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Tori XL - Mike Femal

I had the chance to try the prototype of the Tori XL at a Taikai (sword tournament) in California.  I was really amazed at how well it cut.  I tried it on a quad roll of tatami and found it easily cut kesa (downward diagonal), gyaku kesa (upward diagonal).  It even cut suihei (horizontal cut) on the quad target.  I even tried it on a dry tatami - it was then that I found you should never try gyaku kesa on a dry tatami since I promptly launched the tatami into the chandelier of the banquette room.  I've cut with allot of swords from just about every forge and it had been a long time since I was excited about a new sword.  I was really excited about these new swords.

I had to wait about 8 months before the first production Tori XL arrived.  People asked me what the Tori looked like, but all I remembered was how well it felt and cut.  The Practical, Practical Plus, Musashi, and Shinto came in, but I could not forget how the Tori performed.  Then the Tori XL arrived at the shop.  I did not grab one, because I really prefer silk wrap, and I was not too sure about the leather wrap.  It was just before everyone in the dojo was getting together to review different swords.  When it came time to review our personal swords for tameshigiri, I made the decision.  I grabbed the Tori XL for myself and put it on the rack that held the personal swords.  Everyone was thrilled since it meant they would get a chance to try it too. 

I have a 20' x 30' deck in the backyard for practice.  The bamboo we planted a few years ago now forms a wall around the deck keeping it private.  A set of flood-lights were focused on a cutting stand and a huge pile of tatami.  It was the Tori XL that went first and I was the first to try it.  I was not sure if it would live up to the prototype, but it was time to find out.  It blew away everything including my $3000 sword.  When proper form was used, there was no resistance.  I'm used to a heavier sword, but the Tori XL was easy to adapt to. 

I hate to refit a new sword, but I have plans for my Tori.  The only thing I have done is take the sharp edge off the bone koiguchi (saya mouth) with some 400 grit emery paper.  I expect the saya will eventually be refinished in my favorite red color and the leather wrap replaced with silk.  I really love the fittings on the Tori and plan to keep them.  Now I'm waiting for the companion wakizashi to come out.

Update (7/08)

After almost two years of heavy cutting, my Tori is ready for a sharpening and a new wrap.  After a few senbongiri (1000 cuts) practices I finally loosened up the tsuka-ito to the point it needed to be replaced.  The original edge survived through tatami and bamboo cutting for much longer than expected.  I'm keeping the fittings since I really love the design.  The Ito is being replaced with brown silk.  I'm sad to say that a matching wakizashi is not coming soon.