(This was originally posted in another forum and then reposted here.)
So I had the oppportunity to play a bit with the HI Katana.
Blade - 26" long and approximately 3/16" wide, the blade is nice and functional (more later) though not to the the aesthetic standards perhaps of a Japanese bladesmith. The grinds are fairly even but, held in the light at a certain angle, you still see some of the indentations from the hammering in the forging process. The Nepalese smiths are used to making blades that are primarily "users."
Handle - about 10" long, the handle is definitely not what one would find with a traditonal Japanese katana handle with cordwrap over rayskin, over thin wood. It's an oval shaped rosewood handle pinned to a hidden tang. The pommel is brass capped with a pin on the end that is likely attached into the hidden tang -- much like traditional khukuris. There is a definite swell in the middle of the handle. The swell is actually functional and gives a better grip for the forward hand and prevents the hand from sliding back on slashes. The traditional Japanese handle doesn't need a swell because the cord wrap provides traction for the hand. Overall, I found the handle comfortable and consistent with the feel I get when using a bokken.
Sheath - definitely not a traditional saya of lanquered wood, form fitted to the blade. The HI sheath is made of buffalo hide and capped at the tip with a sharp brass piece (to prevent blade tip protrusion) like one would find in traditional khukuri's. This is NOT a sheath to use if you're interested in practicing iaido/iaijutsu. Live blades have been known to cut through the wooden sheath and the hand of an inexperience practitioner on the draw... The HI sheath is simply soft leather... It's probably doable to have an experience carpenter make a traditional saya for this blade if one is interested in iai.
Tsuba - Again not entirely traditional Japanese but still attractive. It has two dragons engraved into the top facing the blade.
Fit and finish - a little rough around the handle. For example, the pins are not perfectly surrounded by wood. Very slight gaps show evidence of the black native epoxy that the Nepalese use for their handle making. Also the wooden handle does not flow smoothly into the brass fittings. The wood is slightly higher and has not been sanded down to be flush with the fittings.
Cutting - Well, here's where the HI katana shines. The Nepalese smiths are used to making differentially tempered khukuris that will chop, keep an edge and not sustain fractures. This knowledge was definitely transfered to the katana. I did some cutting with the katana and my largest bowie (Evans' Dragon Slayer) for comparison.
First, I hung a 1.5"x5/8" piece of plywood wrapped with a magazine for diagonal slashes.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=135433&a=10773773&p=37127217
I started with the Evans and did two cuts. Both cuts went through the magazine (over a 100 pages) and about 1/4" into the plywood backing. Chopping through plywood is tough. The Evans suffered very minor chipping on the edge which can be detected when held up to the light at an angle. Not bad.
I removed the magazine and wrapped another on for cutting with the katana. The first kesa giri (diagonal slash) had enough force to snap the 1/4" cord used to hang the playwood piece. I retied the piece and did a second cut. The same result with the cord snapping under the force. When I unwrapped the magazine which was entirely cut through, the plywood backing was cut half way through on both cuts before the cord snapped.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=135433&a=10773773&p=37127210
In the above picture, the cuts made by the katana into the middle of the plywood piece can be clearly seen. To the left side, you can see a smaller cut made by the Evans bowie.
Next I rolled up two magazines for freestanding cuts. The setup looks like this.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=135433&a=10773773&p=37127201
Well, the katana cut through the entire magazine -- over a 110 pages -- with ease, leaving a clean crescent shape cuts showing when the mag was unfolded.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=135433&a=10773773&p=37127195
In comparison, the Evans bowie -- which is no slouch in cutting -- was able to cut through only about 50 pages on both tries.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=135433&a=10773773&p=37127198
Conclusion - for those who are interested in getting a katana for live blade practice and don't want to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the HI katana. This sword ain't the prettiest but it probably outperforms some of the "beauty queens" that are being factory produced, cost several hundred dollars more but can't hold an edge.
sing
AKTI #A000356
