Shape

The dimensions already give it away: The Katana is an almost exact replica of the Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical. Whereas the Ninjutso Origin One X kept the dimensions, but not the size of the Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0, the Katana matches the IntelliMouse Optical in both dimensions and size. Compared to the Wheel Mouse Optical and IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0, the IntelliMouse Optical has always been the least popular of the three classic Microsoft shapes. When taking a closer look, it becomes easy to see why. Unlike on most mice, the sides are angled like this: / \ instead of \ /, ) (, ( ), or | |. This goes against the usual principles of ergonomic design in that lifting the mouse is made more difficult. Furthermore, and weirdly enough, the mouse ends up feeling too large and too small simultaneously because the base is large and wide, but the top narrow and lacking any bulk to latch onto. Aside from that, the shape is quite regular: widened back, centered hump that gradually slopes down towards the front and back, and sides curving inwards horizontally. Another peculiarity is the pointed edge at the base. While present on many other designs, this edge usually is rounded to prevent any irritation. Not so on the Katana, where it is surprisingly sharp and may cause discomfort depending on how one grips the mouse.


As for grip styles, I'd say the Katana mostly suits claw and fingertip grip. It's a medium-sized mouse with a moderately pronounced hump, which should make it generally suit most hand sizes. For reference, my hands are 19 cm long and 10 cm wide, and I found the Katana quite comfortable in claw grip.

Dimensions

This table includes the dimensions of the Ninjutso Katana and several other ambidextrous mice. "Front height" denotes the distance between the base and main buttons. Measurements with two decimals have been taken with a caliper, while those with one decimal have been taken with a ruler. For a full list of all measurements taken, please refer to this sheet compiled by an esteemed community member.


Below are some comparison shots with each of the measured mice:


Endgame Gear XM1r


ROCCAT Burst Pro


Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical 1.1