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Shinken Katana Comments Page 6 (Prev/Next)

Last Legend Reinami 4096 layer bohi

Sales Pitch (Last Legend)

The design of the Kumoryu family follows in the footsteps of the Tsunami/Dragon type of blade but with Last Legend's latest improvements and keeping the one-inch sori.

The Kumoryu Family - In the Kumoryu family of blades we find the master of the cutting swords. Based on Nanbokucho period sugata with little taper from machi to yokote, an outstanding masame jihada in the folded versions and chu kissaki. This robust sword sports a 1.1 inch sori, little niku and torizori for superior cutting ability. Each of the new sword families has 6 basic configurations. The blade "design" is identical in each configuration within that family. The difference between each is the blade material, the number of folds, and/or the level of intricacy of the furniture.

• 1.1 inch sori .
• Standard length - Blade 27.5 or 29.0 inches
• Available with or without Bohi at NO extra cost
• Handle 11.0 inches.
• Natural horn throat cap.
• Silk embroidered and fully lined sword bag
• Tsuba design - Reinami (Spirit Wave) tsuba design is solid disk designed from a famous Japanese wood block, Katsushika Hokusai's "In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa" (a giant tsunami as it poises over fishermen in boats with Mt. Fuji in the background.
• Habaki, seppa, and menuki are in nickel silver.
• Reinami dual-steel 4096 layer folded blade - Differentially clay tempered
• Blue Japanese cotton wrap on white samé

Comments

This katana was a disappointing purchase.  The Fuchi was too large for the tsuka, the tsuka ito wrap was loose, and the cutting ability was not impressive.  The kissaki was better formed than the Mark VII Bear we tested, but the sword was inferior, and cost more than twice as much.  The fuchi appeared to be for a completely different sword.  The tsuka outside rim measured 1.28" x 0.55" while the fuchi inside dimension was 1.49" x 0.78".  Mihaba was less than the Mark VII Bear and edge geometry was inferior.  Small Mihaba and large sori seemed to make the sword top heavy.

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Practical XL Light Katana

Sales Pitch (Practical XL Light Katana)

The Practical Katanas have always been at the forefront of providing economical yet functional swords to the martial arts community. Now with the blade geometries and profiles of the performance series and the affordability of the Practical fittings, competition-standard cutting is within the reach of the tightest budget.

Comments

The blade is NOT glued into the tsuka like the classic Practical Katana.  We could not cut with the sword tested and that hurt it's overall rating.  It still managed to rank second in the Overall Bang for the Buck category.  It placed solidly in the Feel and Balance category, but was pretty much at the bottom of the Quality and Fittings category.  The reviewers did not like the fake same and plastic menuki, but the imitation suede did have a positive feel. 

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Practical Plus Katana

Sales Pitch (Practical Plus Katana)

The Practical Plus Katana provides a very economical cutting sword as dependable as the Practical Katana (SH1070), but using more traditional fittings and construction methods. The blade is forged and differentially tempered (HRC60 edge, HRC40 back) and the hamon is prominent. The Practical Plus features genuine Same (Rayskin) on the Tsuka, with a wrap (Tsuka-Ito) specially developed for its gripping qualities. The long tang is double-pegged for security. The fittings of the Practical Plus are decorated in a Japanese Dogwood motif with dragon menuki, and the handsome Tsuba is of an iron "sunburst" design with a brass habaki.

Comments

Many reviewers found the fake leather wrap to be too slick.  Most reviewers thought the sunburst tsuba was hard on the hands, but did not mind how it looked. 

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