hiead
October 7th, 2007, 05:10 AM
Review of the Musashi Wind Dragon Katana by Richard Williams of Evansville Indiana USA.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katana1018.jpg
The abundance of reviews for Japanese type swords has finally drew me to the dark side and I decided
to purchase my first functional katana. After much soul searching and consultation with fellow forumites
I settled on this one.
I ordered it on sunday night for a purchase price of $79 minus a store discount, minus the SBG discount,
plus standard shipping via UPS got it to my door on wendsday morning for a grand total of $81.82.
Great service, kudos to Swords of Might.
It arrived in a plastic bag inside a fancy box incased in foam peanuts surrounded by a cardboard box.
The blade was coated in nice protective coat of oil. The blade was scary sharp and carbon steel.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanainbox.jpg
I was impressed with the feel and look of the katana. Felt good and solid. I am surprized at what you can get for less than a hundred dollars.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Katinsaya.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanahilt.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanahilttop.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/endcap-1.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanahiltbottom.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Tsuba.jpg
The only downside was two chips in the saya near the throat. in my opinon QC shouldn't have missed these, two points off finish.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/sayachip2.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Sayachip.jpg
Otherwise, I was well pleased.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/sayathroat.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/kurikata.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Katstand.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katbladefront-1.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/hamon2-1.jpg
Some stats; Overall length-39 in.
Blade -27 in.
Blade width -1 1/4 in. to 1 in.
POB -3 1/2 in. from tsuba.
Weight -2 1/2 lbs.
Same' - imitation ray skin.
Ito - cotton fairly tight.
Tsuka - wood.
Hamon - faux, looks nice to me.
Mekugi - bamboo, two.
Saya - black wood.
Tsuba - brass antiqued, dragon and wind design.
Katana fits tight in the saya, no rattle. Deluxe stand included.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Bladebackwards.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Kattip1.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Brasspiece.jpg
Now on to the cutting!
-----------------------------------------
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YhgIb6y0kfo
-----------------------------------------
After cutting I see what all the ado is about katana. Even with my limited experience it cut well. Tough too as you can see in the vid I wacked my stand pretty hard and clipped the cap on that milk jug without any damage at all to the blade.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanaandsaya.jpg
To sum up: historical accuracy 3/5
fit and finish 3/5
handling 5/5
stuctural integ. 4/5
value for money 5/5
overall 4.5/5
This katana far exceeded my expectations for the price.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just copied his review with his permission of course :)
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katana1018.jpg
The abundance of reviews for Japanese type swords has finally drew me to the dark side and I decided
to purchase my first functional katana. After much soul searching and consultation with fellow forumites
I settled on this one.
I ordered it on sunday night for a purchase price of $79 minus a store discount, minus the SBG discount,
plus standard shipping via UPS got it to my door on wendsday morning for a grand total of $81.82.
Great service, kudos to Swords of Might.
It arrived in a plastic bag inside a fancy box incased in foam peanuts surrounded by a cardboard box.
The blade was coated in nice protective coat of oil. The blade was scary sharp and carbon steel.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanainbox.jpg
I was impressed with the feel and look of the katana. Felt good and solid. I am surprized at what you can get for less than a hundred dollars.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Katinsaya.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanahilt.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanahilttop.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/endcap-1.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanahiltbottom.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Tsuba.jpg
The only downside was two chips in the saya near the throat. in my opinon QC shouldn't have missed these, two points off finish.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/sayachip2.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Sayachip.jpg
Otherwise, I was well pleased.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/sayathroat.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/kurikata.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Katstand.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katbladefront-1.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/hamon2-1.jpg
Some stats; Overall length-39 in.
Blade -27 in.
Blade width -1 1/4 in. to 1 in.
POB -3 1/2 in. from tsuba.
Weight -2 1/2 lbs.
Same' - imitation ray skin.
Ito - cotton fairly tight.
Tsuka - wood.
Hamon - faux, looks nice to me.
Mekugi - bamboo, two.
Saya - black wood.
Tsuba - brass antiqued, dragon and wind design.
Katana fits tight in the saya, no rattle. Deluxe stand included.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Bladebackwards.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Kattip1.jpg
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/Brasspiece.jpg
Now on to the cutting!
-----------------------------------------
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YhgIb6y0kfo
-----------------------------------------
After cutting I see what all the ado is about katana. Even with my limited experience it cut well. Tough too as you can see in the vid I wacked my stand pretty hard and clipped the cap on that milk jug without any damage at all to the blade.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z111/RicWilly/katanaandsaya.jpg
To sum up: historical accuracy 3/5
fit and finish 3/5
handling 5/5
stuctural integ. 4/5
value for money 5/5
overall 4.5/5
This katana far exceeded my expectations for the price.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just copied his review with his permission of course :)