Cheness SGC Series (Specialized Goza Cutters)

These specialized blades were built based upon a custom designed sword created expressly for dojo cutting exercises. After more than half a year in planning and preparation, we have finally completed our SGC series for production... effectively bringing down the price of this sword from a $5,000 to $7,000 custom built range down to less than 1/10th of that cost.

These swords are broader and thinner than a standard katana. With a weight distribution optimized for cutting exercises. The entry angle of the cutting edge is effectively minimized by the geometry and is only made feasible with the Cheness Spring Steel, which aids in maintaining the edge durability.

Name Yamakami Katana (Mountain Guardian)

Blade Through Hardened 9260 Silicon Alloy Carbon Spring Steel.
Overall Length (+ Saya) 42"
Treatment Full Hand Forged, Through Hardened, Oil Quenched, Hand Polished
Finish Tameshigiri Polish
Blade Dimension 28" Length, 0.25" Width, 1.50" Height
Sori (Curvature) 0.7"
Weight 2 lbs 15 oz (no saya), 3 lbs 14 oz (with saya), 9 lb shipping weight.
Tsuba/Fuchi/Kashira Blackened Steel "Mount Fuji" Tsuba
Balance Point 6" above tsuba
Tsuka/Ho 11" Wood
Tsuka Ito Brown Cotton
Mekugi 2 X Wood (Double Pinned)
Same Real Ray Skin Panel Wrap
Saya 30.5" Black Glossy Lacquered Medium Hardwood

The Yamakami Katana shares the same blade as our Tsukikage Katana. Both swords uses the Cheness SGC blade design and is especially made for goza (tatami omote) cutting exercises.

Due to the nature of the geometry, the blade exhibits a hint of a pattern of how the quench affected different parts of the blade differently than the normal katana even though this is a through hardened blade.

The Yamakami uses a brown cotton ito wrapping with a blackened steel tsuba and an image of snow cap of Mt. Fuji. The steel used on this blade is the through hardened version of the Cheness 9260 Spring Steel.

The handle of this blade is slightly bigger than that of a standard katana. This is to compensate for the broader blade and nakago within the handle.

The purpose of changing the blade cross-section geometry in making the SGC is to significantly reduce the entry angle of the cutting edge without reducing weight or lateral strength of the blade.

As illustrated in the diagram below, this change makes the SGC significantly better at cutting. It is especially well suited for exercises in cutting of goza mats or tatami omote. This blade also handles bamboo extremely well.