Dragon King Hana Katana Sword Review

Hi everybody welcome to Dynamo Sword Channel. I'm David and today on Dynamo Sword Channel I will be reviewing the Dragon King Hana Katana. Now this may seem different for the channel as normally I review medieval European swords but I also collect Katana and have experience in Japanese sword arts and history. So I decided I needed a new Katana in my collection and this one fit the bill. So how does it compare to other production Katana on the market today? We'll stay tuned and we'll find out. This sword classifies as a Katana, a specific type of two-handed curved single-edged sword originating in Japan. Now historically Katana sees its origin stem from the Chinese Dao which influenced the early predecessor of the Katana the Karatechi which in later years developed into the Uchi Katana down to the Katana that we know from the Edo period. The Hana has the look and koshire of a classic Edo period Katana. During the Edo period which lasted between 1603 and 1868 Japan was under control of the Tokugawa Shogunate, a feudal military faction that placed strict rules on the country as well as the samurai that served it. The Shogunate set strict laws and regulations on what could be worn regarding the koshire or fittings of the Katana. Basic black coloration and simple koshire were expected in court as well as in public view. The Hana is a nice example of a common 17th to 19th century court sword with its solid black coloration and simple but elegant koshire. The blades of the Edo period also showed significant changes in blade profile. As opposed to the deeply curved and thick-bodied Uchi Katana of the Muromachi period, Edo period blades tended to have less curvature and slimmer blade profiles. As the Edo period was considered a time of peace, Katana design was given less prominence in its combat efficiency and more emphasis was placed on the aesthetic appeal of the blades and swords themselves. Though it would be a misconception to believe the Katana was not still an effective battle weapon, for this was the area that advanced progression and forging techniques such as lamination and differentially hardening was most prominent, giving us the beautiful Hata patterns and Aman Katana were known for. Being a modern production Katana, this specific sword is not necessarily based on any historical original. This is something you would more so expect in the European reproduction market. You know, buyers in that market tend to prefer more historical accuracy to their sword designs. With Katana being more prominent in the sword market, Katanas tend to have more variety in colors and fittings and the designs of those fittings. But they do tend to have the more common Shinobi blade type as you see here. Though most of the Kashiri or fittings tend to be based off of historical originals. The benefit of Katana is ease of customization. This allows many vendors and even buyers to make their own uniquely designed swords rather than specific reproductions of period originals. Next we'll look at the overall statistics of the sword. So the overall length of this sword is 40 and 3 quarters inches. The weight is 2 pounds 5 ounces and it has a point of balance 4 and 3 quarters inches from the Habaki, so right there. The class of this blade again would be Katana and I would consider it more of a Shinto era Katana, as we mentioned in the historical section, more of the Edo period regulation. But again it doesn't really fit any historical replica. It's more just your general Katana that you would see on the market. All black with more basic unique Kashiri. The blade or Nagasa's total length is 28 and 3 quarters inches long and that goes from the base of the Suba all the way up. So there is about an inch to the Habaki, so it's about 27 and 3 quarters minus the Habaki, which is normally how you would measure a Katana's blade. The blade width is 1 and 1 8th inch down at the Habaki and that slightly tapers to about 3 quarters of an inch at the tip or Kisaki. The material is a differentially hardened T10, so it does have a natural Haman and the finish of the Shinogi-ji or upper portion of the blade is mirror while the Nagasa or lower part of the blade is satin. The Haman is a Gunomi Midair Haman, so more of the wavelength Haman you see kind of in more production Katanas. It is not very prominent on this sword, which is a pro and con. Most with most production Katanas, they do an acid etch on the Haman to kind of extenuate it. I don't really like those. I think it just kind of makes it look fake, kind of like, you know, more display Katana. But again, in the right lighting, you do see that Haman. So it is there, but again, due to the more satin polish of the blade, it does, it is not very prominent. The Haman, again, it goes through the blade. It does have a nice termination, but again, very cloudy and not very prominent. The sori of the Katana or curvature is right about 3 quarters of an inch. The Kasaki length is an inch and 3 eighths on the blade, and it does seem to be geometric. It is in the Ko-Kasaki termination, so more of the shorter point rather than the longer point you'd see like on the Chu-Kasaki. And again, the blade type is your more standard Shinogi, Zakuri, Shinto era blade type. The Tsuba dimensions are 2 3 quarters by 2 3 quarters. The material is a nice soft-finished blackened iron, and it is in the Moko-Gata shape, or four-lobed Moko shape. It does have the Hana or blossom accents to it, as you can see, which is the kind of title feature of the Katana being the Hana Katana, which means blossom or cherry blossom. The Hibaki is one inch in length, and it is a single piece sterling silver Hibaki, which is really nice to see. Usually they're a kind of a brass color, but this silver really adds aesthetic to this sort. The Seppa, as well, are, as you can see, are silver and are in the Koin fret kind of shape. Pretty common for mid-level Katana like this. Entry-level Katana usually tend to have those kind of more flat base Seppa or the gear-tooth Seppa. So, yeah, seeing the nice, you know, polished and shaped Koin fret are really nice to see. So, on to the Tsuka. The Tsuka's total length is 11 3 quarters inches. The circumference up at the Tsuba is about 4 1 quarter inches, and that slowly tapers to 3 1 quarter inches at the Kashira, or pommel, as you could say. This Tsuka does have a nice taper to it that goes down to the Kashira. I really like that in grip. Most Tsuka you get from production Katana tend to be bulky, sometimes referenced as axe-handled, simply because they're not very, you know, comfortable to the grip. This one is really nicely contoured and shaped. Very impressed with this grip, or Tsuka, definitely a highlight of this sort in general. Now, the Tsuka material is wood core, so it does have a wood core Tsuka, and it does feature large node Samagawa panels, a really decent Samagawa, which is, again, hard to find in production Katanas. Most of them tend to have this kind of general rough, small node Samagawa. The Ito is a black silk, and the Hineri Maki style. It does have Hishigami, which is another nice feature that you normally don't see in the production market. What Hishigami are is they're little paper folds that they use to tighten and shape the alternating Tsuka Maki. So that is another nice benefit to this sword. It's hard to tell if you have Hishigami unless you really pick at it and look. I did myself. You're not going to really be able to see them unless I really had like a pick or something to hold them out. But they are there, and that is a highlight. I know a lot of other manufacturers state they use Hishigami, but they're usually just, they tend to glue around the kind of the fold, and that's how they tend to hold their Tsuka Maki. So that is a definite high point of that, is the overall hilt construction and just the taper and proper usage and folding technique on the Tsuka Maki. All right, so let's look at the Kashire or fittings of the hilt. So the Fuchi, which is the top band here on a Katana, is made of blackened iron in the Owari style and also features the blossom accents of the Tsuba. The Kashira or end cap or pommel is blackened iron, again in the Owari style, which is more of this longer shape to it, and also has the Hana or blossom accents as you can see there. The Manuki or handle furniture are silver, similar to the Habaki and Seppa, and also have a nice blossom or Hana pattern to them as well. The hilt construction of the Tsuka is double-pinned Mikugi, so they do have the smoked bamboo as you can see here and here. I know a lot of people kind of hit or miss having two. I'm of the mind two's better than one as far as just overall security. I know it's not technically traditional, but I don't see anything with the double pin. And finally, we'll have a look at the Saya. So the Saya's overall length is 31 inches. It's made of a hardwood and it has a nice black textured matte finish to it. Now, most Saya have a piano lacquer or high gloss lacquer to them. Those are nice and attractive, but they do tend to nick, chip, and crack more. So honestly, if I was going to choose one, I tend to prefer the matte finish just because it tends to be a little more durable. You don't get the fingerprints and things like that on it, so it is a nice finish. Now, on to the more specific parts of the Saya. The Koiguchi or mouth of the Saya is blackened buffalo horn. And as you can see, it has a nice carved throat or mouth for the hibaki to friction fit. Another hard thing to find in production Katana is to have a nice carved throat or Koiguchi. The Kuri Gata, which holds the Sagio, is also blackened buffalo horn and has these nice accented that are also sterling silver. The Kujiri or end cap of the Saya is a rounded black polished buffalo horn. So this does have full horn fittings, which is a definite highlight in the production market. And the Sagio is tied in the more, you know, three knot traditional Sagio wrap you see on most production Katana and is a nice black silk similar to the Sukamaki. Now, as far as the Saya itself, I would say it's a really nice Saya. It has a nice slim shape to it. It doesn't have the bulk that most production Saya have and the fit is quite amazing. No rattle, holds the blade tight and when drawing and bringing it back in, nice and smooth, no looseness, no rattle. Very impressed with the Saya. The Saya fit is top-notch and probably the best I've seen on any production Katana that I've owned. In conclusion, overall, I was very impressed with this Katana. In the sub 400 price point, I've yet to see a Katana with such an impressive fit and finish, as well as attention to detail in the Kushire, especially the Suka taper. Most Katana in the production market tend to have very run-of-the-mill fittings and tend, they're, especially in regards to the Suka shape and how the Kushire is fitted. This attention to detail tends to be overlooked with more focus given to the finish of the blade. For example, the type of Hamon blade forging techniques or more specifically laminations. Down to what specific seal grade is used. As a result, there are many swords in the $200 to $400 price point with poor Kushire, but very attractive blades. Sometimes you get a complete package, but most of the time you must pay above, you know, that production market sword price range to get the best of both worlds regarding fit, finish, and forging technique. With this sword, I feel you get as close to a complete package as you would with a higher price Katana. The attention to detail with the fittings or Kushire is again top-notch and it's T10 differential hardened blade is nicely shaped and durable, though it's polish is of lower grade. Though again, these are the trade-offs in price point and personally, I would take a better fitted Katana over one with a more elaborate blade polish or lamination. Regarding the manufacturer, I was pleasantly surprised with the product Dragon King offered. I was not too familiar with them as there isn't many reviews on their swords and being a subsidiary of Hanwei swords, I kind of assumed they were just a typical Hanwei with a different name on the box. Though even compared to a Hanwei of similar price point, for example, their Practical Pro or Practical Plus models, this sword is a cut above the rest. The tapered Suka and the better fitted Saita is just a few of the highlights, but those also include the real silk Edo, the use of Hishigami and the Sukamaki, and just really honestly compared to other Katana on the market, this is really impressive to see, especially sub 500. Overall, I was extremely impressed with the fit, finish, and quality control for Dragon King and this Hana Katana. I would not only recommend them to a buyer, but would also be interested to view even their other models, even the higher priced ones. In the end, I tend to be more scrutinous of Katana due to the various resellers and shady third-party eBay vendors around. You know, sometimes you just don't know what you're getting when it comes to Katana and often the overall product is subpar or not as advertised. You know, this is why I always try to purchase from reputable vendors and manufacturers and in my book, Dragon King fits the bill in regards to offering a quality Katana at a very affordable price. I hope you enjoyed this review of the Dragon King Hana Katana. You know, please like and subscribe and leave comments below. Also, be sure to check out the follow-up cutting video with cutting impressions. Thanks again for watching. We'll see you next time.