do!

I own a Cold Steel Warrior Series Katana...$324

This thing is a monster! Very heavy...not for newbies or people looking for light and fast...it''s more of a very sharp "let the blade do the work" kind of sword.

Steel - 1050 AUS "spring tempered" --see above threads
Tsuka - 11.75 inch Tsuka Ito - Same, *very* thick tsuka/slight "waisting".
Blade - 29 3/8 inch -Heavy,not too bad of a sori..no hamon

Saya- Black lacquer... koiguchi is a snug fit=no rattles!
Polish - "Dark" polish, meaning not mirror ,kind of gray actually

Tsuba- Black iron in a "Dragon" motif...very nice!

Overall,aesthetics aside. It is a tremendous cutting blade,holds an edge forever,although,I would suggest that..you have experience in handling a shinken before you buy this sword, it really is that heavy. Ideal for "bigger" people

,who just feel like they're not being challenged enough with a
normal everyday shinken.

Let me just say that obviously I am not a great "reviewer", but that smilie of Dave's just spoke to me!

**StanLee** · 09-01-2004, 03:12

I have a hanwai Bushido.

The tsuka is a little long for my preferences and the blade is a tad on the short side (to being just correct).

It is easy to handle and has a light feel to it compared to my sensei's shinken from Ninecircles (the top of the range one).

I have changed the original lumpy square tsuba to the Chen "winter bamboo" round tsuba, so I think that this may have changed the balance of the sword.

Have not cut with it yet, but if I had waited a few months longer... I would have gone for the Ninecircles shinken. It is heavier and seems to have a more solid feel to it.

**kenkyusha** · 09-14-2004, 15:13

Howdy,

We (my two classmates and I) use the 'Paul Chen Golden Oriole.'

Pros:
-overall, good for the price/amount of abuse they are subjected to
-nakago that is long enough to for tameshigiri
-blade is serviceable (not a fine polish and certainly not an art blade)
-nicely cast tsuba (clean lines on the imprint at any rate)

Cons:
some of the furniture is... interesting (don't know if these issues have been corrected on more recent models, ours are 4+ years old).
-The tsukagashira is not well secured, and so any hiki after a cut has to be moderate (obviously, that isn't a bad thing in some regards), but it also greatly affects what waza we feel comfortable doing at speed (eg age uke vs yokogiri is iffy, unless one fancies ending-up with a handful of tsuka-ito and the kashira in the left hand, the rest of the ken in the right).
-The saya are prone to humidity damage (we are fairly cautious, use silica gel packs etc.); mine has started to split along the mune side... even botched batto/noto doesn't account for it in this spot.

On balance though, they have held-up rather well through both cutting and paired practice, and considering that even 10 years ago, production blades of any quality didn't exist for under $1000 (American), I'm not complaining!!

Be well,
Jigme

**Peter-JNK-LA** · 10-04-2004, 09:31

I've had the opportunity to cut with a few different Paul Chen swords. They're all nice enough, cut well, feel a little "top-heavy" but all around fine.

I also have done quite a bit of cutting with a sword I brought back from Japan, which feels very nice. It is unsigned (a great way to get a cheaper blade if you're living there - "cheap" being around $3000, unfortunately). I really enjoy this blade - light, handles well.

Very happily, some of my top students recently presented me with a gift of a Last Legend Tsunami. It is fabulous - cuts very well. Lots more curve (sori), and much wider from blade to mune, but overall an absolute pleasure to use.

Hope this helps,

Peter Steeves

**Vnguyen** · 10-07-2004, 17:16

First post on this forum saw the link over at e-Budo.

I own a Tozando Higo Basic iaito. Nice blade fairly cheap depending on the exchange rate. Tight wrap, nice fittings(if your into Higo). Its 27.5inch blade with 10.5inch tsuka. Feels good to me.

Recently purchased a Alf Tan designed Paul Chen made Kotetsu. The has been discontinued unless you order a batch of 10(at $1000 each). Original price was $1450. Mines is fairly used so got a good deal on it. Its been shortened from the original length of 28 7/8 to 27.5. Great blade healthy geometry, very tight wrap, full wrap same, also has a very shallow cut bohi which due to size doesn't really affect blade strength. Its got a very even thickness on the blade.

Thats all for my first post.

V

**kroh** · 11-01-2004, 09:08

Hey there all...

I have been trolling around this board but Have recently started posting.

I own two swords that I use regularly...

I own a Practical Plus Katana that I use for drawing excersizes as the blade and handle force me to watch my form as I draw (ok ok...no heckling the midget...). It is a good sword for what I am using it for although I have not cut with it yet.

The sword that I use for cutting is a Last Legend Field MK I. I have to practice with this sword alot as it has a lot more belly than the PK+. Cuts nicely enough though, and seems to be holding up to the stresses nicely.

I would actually recomend either blade...nice price and a lot of bang for the buck.

Regards,
Walt

**pgsmith** · 03-24-2005, 13:25

My iaito is from Swordstore/Nosyuiaido. I am guessing it would qualify as a mid-level. I've used it for the last 8+ years and am still very happy with it. Comparable model currently goes for around $500.

I have had two different Swordstore steel iaito that I cut and kata regularly with. Both have very nice fittings and tsukamaki, very pretty! Both cut really well. Both bend fairly easily on a botched cut. Current prices are running about $1400 for in-stock swords.

I currently cut with a Hataya Kotetsu katana from East Coast Martial Arts Supplies. It has the tightest suede leather ito I've ever seen as well as a full same wrap. The tsuba is a bit ugly, but it cuts very, very well and I've yet to bend it. Of course, I've been very, very careful how I cut with it also.

This sword would take your fingers if you looked at it wrong. Current prices are $3300.

I've also used iaito from Bogu-Bag, e-bogu, Tozando, and Meirin. I have cut with various of the Paul Chen models as well as Bugei Shobu and a couple different L.L. blades. I don't actually own those though so I'll leave them off.

As far as quality of the blade, that is really fairly irrelevant. As long as it's not stainless steel, it's fairly easy to make a half-way decent blade. It is the fittings, balance, and finish that add the cost. These are also the things that ultimately affect the feel and overall satisfaction with a sword.

That's my take on it as my first post here.

Cheers!

Paul

**David Craik** · 03-24-2005, 13:27

Thanks Paul. Great first post - and welcome!

**Charles Mahan** · 03-24-2005, 15:12

And another welcome to an e-budo refugee. I seem to be saying that alot lately

**A.J. Bryant** · 08-04-2006, 11:00

Hello everyone,

For those that might be interested, our dojo recently reviewed two Daimyo 1095 Hand-Polished Tameshigiri katana from Dynasty Forge. Excellent sword for the price. The review is now available in PDF format here:

Dynasty Review

Pictures can be found here:

Pictures & Review Synopsis

Please visit Dynasty Forge's website for more information on their swords.

Thanks must go to Derrick and Francis of Dynasty for making this possible!