BTW, yoass, can you tell me about your custom? Construction, shape, thesis and actual playing characteristics? Call it intellectual curiosity.
I have two, that are quite similar. Both have a conical handle loosely modeled after the Kjell Johanson one, and a head shape/size commonly used in most offensive(ish) blades, abt. 157x150.
- Koto/Limba/ALC/Kiri/ALC/Limba/Anegre, 5.8mm thick, 89g.
- Koto/Limba/ALC/Kiri/ALC/Limba/Koto, 6.1mm, slightly heavier handle and hence slightly less head-heavy, 92g.
The first was my first foray, After it got damaged it was repaired (for free), but I ordered the slightly different second one anyway seeing the use of having a spare.
Both blades are recognizable as members of the Viscaria family, and might as well be described as inner layer variations of the Viscaria with a vastly superior handle. The difference between Anegre and Koto is slight and subtle - the "bite" differs a bit, in a way that I find hard to describe. I could say the Anegre chews on the ball a bit longer, but that's overstating it; it's much subtler.
Anyway. Both blades are squarely OFF- with many gears, that play relatively subdued in passive play but have additional levels of power to offer the more active you play. I don't think terms like "dwell" and "throw" can be applied easily, but if I'd be forced to I'd say they have medium throw and high dwell
for a blade with hardish outers.
My level isn't that high and I can't loop everything. Not so much due to technical limitations, but the years do count and my agility isn't what it used to be 40 years ago — and also, sometimes my game tactics are a mess. Maybe as a result (and maybe as a cause) my gameplay is varied. Yes, offensive and I'm always seeking to gain the upper hand by creating pressure in rallies, but I do so by seeking initiative. Brush loops, powerloops, counterloops, the usual. But I'm also more old-skool in making direct hits; a countering game over the table, with active blocks and flat kills.
Long story, but it's in the tradeoffs between three aspects of the game were my blade, for me, excels: control and feeling in passive play (the short game); confidence and quality of shots (in terms of placement, spinlevel, speed) in opening up the game; and raw power in the direct game.