Quick follow-up to this review. I managed to fix the fuchi looseness with a couple cotton paper shims. The video footage of me working on the katana ended up being unusable, unfortunately, and I completely forgot to take any pictures of the nakago. It was fairly well formed, and the mekugi-ana were free of burrs, as I requested when I ordered the katana. The tsuka core does have a crack in it, although it's fairly small. I also fixed the saya fit with some filing.
I just got my first katana from them and its unbelievable. I paid an extra $50 for real leather for the tsuka, its done so well I feel guilty it didn't cost more. the next closest and cheapest katana I could get at this level of fit and finsh, quality and materials would be a 450 to $500 cloudhammer.
Maybe quality is indeed sliding with the pandemic. At least the blade is pretty. And your friend did pretty darn well for his first time out. I've also had consistently good luck with Ryujin.
Have had a long history with Jkoo, has been a big hit or miss with them having owned about 5 from them....have since looked into higher quality companies, luckily there are really great options today that are doing the overall fit and finish much better.
I really like hamon like that, even though it wasn't what was asked for. Many hamon have just too much going on for me, but just the completely straight suguha is a little boring. I have a jkoo on order, I asked for halfway between suguha and gunome, as I wanted a straight hamon with just a little wave.
I bought 2 Chinese Jian from Jkoo. One has a hardwood saya that looks similar to the wood of your saya. It was okay when I got it, but now that it’s summer, the wood has expanded with the heat. I’ve filed it down but the sword still won’t fit all the way into the saya. Filing seems to have to go deep? Good luck! At least when it gets cold your blade will fit 😆 I will say that some of my Jkoo Katana are very nice. It’s a shame that you had problems twice. I guess it’s hit and miss. Some of their Katana are just amazing. This one seemed to be poorly tempered, but I assure you that they are not as ll like that. Maybe they had a new sword smith learning on yours. 🤷🤷♂️ I have a couple custom katana from them that had minor fit and finish issues too but over all I’m satisfied with the katana.
Great review! I'd be interested in a comparison with a sword from Katanamart, they have a custom service too, and seem quite nice, although probably more expensive.
The "foggy part" of the blade looks like some kind of acid wash was applied. With shipping issues back to China and everything else, that's just so frustrating! Thanks for sharing the experience.
It seems like the quality on many Lonquan forges has gone downhill after the Covid. Last year I bought a folded steel Unokubi Zukuri katana from Tsunami Dragon and while the sword feels nice it unfortunately had couple of open folds on one side of the blade. Not deep but still visible grooves where the folds were not properly hammered together. Since this sword was meant to be semi-functional display piece I did not try to get a refund or anything but it was still dissapointing to see. Also the polish was not very good, I could barely see the hamon and hada but I fixed that myself with hot vinegar etching and aluminum polish. Now it looks good, minus the open folds. Oh, and it also has the same problem with Saya, it is WAY too fricking tight that I fear it will split when I pull the sword out. :D I will file it a bit when I have the time but for now it stays in the stand looking all pretty.
@@alientude Can't be said! Folded steel has a hada more similar to original Nihontos from Tamahagane. Nevertheless, modern monosteel is usually of better quality, since less mistakes can be made!
Well it really depends what you're looking for at what price point and knowing the company and what they offer through their business model. It's like if some people not knowing cars bought a Ford online and when they got it they are surprised it is not the quality of a Lexus.
Quick follow-up to this review. I managed to fix the fuchi looseness with a couple cotton paper shims. The video footage of me working on the katana ended up being unusable, unfortunately, and I completely forgot to take any pictures of the nakago. It was fairly well formed, and the mekugi-ana were free of burrs, as I requested when I ordered the katana. The tsuka core does have a crack in it, although it's fairly small.
I also fixed the saya fit with some filing.
Very informative video, I was considering ordering one from them but I have my worries after seeing this. You earned yourself a new sub.
Glad I could help, and thanks for the sub!
I just got my first katana from them and its unbelievable. I paid an extra $50 for real leather for the tsuka, its done so well I feel guilty it didn't cost more. the next closest and cheapest katana I could get at this level of fit and finsh, quality and materials would be a 450 to $500 cloudhammer.
Maybe quality is indeed sliding with the pandemic. At least the blade is pretty. And your friend did pretty darn well for his first time out. I've also had consistently good luck with Ryujin.
Have had a long history with Jkoo, has been a big hit or miss with them having owned about 5 from them....have since looked into higher quality companies, luckily there are really great options today that are doing the overall fit and finish much better.
I really like hamon like that, even though it wasn't what was asked for. Many hamon have just too much going on for me, but just the completely straight suguha is a little boring.
I have a jkoo on order, I asked for halfway between suguha and gunome, as I wanted a straight hamon with just a little wave.
I bought 2 Chinese Jian from Jkoo. One has a hardwood saya that looks similar to the wood of your saya. It was okay when I got it, but now that it’s summer, the wood has expanded with the heat. I’ve filed it down but the sword still won’t fit all the way into the saya. Filing seems to have to go deep? Good luck! At least when it gets cold your blade will fit 😆
I will say that some of my Jkoo Katana are very nice. It’s a shame that you had problems twice. I guess it’s hit and miss. Some of their Katana are just amazing. This one seemed to be poorly tempered, but I assure you that they are not as ll like that. Maybe they had a new sword smith learning on yours. 🤷🤷♂️
I have a couple custom katana from them that had minor fit and finish issues too but over all I’m satisfied with the katana.
Great review! I'd be interested in a comparison with a sword from Katanamart, they have a custom service too, and seem quite nice, although probably more expensive.
I'll check them out, thanks for the recommendation.
The "foggy part" of the blade looks like some kind of acid wash was applied. With shipping issues back to China and everything else, that's just so frustrating! Thanks for sharing the experience.
That would make sense, although it does seem weird to me that they'd do it to the ji, and not the ha.
it looks like the polish?
How about JKOO Mokko Extra wide o katana for future video sharing ? The width seems like two handed medieval saber
It seems like the quality on many Lonquan forges has gone downhill after the Covid. Last year I bought a folded steel Unokubi Zukuri katana from Tsunami Dragon and while the sword feels nice it unfortunately had couple of open folds on one side of the blade. Not deep but still visible grooves where the folds were not properly hammered together. Since this sword was meant to be semi-functional display piece I did not try to get a refund or anything but it was still dissapointing to see. Also the polish was not very good, I could barely see the hamon and hada but I fixed that myself with hot vinegar etching and aluminum polish. Now it looks good, minus the open folds.
Oh, and it also has the same problem with Saya, it is WAY too fricking tight that I fear it will split when I pull the sword out. :D I will file it a bit when I have the time but for now it stays in the stand looking all pretty.
From what I've heard, folded steel from Longquan is quite a crapshoot - sometimes you get something good, sometimes you get absolute crap.
@@alientude Can't be said! Folded steel has a hada more similar to original Nihontos from Tamahagane. Nevertheless, modern monosteel is usually of better quality, since less mistakes can be made!
I remember those pics.
What option did you pick for the polish? Is it cosmetic or hazuya?
Cosmetic.
thank you for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Wow, I definitely don't want a sword from that company! Thanks for being honest with us.
Thanks for watching!
Well it really depends what you're looking for at what price point and knowing the company and what they offer through their business model.
It's like if some people not knowing cars bought a Ford online and when they got it they are surprised it is not the quality of a Lexus.