Mokuteki Katana
Presenting the 目的 Mokuteki katana.
This is a Huawei 9260 shinogi zukuri katana that was intentionally dressed down to be more conducive to it’s purpose but don’t let that fool you, it got a complete makeover from tip to tail. This is meant to be a workhorse cutter and shouldn’t feel too pretty to get down and dirty during tameshigiri. I notice a lot of people feel hesitant to rough up their custom katana but getting roughed up is exactly what this build was about. I want this to be used and used hard without the owner feeling like they are going to ruin something. No, it’s not indestructible but it wants to be used to cut with and it won’t mind a few scratches here and there because that is it’s purpose after all. These 9260 through-hardened steel blades have a reputation for being very tough and also more forgiving for beginners and bad angles. Because it is through-hardened, it does not have a hamon. The blade has a nice even satin polish on the ji and a mirror polish on the shinogi-ji and the kissaki has a geometric yokote.
The tsuka has been reshaped and given new samegawa panels with some rather huge nodes, including a monster oyatsubo (which was hard to photograph since it’s nestled in to all that plush ito) and then lacquered black. A steel fuchi was added and given a patina that matches the tsuba, the menuki are hand cut from steel and were given a worn looking patina and a hand cut horn kashira caps off the end. It was then wrapped in super plush and super comfortable dark brown nubuck leather ito in Kawa-tsumami-maki style. Seriously, you have to feel this ito! Plus, as it gets used, the ito will gain that very important “character” that makes leather so special.
The original tsuba was replaced with this handmade rounded square steel one, featuring a raised rim and one hitsu-ana. It’s simple but strong with a basic black patina. The original one was thicker so I added three hand cut seppa in brass and bronze to make up the space and also to give it a look as if it had been around for many years and had been adjusted a few times along the way. Mix-matched but cohesive.
The saya was given all new hand crafted horn parts, including koiguchi, kurikata and kojiri and was given a “distressed” paint scheme showing black, brown and wood as if it’s been well used and re-lacquered multiple times. It includes a brand new premium synthetic silk sageo in matching dark brown. The saya fits very well with no rattle.
Specs from the sellers site:
Nagasa /blade length- 71cm
Motohaba- 3.2cm
Motokasane – 0.76cm
Sakihaba – 2.4cm
Sakikasane – 0.5cm
Nakago Length -27.5cm
Sori/curvature – tori sori 1.8cm
Chu kissaki -4.5cm
Tsuka Length – 26.5cm
Specs as I measured them after custom work:
Weight w/saya: 2.91 lbs
Weight w/out saya: 2.41 lbs
Nagasa: 27 3/4″
Tsuka: 10 1/4″
POB: 6″
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