ShadowDancer 1095DH "Paulownia" Sashikomi Polish Shinogi-Zukuri Katana Review

Рет қаралды 2,577

Күн бұрын

Join me in reviewing this absolutely beautiful 1095 mono steel differentially hardened katana from Shadow Dancer featuring a traditional sashikomi polish that is to die for!
Purchase this sword here...
www.swordcn.co...
Link to Manufacturer's socials
Facebook: / shadowdancerswords
Instagram: / shadowdancerswords
KZbin: / @shadowdancerswords
Link to my Instagram page...
/ studiogdt
Details
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＜Koshirae＞
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■Tsuba：Iron
■F&K：Brass
■Menuki：Brass
■Seppa：Copper
■Habaki：Copper
■Tsuka：Haichi Style
■Tsuka Samegawa：White Real Rayskin
■Tsuka Ito：Fake Silk Ito
■Mukugi：1
■Kurikata Shitodome：Brass
■Saya Style：Oil Lacquer (Upgraded saya from default listing)
■Sageo：Thickened Sageo
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＜Blade＞
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■Nagasa：71CM
■Motohaba：3.2CM
■Motokasane：0.7CM
■Sakihaba：2.4CM
■Sakikasane：0.4CM
■Sori：About 1.5CM
■Tsuka Length：26CM
■Bohi：No Bohi
■Material：1095 Steel
■Yokote：Real Yokote
■Hamon Style：Suguha Hamon
■Blade Style：Shinogi Zukuri
■Heat Treatment: Clay Temper
■Weight with/without Saya ：1190g/1025g
Warning：The data is just for reference because the handmade products’s data has error.
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＜Polishing＞
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■Polishing：Sashikomi Polishing
Link to Manufacturer's socials
Facebook: / shadowdancerswords
Instagram: / shadowdancerswords
KZbin: / @shadowdancerswords
Link to my Instagram page...
/ studiogdt

Пікірлер: 51

@erichusayn 3 ай бұрын

That is an impressive sword. Another great review. Well done.

@StudioGDT 3 ай бұрын

Thank you kindly

@erichusayn 3 ай бұрын

@@StudioGDTwelcome.

@watchreport 7 күн бұрын

I really appreciate the look at this, as I am considering this one,but you need to lower the music. Even on full volume, while I can finally hear you, the music overtakes it.

@StudioGDT 7 күн бұрын

Thank you for watching. This was one of my original videos and the volume issues have since been remedied.

@KF1 8 ай бұрын

3:14 minor gripe here. "From a practitioner standpoint" one is not ever supposed to grip the fuchi nor kashira, that's what the tsuka is for. Only what beginners do; hard up against the tsuba, and too low on the kashira. Every first-timer, but no cutting system should teach it. Have no idea why MJ still mentions it. As a Toyama-Ryu practitioner, dude should have learned like 15 years ago, it's a non-issue. Please don't perpetuate. Feels like Katori myth from a non-cutter. Just my 2c as a target learner. Loved this review, watched it twice.

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

Gripes are ok friend. In my Ryu the Temoto places the last digit of the index finger near the Tsuba. The grip is nowhere near the fuchi or Tsuba but tip of that index finger can get caught or hung up on open Tsuba work. Where I can’t speak for MJs Ryu, I can only speak for mine and something I have encountered directly.

@KF1 8 ай бұрын

@@StudioGDT Yeah, it's not you. This fancy wide grip just bothers me. Have you ever split wood with an axe? I imagine the bottommhand half-hanging off, and see how poorly that would go. Same thing for a sword meeting strong resistance. Gotta have a sure hold during the moment of impact. Style is fine, but it's important to start with a need for practical connecton imo. Pardon the rant. Have a good day, friend

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

I’m always open to discussion. My main thing I wanted you to get across was that I wasn’t parroting anyone. I could see how that might seem. So perhaps going forward I can say “in my Ryu I encountered xxx” so I don’t lump in “all practitioners”

@KF1 8 ай бұрын

@@StudioGDT Fair and accurate point. I stand corrected regarding the context. In Aikido, I was taught on bokken an extremely long grip by someone who had never put a sword into a target. Getting over it became very formative. Appreciate the willingness to hear me out. Love your vids, man

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

@@KF1 all the love brother! Thanks for being here.

@Aj2zen 8 ай бұрын

Thats it, this is on my to buy next list. The theme, fit and finish and polish are astounding.

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

I’m glad to hear that the review was helpful-truthfully I’m thankful to SD for sending this specific sample because it isn’t something I would ever pick out-but you are right, the fittings, the polish, even the chu-Kissaki everything just WORKS.

@Kirk1957 5 ай бұрын

Excellent review. I haven't bought a Shadow Dancer yet, I have bought Z-Sey. I often wonder if they aren't owned by the same people?

@StudioGDT 5 ай бұрын

ShadowDancer has some amazing offerings at amazing price points. I can’t say they are the same company exactly, you know like a Acura/Honda setup, but they are definitely partnered in some way.

@AdoreYouInAshXI 10 күн бұрын

Good review, and don't worry about the music, it's not too bad at all. I can hear you fine. Shadow Dancer is quickly becoming my go to for mid range katana. The only other company that can compete in this price range are Huawei (let me know if you have any other suggestions), and it's not worth the hassle, wait time and poor communication of trying to get a Huawei, especially after they stopped selling on Ebay and you no longer have any recourse if they just stop responding.

@StudioGDT 10 күн бұрын

@@AdoreYouInAshXI thanks for checking it out! I’ve never handled a Huawei but knowing they are like unobtanium I would tend to avoid them since I like to review things that are readily available. My opinions are based on what have come across my hands and what I have been lucky enough to handle multiples of. For me if I want an off the shelf option and one that geometry and build wise most closely resembles nihonto, I would select ShadowDancer. If I’m looking to specify nagasa or tsuka length, Zukuri style a.k.a “custom” and I’m okay with a slight deviation in things like Tsuka or saya shape, then I select RyanSword. They are my two top based on consistency of work, build times and ability to communicate. The HanBon I have yet to review is quite nice but it’s my only sample so I will wait to comment on them until I handle another.

@jamieadams7550 4 ай бұрын

I just purchased a sword from shadow dancer. It’s a sakabato Kantana ( advanced) I very excited to receive it

@StudioGDT 4 ай бұрын

@@jamieadams7550 I am excited for you! They are great swords. Let me know how you like it!

@Kale_Kale 8 ай бұрын

Great review as usual! Those fittings and polish really make the sword look more expensive than it really is.

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

I agree with you 100 percent-to be honest, the Buffalo horn didn’t matter too much to me. If I had received this in the $410 dollar configuration, I would have been just as impressed. Shadow Dancer has great pics on the web, but when you get this in hand, you just feel like you paid 700 dollars for it. From what I have encountered so far in the 400-500 price range, this is at the top.

@Kale_Kale 8 ай бұрын

@@StudioGDT Personally i will do a couple upgrades like buffalo horn and japanese cotton/silk ito wrap if i was going to use it as a dojo piece. If it was going to be a display piece only, i would probably drop the horn but keep the upgrade ito. Should still keep it around the $500 mark with both these upgrades. I really wish Shadow Dancer made it easier to figure out how certain customizations/upgrades cost on their website. Excited to see how the Swordis store is doing their customization page for Shadow Dancer. I will probably wait to see how theirs works out before i make a purchase.

@WRECKEDGEAR 8 ай бұрын

Wow!! Great review and great production! I don't know much about Katanas, but after every one of your videos, it leaves me wanting to learn more. Keep up the great work.

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

Thanks buddy!

@joske2838 7 ай бұрын

Awesome review! I also have 3 (just simple TH blades from Shadowdancer) & they've become my new favorites in my collection and definitely impressed me the most out of the LQ forges I've purchased from before, Have been eyeing this particular one for awhile too! subbed👍

@StudioGDT 7 ай бұрын

I’m glad you stopped by and I was able to review something you were interested in!

@notsans9995 8 ай бұрын

Amazing sword. I've been wanting a custom from them for a while, but their crucible steel options are a little pricey for me. It's nice to know I can still have such a pretty blade from good old 1095. As far as fitting, I don't mind them putting their branding on the koshirae, cause even if it's a historical copy, they're clearly putting in much more effort and care in thier furniture than any of the other LQ manufacturers and they deserve to have people to know it's their work when it eventually circulates onto the secondary market.

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

That’s how I felt about it, as far as the polish goes. It’s truly a work of art. On the fittings my take is if you copy a historical fitting, even if you put your name on it, one can’t really hold someone else accountable if they decide to recreate the same thing-that being said, I imagine employees in Longquan have the opportunity to shuffle around a bit and if someone was to “steal” a casting and take it to a competitor, I’d say you have a case there. Who knows what happens in LQ land. Honestly I’d love just stand in the middle of the street and watch. I feel like everyone is far more interconnected than we could imagine.

@notsans9995 8 ай бұрын

@@StudioGDT also just want to give props on the video itself, the editing is really nice and I hope you're able to get more swords in the future. Also just to clarify, the kissaki is properly polished in yes? I hate fake yokote and the lighting makes it hard to tell sometimes lol

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

⁠⁠thank you for the kind words. This is all still just with my iPhone so I will get better I promise! I try and have fun in the editing in the hopes that it bleeds through to you guys. I do hope to keep a variety of manufacturers to review. I have a few more on the way and then I think for my size I will have probably tapped out my options. I understand why the big dogs wouldn’t want to cough up a sword on a relatively new small sub count channel! Won’t stop me from trying! If by proper you mean geometric, it is indeed physical (geometric) and counter polished. Technically cosmetic yokote were a thing on nihionto but the counter polish is so pro you’d never know from a photo. But YES. to answer your question without rambling, it’s physically there.

@JoeSteel1 8 ай бұрын

Great job my man, that SD. is real looker...very clean lines, beautifully done polish, justice to the Zsey Shadow Dancer name...watch them Audio Levels of the background music, vocals are lost at times...excellent job overall

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

Thanks brother…I thought I had that under control but it must be how my speaker is handling levels…I wonder if editing with headphones might fix that…I’ve seen people do that

@JoeSteel1 8 ай бұрын

@StudioGDT You just gotta watch the decibel audio levels to be sure they are not higher than your vocals...more importantly, you just gotta trial and Error and know your system...

@IR.L971 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for this review. I've been looking in this price point, but keep coming across issues. This looks both beautiful and functional for under $500.

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

I’d love to see a 1:1 challenger from another manufacturer (hint hint manufacturers) but from my limited knowledge, this is the one of if not the only to check certain boxes.

@gargoylesblade 8 ай бұрын

That is definitely a beauty of a uchi katana. Very clean looking, to bad the original tsuba didn't work out, but that one still pulls it all together.

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

It’s not a deal breaker by any means!

@KF1 8 ай бұрын

Great stuff. Well presented. Looks like a lot of value. Sword this nice could benefit a lot from genuine silk or high quality cotton ito imo. The synth silk is the only thing that looks cheap on it.

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

Completely available as an option if you would like-I do not know the cost however and am not sure where that would put the end price and if you would still feel like you got a deal or if it was just priced appropriately. I will say this-their synthetic silk is not nearly as coarse as some others I have handled so that’s a plus and the hishigami is still there.

@KF1 8 ай бұрын

@@StudioGDT Nice. Thanks

@KF1 8 ай бұрын

@@StudioGDT Have noticed after a treatment with wax and a heat gun that synth silk becomes a lot less artificial feeling. Needs a lot of wax and multiple heat cycles, though. Serious difference to my Huawei 9260, easily a fav

@萝莉控不羞耻 8 ай бұрын

wow your sword looks nice，subscribed

@萝莉控不羞耻 8 ай бұрын

if you dont mind can you add in cutting test in future？

@StudioGDT 8 ай бұрын

@@萝莉控不羞耻 thank you for subscribing. I have not formally announced cutting tests yet-but yes it will be done in the future. My next video will explain the direction the channel is going and what you can expect to see beyond the basic review.

@萝莉控不羞耻 8 ай бұрын

@@StudioGDT thanks，im eager to watch your future vid

@preparedsurvivalist2245 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for at least attempting to cut paper with it outside in the wind. I know that doing something as daunting as walking inside and cutting the paper would be an insurmountable obstacle, so I appreciate you putting forth the effort that you did.

@StudioGDT 7 ай бұрын

I don’t do sword stuff indoors. Not with my two small children around. Me holding a piece of printer paper in one hand and attempting to pass through it with the other is also not the most scientific method to display cutting ability. That will however come in future videos of cutting proper targets with proper cuts.