Let us introduce you the Gokudō Shōtō shirasaya sword. As its name describes; this one truly is wicked and an extremely intensive weapon. Dressed in imposing all black aikuchi koshirae but with longer and heftier blade than a conventional aikuchi. With its nagasa featuring a kissaki longer than half of the blade, this sword is set to yield exceptional performance. Despite the sturdy nagasa, the Gokudō Shōtō is balanced for battle ready and will surprise any swords enthusiastic by its swift and striking fast handling. Whether you are martial arts enthusiastic, a collector or simply like damn fine swords, this is your pick.
The nagasa is completely hand forged, hazuya-polished (mirror polished) and sharpened by our sword smiths using strong and versatile T10 steel. It features a unique 25 centimetres long kissaki, an overflowingly gorgeous real clay tempered hamon and a dragon horimono figure, fully engraved by hand. A wide bo-hi on both sides of the blade improving the balance, equipped with razor sharp cutting edge. With a whopping 40mm motohaba, this is the widest blade yet forged by BattleBlades.
A solid hardwood shirasaya-aikuchi style tsuka is fully wrapped with black samegawa rayskin, ensuring a maximum grip. The custom-made copper habaki features hand engraved japanese kanji letters that stand for BattleBlades. Hand finished fitted fuchi and kashira are made from blackened iron. All black, water-drop lacquered saya features genuine buffalo horn kojiri, koiguchi and kurikata, finalized with black premium grade silk sageo for a dashing entirety. Comes in an embroidered BattleBlades Inc. silk sword bag with a serial numbered certificate of authenticity.
Brad –
I’ve got a couple with the ‘oar’ shapes saya, a deep crimson and the black with the ishimi(? bumpy) finish.
For the $500. they cost, I would have thought that the finish on the blade would have been better, and the sloppiness with the glue is just shoddy. Buffing does not ‘cover’ poor workmanship until that point; each stage of grinding has not eliminated the deeper gashes from previous grits, and blades are too ripply, sloppy, get it out the door attitude!
But other than that, they are quite beautiful! Works of art in line and form.
This is the only thing that feels more manly in the hand than my… katanas!!
This osoraku aikuchi feels like ten feet of sword in the hand, and handles with the authority of which the waki never dared dream!
Other than a bit of smeared glue on the tsuka (more evidence of ‘get it out quick), it is a beautiful low grade samegawa. Black as midnight with all the stars in the heavens sparkling from the tiny nodes.. and with the black wrap and black saya, it is sooo sexy!! ;)
And the crimson one is gorgeous also! Sanguine…
Mine were honsanmi construction with a ’95’ carbon edge for close to $1000. less?!?!?! Same forge.
You figure it out.