Post by Marc Kaden Ridgeway on Mar 31, 2009 22:25:30 GMT -5
Kensei Matsu
This review may be an exercise in futility, as this is a prototype , and AFAIK one of a kind at the very least one of a few.However ,prototype implies possible future production so a review may be of some use other than general reference.
The Matsu came well packed as usual. Wrapped in a sword bag, and bubble wrap, double boxed, and held securely by styrofoam blocks.
Specifications
Nagasa: 28.5 in.
Tsuka: 14 in.
Weight: 2.7 lbs
Sori: 1/2 in.
Moto-Haba: 1 1/4 in.
Saki-Haba: 1 in.
Moto-Kasane: 7.5 mm
Saki-kasane: 5 mm
Steel: AISI 1070
POB: 4.5 in. from tsuba
Aesthetics
Sugata is u-no-kubi zukuri, but with a strange twist. The transition from shinogi-zukuri to high shinogi geometry occurs just half an inch from the mune machi, making it seem more of a shobu zukuri blade.
There is no yokote, and no counterpolish on the kissaki, which I think ends in a nice iris leaf shape, better than it's predecessor, the Ryu.
The tsuka is wrapped in teal-green ito over white samigawa.The menuki are gold colored dragons. The Matsu shares the fuchi-gashira with the Dragonfly, brass stone textured finish.
The tsuba is a nicely done casting in a pine tree(matsu) theme.This is my favorite tsuba on a sword of Oni/Kensei heritage.
Overall fit and finish is very good, with tight,well proportioned ito-maki , and a tight solid feel all around.
As Random noted in the Dragonfly review, the ji are a little "too satin", though as cutter it does resist scratches well.The down side is it does not show off the hamon at all. The hamon is listed as gunome-midare, bu tis hard to see, it looks as if it might have some good activity, and there seems to be traces of a "ghost hamon" but it's just too hard to see. I'll likely try a light etch, and see what happens.
Boshi is ko maru and the shinogi-ji are burnished to a mirror sheen.
The say has a black pebbled finish with a rounded end.
Handling Characteristics
The point of balance is 4.5 inches from the tsuba thanks to the cut-back shinogi-ji, and in large part to the 14" tsuka. The result is a katana that flows effortlessly from guard to guard.
I'm not partial to 14" tsuka, and it somewhat hinders the handling and manuverabilty for me, but for those that prefer longer tsuka this is a beautifully balanced katana.
One thing I am less than estatic with is the tsuka shaping. It doesn't have the taper that I'm used to from Oni/Kensei, and feels like a Hanwei tsuka in hand. That is to say, a bit bulky. Again, I am not experienced with longer tsuka, and the shaping (or lack of ) may be dictated by the length.
Cutting
The Matsu is very sharp, and has a good cutting geometry. I cut water bottles and bamboo up to 3.5 inches with no problem. The sword has more blade presence than it seems , with the rearward POB, but it is still a beefy blade.
It cuts very well, but again the 14" tsuka was a bit strange for me, but provided a little extra leverage on some of the bigger bamboo cuts.
Conclusion
Again , Kensei offers a tight well made sword, good at all the things a katana should be, and with a style all its own. One thing about Loren, he brings swords to the market that you just can't buy a counterpart to from another production company. Also models are regularly retired after a couple of generations, and new fresh models and geometries emerge. From unusual sugata , to o-tachi with koshizori among other things, Kensei sets itself apart making swords that are unique to themselves.
Nothing tugs at my wallet like an out-of-the -ordinary katana , and nothing keeps me coming back like a well made one.
Thanks for reading
This review may be an exercise in futility, as this is a prototype , and AFAIK one of a kind at the very least one of a few.However ,prototype implies possible future production so a review may be of some use other than general reference.
The Matsu came well packed as usual. Wrapped in a sword bag, and bubble wrap, double boxed, and held securely by styrofoam blocks.
Specifications
Nagasa: 28.5 in.
Tsuka: 14 in.
Weight: 2.7 lbs
Sori: 1/2 in.
Moto-Haba: 1 1/4 in.
Saki-Haba: 1 in.
Moto-Kasane: 7.5 mm
Saki-kasane: 5 mm
Steel: AISI 1070
POB: 4.5 in. from tsuba
Aesthetics
Sugata is u-no-kubi zukuri, but with a strange twist. The transition from shinogi-zukuri to high shinogi geometry occurs just half an inch from the mune machi, making it seem more of a shobu zukuri blade.
There is no yokote, and no counterpolish on the kissaki, which I think ends in a nice iris leaf shape, better than it's predecessor, the Ryu.
The tsuka is wrapped in teal-green ito over white samigawa.The menuki are gold colored dragons. The Matsu shares the fuchi-gashira with the Dragonfly, brass stone textured finish.
The tsuba is a nicely done casting in a pine tree(matsu) theme.This is my favorite tsuba on a sword of Oni/Kensei heritage.
Overall fit and finish is very good, with tight,well proportioned ito-maki , and a tight solid feel all around.
As Random noted in the Dragonfly review, the ji are a little "too satin", though as cutter it does resist scratches well.The down side is it does not show off the hamon at all. The hamon is listed as gunome-midare, bu tis hard to see, it looks as if it might have some good activity, and there seems to be traces of a "ghost hamon" but it's just too hard to see. I'll likely try a light etch, and see what happens.
Boshi is ko maru and the shinogi-ji are burnished to a mirror sheen.
The say has a black pebbled finish with a rounded end.
Handling Characteristics
The point of balance is 4.5 inches from the tsuba thanks to the cut-back shinogi-ji, and in large part to the 14" tsuka. The result is a katana that flows effortlessly from guard to guard.
I'm not partial to 14" tsuka, and it somewhat hinders the handling and manuverabilty for me, but for those that prefer longer tsuka this is a beautifully balanced katana.
One thing I am less than estatic with is the tsuka shaping. It doesn't have the taper that I'm used to from Oni/Kensei, and feels like a Hanwei tsuka in hand. That is to say, a bit bulky. Again, I am not experienced with longer tsuka, and the shaping (or lack of ) may be dictated by the length.
Cutting
The Matsu is very sharp, and has a good cutting geometry. I cut water bottles and bamboo up to 3.5 inches with no problem. The sword has more blade presence than it seems , with the rearward POB, but it is still a beefy blade.
It cuts very well, but again the 14" tsuka was a bit strange for me, but provided a little extra leverage on some of the bigger bamboo cuts.
Conclusion
Again , Kensei offers a tight well made sword, good at all the things a katana should be, and with a style all its own. One thing about Loren, he brings swords to the market that you just can't buy a counterpart to from another production company. Also models are regularly retired after a couple of generations, and new fresh models and geometries emerge. From unusual sugata , to o-tachi with koshizori among other things, Kensei sets itself apart making swords that are unique to themselves.
Nothing tugs at my wallet like an out-of-the -ordinary katana , and nothing keeps me coming back like a well made one.
Thanks for reading