I know no ones going to believe this

G

galen59

Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
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A friend and myself were cutting some rolled, wet tatami mats in a variety of thicknesses, with a Hanwai Prac. Plus, and a cold Steel warrior katana, the hanwei did as it alway's does, it cuts, i've never had a problem with it, the cold steels wood, just behind the tsuba shattered, leaving the blade fine, the wood looked to be just crap, to dry, flakey, ect. just putting it out there...G.
 
Actually... I do believe you - why would you lie?
Course, it sucks when it happens. Just be glad noone was hurt (I hope?).
 
Why would we not believe this? As has been mentioned in other posts it's not like Cold Steel is the ultimate standard in quality or anything...
 
The only problem I have really heard about the Cold Steel Katana is that the tsuka wood often cracks and the entire handle is really only being held together by the tsuka ito (wrap). This seemed to be a problem with the older ones and I know a few other companies have reports of this as well.

The Cold Steel is considered by many to be a good back yard beater but you will have to have the tsuka repaired.
 
Check out the home improvements section of sword forum international if you want to try and make a new tsuka yourself. there are lots of talented people there.

greg
 
Bimmer1 said:
The only problem I have really heard about the Cold Steel Katana is that the tsuka wood often cracks and the entire handle is really only being held together by the tsuka ito (wrap). This seemed to be a problem with the older ones and I know a few other companies have reports of this as well.

The Cold Steel is considered by many to be a good back yard beater but you will have to have the tsuka repaired.
Click to expand...

I can't say how many reports are hearsay or simply falsely attributed reports. A good many production tsuka are often reported as cracked by folk disassembling their swords. How many did so by thumping on the tsuba? What were they thumping with?

The Cold Steel katana were originally coming from a forge or forges influenced by Fred Chen (now Hunano). Fred Chen used to be partnered with Rick Barret and others to bring in what were/are Cicada Forge wares.. In fact, some of the old articles about Rick discuss his traveling and working with Fred Chen.

Somewhere along the way, Cold Steel decided to rename a bit and offer both the Warrior series and the Imperial series. My understanding is that little changed but that the Imperial series had a bit more attention paid to them in construction and finish (specifically polish levels and fittings).

I have read as many praise the Cold Steel katana and this was from the very start by folk such as Eric Tracy and other (not wholly inexperienced) enthusiasts of Japanese style swords. Some have found the basic katana heavy and even Eric noted differences in feel from example to example quite early on. Even now, what I read seems to indicate either love or hate. An aquaintance whose katana judgement I trust pretty much more than what I read on the internet has expressed thought that they (basic warrior katana) were "really not bad, price considered".

It's easy to pick on Cold Steel and I admit to doing my share of it but from a view of fair observation, the Warrior grade katana have really probably been as reliable and trustworthy as anything else out there in the same price range. That they are through hardened has been viewed as a plus from the get go, except by those that "need" a hamon.

Nor would I give my words any more credence than anything else you might read, aside from owners of the product themselves have actually written. What I did write does mostly reflect what I have read about Cold Steel katana right from the introduction, now nearly a decade ago (well, eight years, threabouts).

Cheers

GC
 
My experience with the Warrior Katana is similar. Poor wood and overall poor handle fit and construction. The wood is very dry and on the ones I had experience with, seemed cracked from the go. My personal one is now without handle in process for customization. The blade is solid though and from what I understand made from 1050 or 1055 steel. Mine is a solid performer just in need of new mountings. For overall construction for price, I've had best luck with Hanwei and Last Legend, but my Hanwei experience came from Bugei Trading, not their regular lineup. I also look forward to checking out pieces from Cheness in the future, heard good things there too.
 
Sorry I've no way to get the pics here, If you look at a sword blade in fifths, all the cuts I was making were in the 2nd and 3rd forward fifths of the blade, one should never try a cut
with the rear fifth, bad things could occur, anyway I've most of the inletting done on the new tsuka, the wrap is always hardest for me,,..G
 
Sorry I've no way to get the pics here, If you look at a sword blade in fifths, all the cuts I was making were in the 2nd and 3rd forward fifths of the blade, one should never try a cut
with the rear fifth, bad things could occur, anyway I've most of the inletting done on the new tsuka, the wrap is always hardest for me,,..G
 
Well we sell Cold Steel Swords and we test all the time and have never encountered any breakages. Though I guess breaks are unavoidable 100% of the time
 
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I am relatively new to swords. My first purchase is the Hanwei Tactical Wakizashi. I was not concerned with traditional construction so a full tang and kraton scales seemed a plus to me.
 
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