LK Chen – Tatsu Katana
In stock
$439.99
- Shipping estimated at checkout
- Every blade inspected before shipping
- 30-day returns
- Class
- Battle Ready
- Blade
- T10 High Carbon Steel
- Overall Length
- 39 1/2"
- Weight
- 2 lbs 1 oz
- Brand
- LK Chen
- Culture
- Japanese
Overview
LK Chen - Tatsu Katana
The blade of the Tatsu (the Japanese dragon) Katana by LK Chen is inspired by a 14th Century blade forged by master swordmaker Shizu Saburō Kaneuji, the founder of the famous Mino-Den school of sword making. The Tatsu Katana is a solid combat weapon with the same curvature, width, thickness, subtle distal and profile taper and Bohi of the original sword used as a reference. This careful attention to historical details, dimensions and blade geometry has created a Katana with a more lively and responsive balance than most! Even the tsuba is a 1:1 replica of a fine Edo period original which features the Tatsu dragon on one side and roiling waves upon the other.
The blade is forged from tough T10 high carbon steel which was expertly differentially-tempered to possess a hardened steel edge with a genuine hamon. A careful and quality final polish to the blade brings out the natural beauty of the wave-like hamon line. This traditional clay tempered treatment gives the edge a 56 HRc hardness and a 40-45 HRc hardness for the rest of the blade. The tsuba, fuchi and kashira hilt components are crafted from fine and robust iron, with the other components (habaki, seppa and menuki) are of brass. The tsuka grip is crafted from hardwood and is fitted with genuine rayskin which is bound in knotted ito cord. Included with the sword is a black lacquered saya scabbard with a matching knotted black sageo cord.
Specifications
Every measurement that matters
- Brand
- LK Chen
- Culture
- Japanese
- Pommel
- N/A
- Overall Length
- 39 1/2"
- Blade Length
- 28 1/2"
- Blade
- T10 High Carbon Steel
- Weight
- 2 lbs 1 oz
- Edge
- Very Sharp
- P.O.B.
- 4 1/2"
- Thickness
- 7.1 mm - 3.6 mm
- Width
- 29.5 mm
- Grip Length
- 9 5/8"
- Class
- Battle Ready
- Country of Origin
- China
Reviews
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Video
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LK Chen Tatsu Katana | Kult of Athena Review
The Maker
LK Chen
LK Chen produces faithful recreations of historical Chinese swords and weapons with highly precise blade geometry and balance. They take great efforts to adhere to the authenticity of a weapon and its particular historical era in order to produce the most accurate recreations available.
Often paired together
The sword I received had a dry blade and some surface rust had formed at the tip. The mountings had a serious flaw with the habaki. This part is a bit too small and permits the lower edge of the blade to cut through it. The result is a sharp spur that inhibits drawing the sword from the saya and digs into the wood of the saya throat. On the plus side, the blade is excellent. It is very well balanced, very quick and precise in wielding. The hamon is subtle and attractive, the bohi are perfectly executed. With better mountings this sword would be exceptional. If LK Chen addressed only the habaki flaw, they would have a dominant product.
After a few days of handling, I have to add a star. This sword handles beautifully. I will add that the ito is well done and very tight. The habaki is really the only negative and may just be an issue on the sample that I own.
Blade is so perfect, light, and might be more representative of period katana considering its geometry was based on an existing artifact. Only issue I had with it was that the kashira was incredibly loose and would need to be repaired basically out of the box, and that the fit was looser than expected between the blade and the saya, meaning it can in fact fall out when tipped downwards. I love the balance of the blade because it feels better than most katana that I’ve handled, so it’s a shame that some of the other pieces fit so poorly.