Konron’s 9260 Quality Katana, a review with video
9260 Konron Forge Katana - 2e Generation REVIEW
review by Serge Winckelmans
This summer I was on vacation in Spain. Been there, my eye felt down to a ornamental katana set, and I bought it. Once I came back in Belgium I searched the web for a real katana and I found a site (in Belgium) who would deliver me a real (low budget) katana. When I saw the testings of this katana, my mind was sold to swords in general.
The next thing I did was ordering a KONRON 9260 katana at samoerai sword shop (dot com). A few days later I found a site on the internet which claims helping people finding decent swords for a reasonable price, this site was sword buyers guide. From that moment on I learned a lot of things about swords and what they can do. I own a few swords now so I can see the difference between the different suppliers. All I can say is that this katana is a decent backyard-cutting sword with nice fittings. The review will tell you the rest.
The katana is through hardened, which means that the traditional clay process wasn’t used so you won’t find a hamon on this blade. This katana is great for frequent cutting exercises (tameshigiri) . Cutting multiple rolls of beach mats or Tatami omote , goza, or even bamboo and other medium hard targets are no problem for this sword (see later in this review). This katana doesn’t has a real hamon but on the other hand it uses real Japanese fittings, Japanese cotton ito, signature on tang and a unique serial number. Dry handling of the blade revealed that it is quick and light, the fittings seemed at first glance to be tight and well placed. I’ll get into details later on.
DESIGN, FIT and FINISH
The Blade
A deep bo-hi runs the length of this curved blade. The blade came sharp. No Hamon.
The kissaki is well defined and attractive, coming to a razor sharp point that would be useful for stabbing. More on the blade when we get to the cutting tests.
The Tsuka
The tsuka is wood wrapped with real rayskin and wrapped with real Japanese cotton ito. The fuchi is a beautiful flower pattern which is gold plated painted.
The menuki are real Japanese gold plated fittings. As you can see, the rayskin is very attractive.
The Kashira
Has a beautiful flower patern, which is subtile gold plated painted. No plastic fittings!
The Tsuba
This is the Japanese “sunburst” design. This is a classic known tsuba but still a beauty on each kind of katana.
The Saya
Black lacquered wood, no scratches, no defects. Not much else to add there, it looks really good.
The sageo is a high quality, thick cord and very tightly wrapped.
A nice touch is the golden colored shitidome, which gives the saya that dash of color and character.
The Konron katana fits very well in the saya. I prefer to have a snug fit and not have the katana fall out if turned upside down. I feel this is safer. One thing I noticed is that the koiguchi (saya opening) is completely lacquered like the saya.
TESTING
I first tested the sword on plastic bottles (different kinds) filled with water.
Then I hung up a bottle on a cord
As you can see, NICE clean cuts!
On the last one I used a tatami mat.
My last touch against the tatami mat.
And again, nice clean cuts. This katana is a real bone-breaker.
5 minutes of pleasure….
CONCLUSION
Is the Konron a decent cutter? Of course it is! The Konron katana seems to be a very well built beautiful looking sword. As it is a weapon, functionality is as important, if not more important, than aesthetics. The Konron 9260 katana definitely does not disappoint in the functionality category.
THE VERDICT
Historical Accuracy: N/A
Fit and Finish: 4/5
Handling: 5/5
Structural Integrity: 5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5 (Excellent)
Battle ready katanas, next in line is the Kiku Katana.
Introduction
Recently I tested the Kiku Katana. The version I’ve got is without bo-hi.
I will start with this review with the looks, fit and finish of this katana. Then I’ll tell you
what kind of tests I performed with it, and my conclusions about the Kiku katana.
The Looks
The Kiku is delivered in a blue sword bag, which is suitable for full Koshirae ( the katana fully equipped with tsuba etc. )
The first thing which strikes me when I see this Kiku katana is the sori ( the curvature of the blade ). Even with the blade in the saya it is obvious that this katana is unlike the average katana. The sori is prominent and gives it quite a different look ( and feel, but that is for later in this review ).
The Kiku katana in his saya.
The katana has a tight fit is his saya and doesn’t rattle. It all feels very sturdy. The saya is painted in shining black. The paint work is tight and can withstand some abuse.
The sageo is nicely wrapped and is made of woven cotton. The ito is tightly wrapped on the tsuka and it’s made of imported Japanese cotton. The same is of real ray skin. The menuki is a koi Carp. The fuchi is simple but has a good finish. The tsuba resembles a “water theme”
The menuki. Fuchi, seppa and tsuba.
The tsuka is attached to the nakago with two mekugi. The entire tsuka etc. can be dismounted for maintenance of the katana.
The blade has a fine polish, and its yokote is clearly visible. The Kissaki is nicely shaped.
As the katana is thru-hardened there is no hamon line present.
Yokote and Kissaki. The Kiku katana in full.
The Specifications:
Total length : 103,5 cm
Tsuka : 27,5 cm
Nagasa : 75,5 cm
Thickness tsuba : 0,5 cm
Point of balance : 14,0 cm van de tsuba
Steel : 1060 spring steel
The Tests
Of course I’ve tested this katana. For this testing I’ve done several cutting tests.
For starters I have been cutting some paper. Just to see how sharp the edge would be.
This was no problem for the katana. To make it more of a challenge I’ve tried to cut
some pieces from a telephone book. This is also quite easy to do. After this I tried to
cut the telephone book in two with a single blow. It worked, but because of the sori
I couldn’t cut entirely through the length of it. Just half an inch stays together.
Cutting paper is easy. Even a telephone book isn’t a match for the Kiku katana.
I also tried the katana on some bottles, including a double cut on two bottles on top of each other. The Kiku is quick and manoeuvrable enough for this kind of action. A container from the orange juice is so nicely cut with the first stroke, that the top stays on while cutting it a second time. This shows U how sharp the Kiku katana really is.
The telephone book, cut in pieces. Second slash through the container, the
top stays on.
For my last two tests I first take a rubber boot and stick a hard plastic bottle in it. The katana
slices through this without any delay. Than I got an old sneaker which I tried to cut in two.
The Kiku gets through this as if it wasn’t there. But again I made a mistake with the sori of this katana. Because of this the last centimetre of the sneaker stays together.
You can watch al those tests here :
Conclusion:
This Kiku katana is a nicely finished katana. Suitable for dojo exercise but also for many fun filled hours of backyard tameshigiri.
I really had to get used to the sori of this katana, as it is much more prominent then with any other katana I owned. But once you get used to it, it cuts like a hot knife through butter.
It’s definitely worth its money.
Hans
New cheap handmade samurai sword - Ideal entry level sword
A few days ago, our members already got a notification about the new things that were going to happen here at our store (not a member yet ? Go here, subscribe and you will be part of our elite club ).
Today I can announce a first new toy…I’m not sure if you remember the 9260 steel samurai swords we got in from the Konron forge. They were a huge success and the first and second delivery did sold out within a few weeks. At this moment, the forge need to re-locate and it will still take a few weeks before they can start producing. So patience is the message here 
On the other hand, we have a second forge we’re working with who will supply us the more higher end stuff….but…the last months we were also working with that forge on an very affordable yet high quality katana and well here it is :
The KIKU Katana !
9260 Katana Sword review with Video.
Introduction
Hello, welcome to this review about the Konron 9260 Katana. I am Daan. I own a Hanwei Practical Katana and use it for so called “Backyard Tamishigiri”. I have had no official sword training, so I learned everything I do and know on the internet, online forums and just lots of practicing.
A few days ago Dave asked me if I was interested in testing and writing a review about the 9260 Konron Katana. I gladly accepted to enjoy the “feel” of an other katana and to review it, have fun reading this review!
The Review
Looks
While removing the packaging, I got a smile on my face, at First sight the sword looks and feels nice and sturdy.
Fuchi en de Kashira - The fuchi and the kashira are decorated with a decorating that looks nice, and is not too much over-the-top. The kashira also has the usual golden accent that fits nice with the rest of the fittings.
Menuki – The menuki looks nice as well, although it’s a bit harder to recognize the flower motive. They are made out of copper.
The Konron katana tested to the bone
Introduction
Dave, of the Samurai-Sword-Shop has offered me the possibility to test the Konron 9260 Katana. I have tested the version without bo-hi.
I will start with this review with the looks and finish of this katana. After that I’ll tell you about the real deal. The testing, something these katana’s are build for.
The Looks
Konron katana Nicely tight sageo
The katana fits tightly in his saya. Nothing will rattle when you shake it. Yet he is easily drawn from his saya. As well on the traditional way (first pushing it open with your thumb)
9260 steel katana review
After days of rain, we had a sunny day so it was time to get our new 9260 steel katanas and play a bit. The new delivery arrived last week but we were so busy with organising our little sword show that we didn’t have any time left to give you a closer look.
Besides the traditional forged carbon steel swords(more on those one later) we also have to 9260 spring steel swords in stock now. These blades are known as flexible and very strong. Since they are through hardened, there’s no hamonline to be found.
The katana with bo-hi is black ‘themed’. A black ito over a white rayskin and a black saya. The iron tsuba does feature a crane where the fushi & kashira and the menuki (all made of copper) have a flower theme. It’s a very light and fast katana with a very good cutting ability. Read more
