Musashi, what happened?

by Dan_Masamori
(Wisconsin)

Just hoping someone afilliated with this company reads this at some point, although Iam sure that it has had to come up a million times prior to this posting.

STOP STAMPING YOUR HABAKI'S WITH YOUR LOGO!! This is just one of the problems I have with your new line of blades!!

I've owned 2 Musashi Katana's, one of which I got in 2004, before they became popular, and started branding their habaki's. Iam not sure of the model, however you can still sometimes find it on e-bay, or other sword dealers on line. It had antiqued zinc fittings, and the blade is decribed as being made with a Zinc - Hiri combo. I have to say, Iam sorry I sold it after I customized it, it was very good quality for the price, it had an extemely solid overall well forged blade. Nice polish, hamon, well defined yokote, and a nice thick heavy duty saya, not the paper thin crap sayas they send out their lower price point blades in now. Anyways, Iam getting off track here, this foremenioned blade was made by Musashi, however it did not sport the "Musashi" logo on the habaki, it had a nice thick, almost hand carved looking habaki.

I purchased one of their newer katana's about a year ago not sure of the name, think it was the demon, or something similar, it was one of their lower price point blades around 150.00-170.00. I got this katana and was extremely dissappointed, as I expected the quality to be at least close to the previous Musashi sword I owned, as the price of the previous was relatively the same.

The blade was similar to the previous katana I owned, however it seemed almost paper thin with no niku (almost concave) The saya is extemely thin, and chances are it will crack extremely easily with time. The kuragata is of wood, and is not secured properly, in fact when tying a new sageo on this katana, the kuragata broke off!! All I can say is that at least the tsuka was not cracked, but, I never cut with it, and who know's maybe it would have If I had kept it long enough to try. Last but not least, the "Musashi" logo, which makes me feel less like I purchased a quality hand forged katana, and more like I just purchased a Toaster at Sears.

I really am dissapointed with this company in general, it seems less like they are moving forward, and more like they are moving back, and are sacrificing quality to make a their name known. I don't know if I will take another chance on this company in the future.