I think it is a commonly used bonji motif, that being said I do not have the translation! My apologies!

@@StudioGDT No worries. Still, cool katana. The one handed tsuka is an interesting feature. And I've only heard good things about SD's polish.

@@christopherdacunha8636 they definitely have some gorgeous polishes. Katateuchi-gatana is definitely interesting

@@richardhenry1969 I think you might have missed the purpose of the review and the project. Many sword manufacturers are not keen to make custom swords. They would much rather stick to premade off the shelf models. The purpose of this sword and review was to demonstrate the manufactures willingness to build what you want and to do so with care and respect. So what we are looking at is, 1.Can they make your request happen? 2.Can they successfully deviate from standard measurements/configuration? And 3.How well did they execute the vision? All those things were discussed and answered. What makes this a “display” piece id the fact it has an art level polish and the fact my Ryu has no tachi techniques in the curriculum. But that being said, someone could make this exact sword and do whatever they want with it. The fact I personally cannot and will not be using it in class does not detract from the point of the review.

Richard, My first KenJutsu Sensei was also a sword collector, and I've been privileged enough to handle and study some very valuable pieces. In fact one of my classmates bought a sword, and with my teachers connections, sent it to Japan to be polished and mounted, and when he got it back, he sold it and bought a house. None of those swords were ever used for Suemonogiri or Battodo, because they were works of art. Perhaps you are just somebody who will never understand, and that's OK.

Dude, never heard of collecting? Gtfo

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Not everyone’s cup of tea-I get it. I’m that way about hira-zukuri. I’m honestly not sure I will test cut with this. Maybe noodles. I do not want to damage the polish on what is primarily a display piece.

@StudioGDT o I understand. Friend of mine comissioned a little crow for the same. It's def compelling to look at, jusf not my taste. Even noodles can leave marks, just part of the territory

@ indeed

@StudioGDT As I understand, you used to paint miniatures? My brother is into that. I consider it similar to sword ownership, gotta put the effort in to make it look right, especially over time. Vinegar/lemon juice/soap and warm water scrub, followed by mothers mag and repeat. Like washing your hair, once is not enough for day to day

That’s interesting way to look at it! From I can see the origin timings are similar with Kris being mentioned as early as 707-875 which is right in alignment with the Kissaki-Moroha first creation. I also find the linguistic similarity of “moroha” to “Moro” from the Philippine Kalis which is also slightly curved and double edged. Makes you wonder!

I think I would tend to agree. :)

I think so too! Thank you!

Normally right there with you. I think every needs at least ONE Tachi for display though ;)

Thank you very much!

@@notsans9995 I’m glad you enjoyed it. I actually have another historical project I was going to work on with Dremsword, but with the holidays here, it’s an affordability issue at this point. It’s still on the table though!

@@StudioGDT awesome. Honestly after going through your video again I'm tempted to see if Dremsword can attempt my own kogarasu tachi...

@ give it a shot!

Mr.Willard! Excited to see you here! Thank you for your support!

My pleasure!

Thank you brother! It was so much fun to research and bring to life.

​​​@@StudioGDTI'm having one made just like that from them with the same level of polish but with t10 and aikuchi fittings and red lacquer in the Bo hi .

@@micahcampaI’d love to see that!

@@micahcampaextra props to the red lacquer;). What you can’t see on mine I got them to bring the hi through to the nakago. Something not done often in reproductions. Excited for you!

I just got one of their custom ones in I’ll be showing in the near future.

Thank you for the kind words Kris. Love your products. Wouldn’t mind sharing one on the channel some day ;)

This video was of a specific custom laminated sword (mine) being made. Not production off the shelf swords.

Technically it’s an add on but TOTALLY worth it.

@@tainowarrior5781 lol thank you. I need to find more royalty free samurai footage lol

I would agree with you completely!

They do indeed say bamboo…but…I feel like there should be an asterisk there. There is very little niku. I think you’d have to be very precise with your cuts because there would be zero room for error. I will eventually be cutting tatami with them and plan on filming it but I do not have any bamboo plans in the future.

Thank you again Sir!

Truly, I believe that matters what you are cutting. Many antique nihonto would rate very similarly in hardness and durability to 1060…those edges worked very well and I don’t think anyone would dispute that-but those swords weren’t abused on a regular basis and had very specific targets they were used against. I think whether 3:19 1060DH would hold an edge really matter what you are trying to cut. I think for traditional usage, it is absolutely more than adequate.

@@StudioGDT I was curious since most of the swords I've been cutting with are through hardened sorts. Should be long lasting then with most of my targets being whatever plastic jugs I can get my hands on.

This particular one, i definitely can recommend! Hope to see others in the future. Thanks for checking it out.

In my internet searching it appears the is a large quantity of swordsmanship dojos in both Italy and Spain as well as across Europe in general so I’m sure they have quite a few options we in the US Domestic market are unfamiliar with for obvious reasons.

I will say I didn’t have any customs issues or fees which I now can happen with stuff shipped from EU. I would love to see more of these in circulation here for sure.

@StudioGDT ive been watching Thomas Ari and the other German guys videos with them (even the reviews, in German, which I can only understand about 1/10 of what is said) for years now and always wanted to give them a shot. Its a bit of a longshot, but i suggested to John (Owner of RVA Katana) to get in touch with them and see if he could become their US distributor or something like that. If that were to happen, i bet he would sell out in a matter of days. I know I, and numerous other serious American katana enthusiasts would jump at the chance to buy one that is already in country, you dont have to deal with the currency exchange, potential issues of shipping, and would only have to wait a few days instead of a couple weeks or however long it takes to get to the buyer frome Europe. We will see. That would be cool.

@@erichusayn id rather RVA katana stock something better

Thank YOU for your feedback! I do really hope to get my hands on another to see if the feeling is continued-if it is this would definitely become one of my top recommended off the shelf brand for practitioners.

@StudioGDT i agree. I kinda feel not many practitioners or casual collectors consider yarinohanzo. I feel it they have way more bang 4 the buck!

@ that’s definitely what I experienced with this sword. I also personally have zero issues with 1060…some may but I do not. A byproduct of it being 1060 would also be ease of amateur polishing. My main issue with my sword is a rough machine polish. I’d rather be working with 1060 over 1095 or T10 to clean it up.

I really like your thought out response and I’d love to see that Naoshi when you get it. Those are pretty wicked looking too. I too am not a fan of loud setups. If this was just a simple black and brass handachi setup with a mokko tsuba, I think it could be pretty cool. I look forward to comparing its handling to the katate-uchigatana

That’s definitely a possible use and theory.

Many thanks my friend.

Yeah I would definitely not want a 12 inch tsuka on a waki. Lol.

I personally have not had any contact with them since confirmation of the fire-to be clear I hadn’t a reason for them to contact me so it’s not like I’m a customer waiting on something…very long winded way of saying “I don’t know” lol

Depending on what type of temoto you use, it may or may not. It would be an issue for my school since we hold low on the kashira but potentially not for other schools that hold higher. It is a 12 inch tsuka however so there is a decent amount of real estate to use.

@@StudioGDT They could easily make those with a screw pin or tension fit so they can be flexed and removed. But I have a feeling they put them on there as though they want them to be permanent.