Firehand10k
October 30th, 2007, 12:19 AM
Bushi Uma Katana reviewed by Firehand10k
$99.99 from Swords of Might
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4233.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4242.jpg
I bought this sword because I wanted to get something different from the common black ito and saya (I already have three like that). I really like the purple tsuka-ito and the shark skin on the saya is a nice added touch.
When I opened the box and pulled this sword out of the bag it very quickly became the favorite katana in my collection. I noticed a few minor flaws but since I haven’t paid even $100 for a katana yet I have learned to weigh the flaws vs. the fine points. I’ll go on to details shortly but in this case the finer points outweighed the flaws easily. All this was super since even though the service and shipping time from SoM were great as usual I was unable to meet the UPS for the first two delivery attempts and spent two extra days in anxious anticipation of the sword’s arrival.
STATISTICS:
Blade length- 27 3/8”
Tsuka length- 10 7/8”
Overall length- 39 7/8”
Balance Point- 5” from tsuba
Weight- 2 Lbs. 7 oz.
FIT and FINISH:
Blade- This blade has a nice polish with a very distinct brushed false hamon.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4095.jpg
The brush marks on it are quite visible but on close inspection I can see that it is also enhanced with a chemical etch. This is clear from a place where the chemical bled under the stencil.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4122.jpg
The etched hamon actually extends into the boshi on one side but ends at it on the other.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4120.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4119.jpg
The bohi on this blade is very wide (5/16”) along with a 1/16” distal taper from the habaki to the yokote (along the spine) making for a blade that feels very light and maneuverable.
Habaki- This is simple brass with a frosted looking finish. One of the things that surprised me most about this sword for the price was how precisely the habaki matches the blade. Neither extends beyond the other at the edge or the spine.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4105.jpg
Tsuba- Has a nice antiqued copper finish. The horse and hills motif is quite relaxing to look at but since I’m still quite new to Japanese swords, even though I know they’re not, the images seem upside down to me with the top being toward the edge rather than the spine. Guess I prefer the more abstract designs.
Tsuka- Overall this is fairly well done but this is one area where the minor flaws I mentioned occur. The first is small gaps in the same that are visible in the openings between the tsuka-ito wraps.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4110.jpg
The same does appear to be real ray skin as advertised but it is applied in small panels not a wrap.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4112.jpg
The mekugi are removable (as indicated by the inclusion of two spares in the box) but I don’t know if I’ll try to remove them since the tsuka-ito is wrapped over both ends of both pegs.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4113.jpg
The tsuka-ito itself is nice heavy cotton. Its not as soft as some I have handled but it is soft enough to produce a comfortable and secure grip. It is not wrapped evenly but it is very tight. The fuchi, mekugi, and kashira are all the same antiqued copper as the tsuba making for a pleasing consistency to the appearance.
Saya- The saya, while having the other minor flaws mentioned when I began, also holds a few surprising positives I hadn’t expected in a sword of this price. The first if these is the way the wood is recessed to accommodate the shark skin wrap. It even has areas that are filled back, after having been cut in a straight line, to match curves in the cut of the shark skin.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4131.jpg
The finish of the saya is also very shiny and smooth with no visible seams. The flaw here is where some of the shark skin is coming loose at the edge.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4132.jpg
I think it would be nicer too if the shitodome in the kurikata were the same antiqued copper as the sword’s fittings instead of gold but that is my own minor aesthetic preference.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4136.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4115.jpg
CUTTING:
Another fine cutter straight out of the box. I actually managed to get around to trying out some targets other than water bottles. It did cut bottles well but it was a great instructor on other targets. You can see from the video that I once again managed to cut into my tabletop and the sword survived the blow. The sharpness of the sword is also clear in the way it can smoothly cut boxes and pool noodles (when I manage to swing somewhere near correct). It even cut well to the right (something I know I am particularly poor at). Some will argue that these are poor targets for testing a sword but I would counter that at my experience level and with my very poor form/technique the sword is doing most of the work. Even after I finished abusing it for the day all of the fittings were still as tight as when I received it.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/th_Cutting.jpg (http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/?action=view¤t=Cutting.flv)
CONCLUSION:
I think as an obvious beginner I managed to prove that for the price this is an excellent starter sword. I wouldn’t recommend it for someone looking for a perfect looking katana due to many small aesthetic flaws. For someone who wants a good looking Japanese style sword that can take a beating in the hands of an amateur chopper with aspirations of training himself to be a samurai this sword is almost ideal. This one is sure to remain one of my favorite katanas even after I can get ones I know are better.
Historical Accuracy- 2/5
Fit and Finish- 3/5
Handling- 4/5
Structural Integrity- 5/5
Value for the money- 5/5
Overall- 4/5
$99.99 from Swords of Might
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4233.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4242.jpg
I bought this sword because I wanted to get something different from the common black ito and saya (I already have three like that). I really like the purple tsuka-ito and the shark skin on the saya is a nice added touch.
When I opened the box and pulled this sword out of the bag it very quickly became the favorite katana in my collection. I noticed a few minor flaws but since I haven’t paid even $100 for a katana yet I have learned to weigh the flaws vs. the fine points. I’ll go on to details shortly but in this case the finer points outweighed the flaws easily. All this was super since even though the service and shipping time from SoM were great as usual I was unable to meet the UPS for the first two delivery attempts and spent two extra days in anxious anticipation of the sword’s arrival.
STATISTICS:
Blade length- 27 3/8”
Tsuka length- 10 7/8”
Overall length- 39 7/8”
Balance Point- 5” from tsuba
Weight- 2 Lbs. 7 oz.
FIT and FINISH:
Blade- This blade has a nice polish with a very distinct brushed false hamon.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4095.jpg
The brush marks on it are quite visible but on close inspection I can see that it is also enhanced with a chemical etch. This is clear from a place where the chemical bled under the stencil.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4122.jpg
The etched hamon actually extends into the boshi on one side but ends at it on the other.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4120.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4119.jpg
The bohi on this blade is very wide (5/16”) along with a 1/16” distal taper from the habaki to the yokote (along the spine) making for a blade that feels very light and maneuverable.
Habaki- This is simple brass with a frosted looking finish. One of the things that surprised me most about this sword for the price was how precisely the habaki matches the blade. Neither extends beyond the other at the edge or the spine.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4105.jpg
Tsuba- Has a nice antiqued copper finish. The horse and hills motif is quite relaxing to look at but since I’m still quite new to Japanese swords, even though I know they’re not, the images seem upside down to me with the top being toward the edge rather than the spine. Guess I prefer the more abstract designs.
Tsuka- Overall this is fairly well done but this is one area where the minor flaws I mentioned occur. The first is small gaps in the same that are visible in the openings between the tsuka-ito wraps.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4110.jpg
The same does appear to be real ray skin as advertised but it is applied in small panels not a wrap.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4112.jpg
The mekugi are removable (as indicated by the inclusion of two spares in the box) but I don’t know if I’ll try to remove them since the tsuka-ito is wrapped over both ends of both pegs.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4113.jpg
The tsuka-ito itself is nice heavy cotton. Its not as soft as some I have handled but it is soft enough to produce a comfortable and secure grip. It is not wrapped evenly but it is very tight. The fuchi, mekugi, and kashira are all the same antiqued copper as the tsuba making for a pleasing consistency to the appearance.
Saya- The saya, while having the other minor flaws mentioned when I began, also holds a few surprising positives I hadn’t expected in a sword of this price. The first if these is the way the wood is recessed to accommodate the shark skin wrap. It even has areas that are filled back, after having been cut in a straight line, to match curves in the cut of the shark skin.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4131.jpg
The finish of the saya is also very shiny and smooth with no visible seams. The flaw here is where some of the shark skin is coming loose at the edge.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4132.jpg
I think it would be nicer too if the shitodome in the kurikata were the same antiqued copper as the sword’s fittings instead of gold but that is my own minor aesthetic preference.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4136.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/IMG_4115.jpg
CUTTING:
Another fine cutter straight out of the box. I actually managed to get around to trying out some targets other than water bottles. It did cut bottles well but it was a great instructor on other targets. You can see from the video that I once again managed to cut into my tabletop and the sword survived the blow. The sharpness of the sword is also clear in the way it can smoothly cut boxes and pool noodles (when I manage to swing somewhere near correct). It even cut well to the right (something I know I am particularly poor at). Some will argue that these are poor targets for testing a sword but I would counter that at my experience level and with my very poor form/technique the sword is doing most of the work. Even after I finished abusing it for the day all of the fittings were still as tight as when I received it.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/th_Cutting.jpg (http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff79/Firehand10k/Bushi%20Uma%20Katana%20Review/?action=view¤t=Cutting.flv)
CONCLUSION:
I think as an obvious beginner I managed to prove that for the price this is an excellent starter sword. I wouldn’t recommend it for someone looking for a perfect looking katana due to many small aesthetic flaws. For someone who wants a good looking Japanese style sword that can take a beating in the hands of an amateur chopper with aspirations of training himself to be a samurai this sword is almost ideal. This one is sure to remain one of my favorite katanas even after I can get ones I know are better.
Historical Accuracy- 2/5
Fit and Finish- 3/5
Handling- 4/5
Structural Integrity- 5/5
Value for the money- 5/5
Overall- 4/5