JKOO $600 Custom Tamahagane Wakizashi Review

[@gargoylesblade]

Very nice wakizashi, using a wakizashi is almost the same as the katana movements. Nice to see the handle length how it's supposed to be.

[@yotomuramasa]

Agreed. The 6" handle range for wakizashi is more appropriate for most martial arts practitioners, and it's whats more common on antiques. Looks nicer too

[@SimSimon87]

As for the Wakizashi: The Hamon in combination with the etching of the folded steel looks beautiful! I like concept Wakizashi because they probably have the perfect size to fiddle around with at home 😅

[@buffordevans6942]

Only a cosmic tribe member would use the word zazzy You sir qualify 🙌🏻🍻🌊 I shall see your Zazzy and RAISE you a , “Klaatu barada nikto”

[@yotomuramasa]

I really enjoy the two tamahagane blades I own from them. They do not look one for one like genuine nihonto, but they cut like lightsabers and handle really well

[@akaspen4739]

Did you custom order them or order them in a pack? I'm looking for two swords that I would enjoy using?

[@yotomuramasa]

@@akaspen4739 I have videos of both of mine. One is custom, one is off the shelf

[@akaspen4739]

@@yotomuramasa okay cool thx!

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

beautiful wakizashi,i love choji hamon

[@jamesduke7965]

Looks almost antique on the handle really nice

[@abeldasilva9368]

I too received recently a T-10 wakizashi from JKOO Sinosword the only complaint I had was they tied the sageo onto my saya while the finish was still not fully cured on the saya.Yes I did sand off the finish .Next step will be t refinish it .Only complaint.

[@felldir]

Looks pretty good. I have 3 Jkoo custom swords and they are all ok. As you said the fittings aren't very good. Tsukamaki is very tight in all of mine but the diamonds are very small.

[@panoctic]

i really appreciate it looks nice, one of the things i really like in this kind of blades is the hada

[@MaaZeus]

That is a one beautiful sword! I'd love to own a tamahagane (even if it is just a copy from chinese bloomeries) sword one day.

[@bleachedstew]

Dark ocean themed Katana would look super good with that.

[@bleachedstew]

Black leather, turquoise, dark gray skin, blade should be very, very light. Pure ^sandy gray saya. Blued.

[@fransthefox9682]

They're really improving on quality control, I can see that. Also, have you heard about Fire & Iron? I believe he's an individual smith. Very good and historically accurate swords. I dare say, probably better than LK Chen. He also makes European and Japanese style swords. You should check him out.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I think I got one yesterday but I am not sure.

[@marveen6372]

Beautiful I heard tamahagne construction is very complex

[@not-a-raccoon]

I'm excited to get my unokubi katana from jkoo next month. Ordered it in May. It looks like they know what they're doing.

[@JoeSteel1]

Fantastic way you broke down and described this "new wave" Tamahagane waki, I also think they did a really nice job on the blade, it could have been, a wider geometric as a Hira, but still Astecthicly pleasing, I do like the maki work, and the pieces are not bad, very cool of Jkoo to send this your way

[@yotomuramasa]

I have a video up of my hira-zukuri Tamahagane Katana if you haven't seen it

[@JoeSteel1]

@@yotomuramasa I don't think I knew you have a channel, what is it, I'll check it out?

[@yotomuramasa]

@@JoeSteel1 kzbin.info/door/pVstnK-EmPj-m9UCTJDBuw

[@yotomuramasa]

I also have a two videos of my Tamahagane swords from Jkoo on my second channel, which I use for shorts

[@akaspen4739]

Great video!!! I just ordered a custom katanna from jkoo super excited !! 😁

[@alunrogers3525]

Love the hamon.

[@SneakyGenius]

Fantastic review!

[@user-bm3ts2ql6s]

I got a discounted tamahagane they had listed on their website. I paid about 375 shipped. There was just a slight tiny bit of discoloration on one spot, other than that excellent for the price.

[@yotomuramasa]

I'm always skeptical of ko bu se lamination on Chinese swords, because it is easy to fake. The only lamination line you will find is on the back for kobuse. Although, I have a custom Tamahagane sword from them that is supposedly honsanmai, and it looks genuine, which is reassuring.

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

Really nice. I am rather fond of short swords. Especially in combo with a bigger blade. Though these days I tend to train with my Shashka & kindjal more often than my japanese set. Which i have found is remarkably similar to Japanese techniques with daisho but then agian I basically like anything sharp & stabby. Lol

[@erichusayn]

Blade is beautiful, really dig the sori. Looks like they did a good job for the most part. As strictly a backyard guy, I find the waki to be pretty easy to pick up and use in conjunction with a katana. I really wish they and the other Chinese companies would stop using the word "tamagahanae" though. I highly doubt they have a tatara in which they're dumping iron sand into, and even if they are, it's not from Japan, therefore, it's not tamagahanae. They should think of a new term that is less deceptive to their customers. There is only so much legit Japanese tamagahane produced per year, and I don't think they're giving these Chinese forges a gram of it, let alone enough for a whole sword. (Gets off soapbox)

[@JoeSteel1]

@eric Husayn I agree with you to certain extent, but in today's modern production world there are very few True katana made, and everything out of China is intact a reproduction replication, the Tamahagane is actually technically pig iron that is smelted. Is it the same process? absolutely not, but being in the realm of it, doesn't bother me that much as it once did, when you look at the big picture of what your actually getting and where it's made, I'm just happy we have the opportunity to be able to own something of such historical importance

[@erichusayn]

@@JoeSteel1 fair point

[@MisterKisk]

Have you done anything on tachi reviews/can you recommend any tachi makers?

[@Ratmon32]

Hey Matt so how do you go about taking it apart since Jkoo seems to always cover one side of the mekugi pin under the ito.

[@fransthefox9682]

I would like to review one of The Art of Fire & Iron's swords. He mostly does Chinese weapons, but sometimes he does Japanese, European and fantasy stuff. He has a Tamahagane katana which looks very close to an actual Nihonto.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I just got a euro sword from them. Will be making a video sometime soon.

[@way2dumb]

I bought 2 then ans saw the edge looked weird, so I put them under the microscope and the blade edge is covered in bubble holes and carbon pits, so they have to go in the bin. i would check you one also. DANGERIOUS!! to use, be careful. put them under a very bright light and look at the sharp edge and see if you can see any imperfections. If you can see them look for an unclea line. is am about 90% sure the hamons are fke also.

[@dirtyscavanger]

Can you put a good katana blade on a reproduction katana with a cheap fake show blade??? And have it kinda work

[@cosmin6155]

Hello! I bought the first katana from Ronin Katana and it seems to me that the handle is too thin, almost 4.1 inches at tsuba, I don't know what the normal size is. Is this circumference normal? I looked on the internet at katanas made by other companies and the handle looks bigger...

[@KF1]

I'm jealous. JKOO sent me a katana for testing and it's the worst sword ever. They like you a lot more. I'm not even willing to make a video on the one they sent me. Bent, twisted, rattletang bs! *wasn't going to complain to them, but after seeing how nice this waki is, sent an email to JKOO to let them know my test sample was total garbage. Even chipped the blade using softwood levers in an attempt to straighten the warped blade, now not even worth fixing.

[@yotomuramasa]

Please make a video, this is the first time I've heard of this happening

[@KF1]

@@yotomuramasa I might afterall. Currently emailing with Jkoo some pictures etc. Really wanted to like the sword. Ordered new fittings to remount. now gonna have to find a different project for them.

[@notsans9995]

Same, i payed for a $450 custom based on 2 glowing youtube reviews and got sent a heavy crowbar-like blade with a bent kissaki, warped tsuba and terrible tsukamaki with the mekugi pins misalligned and obviously forced in. I complained and they sent a me $40 refund and they ceased contact. Its still sitting in a closet because its so crappy i cant even sell it. I would of been better off buying a basic hanwei.

[@KF1]

@@notsans9995 Just just told me "sorry, please buy from us again". I absolutely will not. Between a custom purchased jian and the tester kat, they're 0 for 2 in my books. 9260 Jian took a week of reworking to make it functional, and it still chips on bottles. By contrast, my huawei 9260 katana will eat anything without a fuss.

[@shawnclifford362]

Why would you not use a wakazashi, because of your level at home?.slan ☘

[@DedicatedSpirit8]

Tamahagane steel... For 600? No way

[@civicboi96]

Their tsukas always look bumpy and gross.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

Not perfect but looks decent for what it is.

[@civicboi96]

@@Matthew_Jensen agreed it’s a good 600 piece no doubt

[@SimSimon87]

Can you actually trust JKOO? Because I visited the page and noticed the following: 1. The shop is located in China 2. Prices seem ridiculously low for the quality they claim to offer 3. You can find little to no information about the steel and manufacturing process 4. None of the Japanese swords, not even the ones from alleged Tamahagane steel, apparently come with a certificate of authenticity. At least, there's no pictures and no mention of that, which is highly unusual. I don't think I'd ever buy a Japanese sword there, it looks just way too dodgy.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

I’m confident that you will get a sword if you order one from Jkoo. 1. So? Is made in china bad? They make some affordable,durable and cost effective swords. 2.. prices are low, the quality can be very good. You see an example in the video. It’s a good quality value for the money. 3.they make videos about how the swords are made but it is not glamorous. I don’t think there are any secrets there. 4. Would a coa make you feel better? Some others do and they are often meaningless bits of paper that are often inaccurate. Most swords in china do not come with a coa, it is common not to have one. Where would you buy a sword that would make you comfortable?

[@SimSimon87]

​@@Matthew_Jensen It seems as if my comment keeps getting deleted. I would only buy a Katana in Japan, since I'm not going to pay thousands of dollars for a Chinese knockoff. I found the following sources with prices starting at around 2.000 USD: 1. samuraimuseum (japanese website) 2. mai-ko 3. Tozando Here you can even choose from various different Japanese master blacksmiths to forge a brand new katana for you. It's no secret that Japan and China are quite the opposite when it comes to quality control. Plus, China is known to counterfeit virtually anything while upholding a record of totally abysmal quality standards. They will even sell you pork as beef. And yes, if I pay 2k - 5k for a sword, it'd be nice to have COA, just like I'd want a certificate for your 5k watch, in order to prove that it's no (Chinese) fake.

[@SimSimon87]

@@Matthew_Jensen My comment keeps getting deleted. I'd buy a Japanese sword in Japan only. Google Tozando or mai-ko. Proper Katanas from real Japanese blacksmiths made from proper Japanese Tamahagane steel. No L6, 1095 or T10 replica.

[@SimSimon87]

@@Matthew_Jensen and yes, "made in China" certainly implies worst possible quality standards and quality control and this is not a stereotype, this is a fact: In China, they well sell you pork as beef.

[@SimSimon87]

@@Matthew_Jensen and yes, "made in China" is bad and "made in Japan" is good, ESPECIALLY when you're talking about genuine Japanese Katanas for proper money. These two countries couldn't be more different in terms of quality control.