Ever since Cheness Cutlery announced that they were going out of business due in April 2021 due to supply chain issues, it has been almost impossible to source a genuine 9260 spring steel Katana..
It is a notoriously difficult steel to work with – and so most forges avoided it, preferring to deal with 1045 carbon, 1060 carbon or 5160 spring steel (though that did not stop some unscrupulous sellers from marketing these more common steels as ‘9260 spring steel’ simply to get the sale)..
Indeed, the only other forge in China making 9260 Spring Steel blades is the forge of the A.P.O.C. sword line, though these are tactical swords and not traditional Katana like Cheness used to make..
But all this has changed with today’s release of the ‘Yokaze’ series by our friends at Ryujin Swords!
Yes, our friends at Ryujin have brought 9260 Spring Steel swords back with a vengeance – and this series ticks every box.
- Differentially hardened edge with a very prominent, natural hamon
- Same weight at the Cheness Kaze – 2.6lbs (2lbs 9oz) though slightly better balanced (6″ P.O.B. on the Cheness Kaze, 4.5″ on the Ryujin Yokaze)
- Great quality fittings – cotton ito over real rayskin, matched gold and silver plated brass fitting sets with 5 different themes.
Overall, these swords are the complete package (and come with a free sword display box and cleaning kit) and amazing value at $374.99 – less than $50 more than the historical price for the Cheness Kaze ($329.99) but in our current economic climate with additional upgrades not seen on the original series, if the Kaze was still around the Yokaze would blow it out of the water..
If you are after a serious martial arts grade Katana at a reasonable price, the Yokaze tops the list – though as this is a trial run stock is limited..
