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Post by Please Delete on Jun 4, 2015 20:59:07 GMT -5
This is an SCA C&T legal katana from Castille Armory. Still waiting for it to arrive, but very excited. I specifically asked for the traditional nakago style. The tsuba is also a custom request (a mokko tsuba with a well-frame design).
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2015 21:33:56 GMT -5
This is an SCA C&T legal katana from Castille Armory. Still waiting for it to arrive, but very excited. I specifically asked for the traditional nakago style. The tsuba is also a custom request (a mokko tsuba with a well-frame design). Verra nize! They really seem to have "the look" figured out.
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Post by Please Delete on Jun 4, 2015 22:03:16 GMT -5
Verra nize! They really seem to have "the look" figured out. Apparently he studied with an American smith (I'm blanking on the name) to learn the shape, etc. So far, I'm quite impressed. There are some nods to the fact that it is SCA (I don't think there is a habaki, and the cross-section isn't going to come to the same point at the ha), but the overall shape is better than anything else I've seen. He also does one with his own hilt, but those are done with a tang like his western swords, and I wanted to be able to get a more traditional tsuka made.
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Post by thomas on Jun 14, 2015 5:37:59 GMT -5
Sure dont like they put it on the ground. Hope they dont do this with genuine swords. If they ever come a cross one.
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Post by Please Delete on Jun 14, 2015 7:07:58 GMT -5
Given what they intend their swords to be put through, not a problem.
FYI, I received the sword, and I'm very happy, but some things I've noted
1) This is very thick, and, while I haven't tested it, fully, I suspect it is just at the C&T level and would not want to use it for heavy rapier.
2) The weight is comparable to my iaito, and there doesn't seem to be the same flex I've seen in katana made with Darkwood or other sabre blades.
3) Without the tsuka it still feels right, which makes me happy.
4) the edges are all rounded, even the defining lines like the shinogi. I'm wondering if this was because it is expected to be used in SCA combat, and this reduces the chances of burrs, etc., but I don't know.
5) The nakago comes pre-pierced, and it is rectangular, rather than following the shape of the blade. I'm going to talk to my tsuka maker and get his thoughts, as we may want to file it down for a better tsuka fit. At the very least we may want add or own yasurime. That said, I'll probably take Nakamura sensei's advice and look at one bamboo mekugi and a back-up out of metal, since I expect the Holt to take some abuse.
6) I'm also deciding what to do about the lack of habaki, given the shape. I may create a collar out of a piece of copper pipe, but that will be before the tsuka. Likewise, I'll probably want seppa made for it.
7) Also, the blade is thinner than any of my actual blades. That will make for some interesting lines that we may have to think through.
All that said, for the price point, I'm pretty happy. Yes, I could probably get an actual iaito for a similar cost, and then further dull the edges, but I'm not sure how that would hold up. I'm now wondering about some of the steel iaito manufacturers, and what their stuff is like, and could it be adapted.
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