Citadel Bamboo Katana Review (sc4003) 

thank you

Thanks

Not sucking is my primary objective. Glad you like the videos and I appreciate the kind words.

I suppose I could have them replaced with copper. I asked Citadel why they did that and they said something about people liking it. They could make it with copper or brass, it was just a matter of customer preference.

Matthew Jensen Yeah the OCD in us is coming out in wanting the seppa to match I think. :) If you go the custom order route from Citadel they can do anything you want including Sanmai but the price is very steep. I was looking at some higher end pieces that what CAS commissioned over on DepDep and a Kobuse blade starts around $3600 the fittings are more ornamental at that price too. Check this out: www.depdep.com/epages/187908.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/187908/Products/CDKatanaBibateru

I have seen a few custom pieces in photos. They can do some really cool stuff for sure.

Glad it helped.

I discovered with my Bamboo katana that the tsuka isn't aligned perfectly with the blade. When holding the sword with the edge down, the edge is facing 6 o'clock and the mune is at 12 o'clock while the tsuka (most noticeably the kashira) is pointing at 1 and 7 o'clock. Can definitely mess with blade alignment while cutting. You ever encountered this? By the way, I'm going to be cutting tatami with it this week and will share the video. I've never seen anyone cut with one.

Interesting note on the alignment issue. I have seen that before. I don't see it often but it is not always on the list of things I look for. I give it a glace but if nothing stands out, it could easily go unnoticed.

There were a few that did not make it in there. My little one did not want to be included this time.

I have not really thought about that. What is it in particular you would like to know more about?>

Matthew Jensen wel, you could showcase the hamon of the various blades you own. If you look over at SFI or SBG forum, most collectors / backyard cutters are looking to get the most beautiful hamon for the money. I myeelf, for example, wouldn't buy a great sword at a great price, if it had a straight, or plain wave hamon; also this means all TH blades are out of the question..

If you have the money, the clark stuff is better. If you don't this is a worthy option.

Under the hood (so to speak) it is very similar to the bamboo. Same steel, same company, just a different set of cloths. There is a bit more to the differences but I would venture a guess that it will have a similar level of craftsmanship to the bamboo.

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you know approximately how often Citadel releases a new Katana? I like some aspects of the Imperial one, like the extra details on the Fuchi and Kashira (the detailed engravings) but I'm not in love with the gold color, either in the Tsuka-ito or the Saya (but perhaps the pictures don't do it justice). I prefer the more traditional black color of the Bamboo Katana with the diamond pattern along the full length of the Tsuka, but the Fuchi and Kashira details are not there, just smooth polished pieces... I also really like the Saya pattern with the rayskin. So, I'm torn between getting the Bamboo, but wishing it had a bit more detail. Getting the Imperial but not being totally happy with the colors. Or, waiting until Citadel releases something else and see if I like it better.

You can probably find a Cidadel Ocean on ebay or from a few other places.. Might just take some looking.. Citadel makes other swords as well and you could contact them about a custom blade. :Shameless Plug: I am also selling the bamboo katana from this review on ebay..

@Riddick you should do a review.

AdoreYouInAshXI I did a small one. It’s on my channel. Compared it to $1,000 sword. Not a long video.

AdoreYouInAshXI did you get the ocean yet??

I don't understand the question.

@@Matthew_Jensen when the sword is made there's a soft steel and a harder steel, and even medium steel. Groups of it at certain areas. I think that powder hammer ball was meant for swords after cutting practices, to return the materials micro structure. At least Bach to it was after being forged, clay hardened, or quenched. This keeps the blade resilient to breaks.

Dito

Eric Husayn I’ve got the Citadel Ocean Katana. #028 of 100...

I don't think it would break in half if that is what you are asking.. but katana don't do well with edge to edge contact.. I don't think this one is any different in that way.

I always miss something. I would not call it heavy on the niku but it does not have a flat grind on it. It has a nice apple seed shape.

There are a lot of makers but I don't know a lot of dealers of custom swords.

Matthew Jensen Thanks! Any recommendations as far as commercial producers with a budget between $3k to $5k? I appreciate your help as you seem to know a helluva lot more than me! Lol

I have a few recommendations. Just keep in mind I am no expert. I have owned lots of stuff but that is not the same as knowing lots of stuff. Anyway, $3k-$5k is a reasonable budget. You could get a basic shinsaktuo if you are looking for something in that realm. You might want to ping Paul Martin on facebook. If you want something from someone outside of japan.. Take a look at Pavel Bolf, Michaël Sabatier, Walter Sorrells, Josiah Boomershine, Howard Clark, Rick Barrett... I am sure there are more than that. It might be hard to get some of them to make a finished sword for $5k but I am guessing it is possible. What are you looking for in a sword? (guessing katana) what are you going to do with it? What features are you looking for? Do you have any fittings you want to use? How much time do you have? ect..

Matthew Jensen I'm no expert in terminology or anything either, and the sword would basically be for display. That being said, I have no problem waiting a bit to have a sword. I've just always wanted as close to an authentic Japanese katana as I could get without having to spend 10 to $20,000 or more. I'd like to have the blade made from Tamagahane Steel or the next closest high quality steel and have the sword basically built by hand. I was looking at Skyjiro Forge's line and they seemed to have a good looking product. I also noticed they carried some Gold Mountain Forge katanas which look nice...

If it is mostly for display and you want something authentic... get something authentic. You might look at authentic nihonto dealers to get a historic blade. Nihonto.us is one spot or aoi japan.. Plenty of folks that seem to be reputable dealers and $5k can get you a decent sword. If you want a modern made shinsakuto you might try contacting paul martin. He is on facebook and can help connect you to someone to make a blade inside japan.

i think it is highly inspired from naginata or one of the versions of them

I made a video on it a while back. SBG, my armory, SFI forums. Ebay, craigslist, facebook ect.

depends on budget and task.

Matthew Jensen let's say 5 grand. I'm looking for more of an authentic made by a craftsman.

I tend to get into the weeds a bit more. If you are looking for a blade made by a craftsmen in the US there are a few people that still do that kind of work. These are the folks that come to mind in the US for Katana. If you want a different kind of sword there a lot more names to add. Also if you want outside the US there are a few more people to add. Like Pavel Bolf. If you are looking to have a traditional blade made as in laminated from a orashigane of sorts, Walter Sorrells does that kind of work. He has a youtube channel as well and has made some very impressive swords. Howard Clark is another. He tends to do L6 or 1086 blades so they are not made out of the traditional stuff but they are very nice blades and people think highly of their abilities and performance. Rick Barrett is another smith that makes some good stuff. He worked with a few different steels but he is mostly retired from sword work. He finishes some of the odds and ends he finds lingering in his shop and it seems like there are a number of those so you might have some luck. Mark Morrow, might still be doing katana. His prices were good and his blades perform well. Daniel Watson from Angel Sword is another. His pieces are not traditional and the finish work on them is a bit rough but his stuff works well. Anthony DiCristofano is also a good one. I have not had the chance to handle many of his pieces but what I have seen is always impressive. He does very traditional work but I don't know if he is still making katana or not. His work is great though! There are likely people that I missed or did not mention. Either because I can't remember them or don't know them. Also, it is important to note that each of these folks have a style. It would be good to look at the smiths work and see if it fits you. Also note what kind of blade you want.. Big.. small.. performance cutter..traditional art... What you want out of it will have a big stake in who you chose to make it and if they want to make it..

I don't have any of them around at the moment. I have done reviews on the PPK and Raptor though. They are in that ballpark. I also reviewed the dojo pro and RK series from ronin. I'll keep my eye open for something in that ballpark to share though but I don't think I will have one soon.

Of course you ~can~ cut with them. The question is whether an individual owned is willing to, as you'd assume that they'd eventually scratch the blade, and on a high end piece you may want to repolish it, which is costly.

Think of it a bit like a fancy car. Driving it off the lot looses you a chunk of money just because. Cutting with an expensive sword is a bit of the same. The scratches left by most cutting mediums are minor and only a cosmetic issue. Still it would lower the value of the sword if the intention is to sell. Polishing in the US usually costs around $1000 minimum for a katana length blade like this.. That said, I am sure it will cut and likely quite well.