5 Rings Katana

[Oskar der Drachen]

I was wanting a War Sword in the katana tradition. I was also reading the book "Five Rings", and the inspiration was there!

Weight - 3lbs 6oz - 1.53 Kilos

Total Length - 56 inches - 1400mm

Blade length - 40 inches - 1000mm

The rattan length is not the classic Katana curve, it has a "shamshir" look to it as the handle has a bit of a kink in it. As it stands though it has a pleasing feel, and the blade curve is such that is falls to a ready position with the edge facing down. Nice flex to it, and the point follows the thrust smoothly, with a nice solid hit to it with no signs of skipping off the target.. The Tsuba has been mated solidly to the rattan with no Buzz to the assembly or with the join of metal to wood. I did add a small hilt weight to balance the slightly overlong blade. I wanted a metre of blade and the hilt adds a nice finish as well as another two centimetres to the length of the hilt itself. No strapping tape to be had for the hilt at this point, but that can be added later.

In play this is a nice smooth weapon, with a solid contact on target, and a good operating balance, with the effective balance at 52 cm from the end of the hilt, about 40% of the length of the whole sword, roughly two hand-spans from the tsuba into the blade. A pretty good 60/40 balance from the tip.

Anecdotal? It makes a nice sweet "ding" on the impact with a crisp strike.

In philosophy the twisted ring of the tsuba is made so that there are an odd number of twists before it was re-welded, so there is a moobius strip effect, there is only one circle of steel, doubled and twisted. A never ending circle, art and life, round and round....