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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 8:29:25 GMT
I've found myself inclined towards a larger katana myself. The only I've got so far is a Musha with a 11 inch tsuka and a 28'5/29 inch blade I believe, but I find it oddly small. I think my next katana will have a 12-15 inch tsuka (I think 12-12.5 is what will be perfect for me), and a 30-33 inch blade. It's kinda weird really, since I'm only 6'0, pretty short, and I heard that only taller people prefer 30+ blades.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 8:53:01 GMT
thank you for the link slavia631 pretty much every katana that was used in battle by a samurai was a blade with notable curvature for the one exception. so as far as the guys with big blades a second question what would be your ideal weight and balance?
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 10:26:46 GMT
28.5" nagasa, 10.5"-11" tsuka (depending on the weight&balance of the blade)
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 14:49:39 GMT
I prefer a blade with minimum nagasa of 30", and a tsuka of 13-15". Also a .5-1" sori, up to 3 LBS (don't know the exact number, but I mean 1.5 KG). Tried 26-29" nagsa with 10-12" tsuka and found out that it's just not comfortable as a bigger blade for me.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 14:54:39 GMT
28.5"-30" Nagasa, 10-11" Tsuka, 0.7-1" Sori. I'm good with everything within that range.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 15:00:39 GMT
I'm vertically challenged so the maximum I can probably go with is a 29" nagasa (tried a 28.5" and it wasn't that difficult). I prefer a 27"-28" though since it's easier to draw/nukitsuke (I study a iai/batto art) and easier to noto. After purchasing a couple of swords, I do know that I prefer a shorter tsuka so 10" would be just right.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 15:38:10 GMT
I'm vertically challenged so the maximum I can probably go with is a 29" nagasa (tried a 28.5" and it wasn't that difficult). I prefer a 27"-28" though since it's easier to draw/nukitsuke (I study a iai/batto art) and easier to noto. After purchasing a couple of swords, I do know that I prefer a shorter tsuka so 10" would be just right. I'm a tad short of 6', and still find longer blades than I should use. For kata I use a "proper" length blade, but for "your own style", as one may call it, there's no maximum length.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 19:30:37 GMT
I'm vertically challenged so the maximum I can probably go with is a 29" nagasa (tried a 28.5" and it wasn't that difficult). I prefer a 27"-28" though since it's easier to draw/nukitsuke (I study a iai/batto art) and easier to noto. After purchasing a couple of swords, I do know that I prefer a shorter tsuka so 10" would be just right. I am with you with the shorter handle 10-10.5 is pretty much ideal for me. but i must ask the big blade guys does a bohi play any factor to detrmining whether you would want a shorter or longer katana.
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Post by James Conant on May 6, 2009 19:34:52 GMT
I'm not trained nor are currently training in Kenjutsu/Iaido/Kendo, but I'm 5'8 and when I look at a sword with a blade measuring at 27 inches with a 10.5 inch tsuka I feel under-powered. I feel that a 29 inch blade or perhaps 30 inch blade would be perfect. When I cut pool noodles with my Damascus Katana it feels like I don't have enough blade to really bring down that cut. Don't get me wrong, the noodle was turned into twelve little slices after I was done but it felt like I needed something longer, more reach. I won't really go too far into it since I don't have professional training and/or knowledge on this matter. I've only had cutting experiance with my Damascus Katana and I don't own any other aside from a "Sword of Honor" Stainless Steel Katana (If I only had known back then...).
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Post by randomnobody on May 6, 2009 19:35:00 GMT
I don't care for bohi, but with the right bohi I'm not against them.
Ultimately no, I don't want bohi on my sword. There are other, better ways of tweaking weight and balance that I prefer. Bohi is just the "easy way" and most production bohi just look bad.
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Post by wiwingti on May 6, 2009 19:36:29 GMT
to draw/nukitsuke i would definetly need around 26-27 inches because of my arms lenght. but qith 28.5 inches i am comfortable to draw slow lol.
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Post by Reisz on May 6, 2009 21:15:50 GMT
As far as nukitsuke and smooth Noto go it really starts becoming all about body mechanics; You get to a point where the size of the sword is just wrong for you to perform some techniques in the traditional manner. As far as cutting goes though, I am sure no one was worrying about the size of an overly large O-katana or Nodachi on the draw, that is not their purpose, I personally have had great fun Cutting with larger and longer Katana, but Iwouldn't take them to the dojo. I am an enormous fan of swords in the Dotanuki style though; www.budo-aoi.com/iaito/14_dotanuki.aspI am not at a point in my training where I intend to use one though. a Nihonto example; www.nihonto.ca/dotanuki/-Reisz
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2009 8:30:57 GMT
I feel more comfortable with a blade 29-30 inches, with .5 to 1" sori and with a 11" to 13" tsuka. I find it a lot easier to cut with and a lot easier to control (I'm 5-10.) Anything smaller than 28" (and less than 11" in tsuka) inches seems out of balance to me.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2009 23:00:54 GMT
i belive dotanuki was a school of swordsmithing and not necessarily a style but i am a fan of them as well. "body cutter"
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Post by Reisz on May 8, 2009 1:14:48 GMT
Yes Indeed, Dotanuki certainly was a School of smithing, A number of different Japanese smiths throughout the period adopted the Artist Name of Dotanuki, I refer to the general style as Dotanuki due to the trends in Weight and Blade profile that several smiths of that school crafted. Body Cutter, Hehe, Reminded me of Ogami Itto's Dotanuki, I think Tozando has an Iaito in official Kozure Okami koshirae, Approved by the artist and all that. -Reisz EDIT: Just found a Thread regarding Dotanuki right here on SBG, good read with a lot of nice examples if anyone is interested: /index.cgi?board=historyofswords&action=display&thread=3856
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 6:04:14 GMT
My SBG custom will be 25", we'll see how that works out.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 15:05:35 GMT
Well I haven't handled a lot of swords yet, but with handling various bokken, and knowing where the balance should be, the how far a sword should reach out to the ground, I have a good idea of my optimum. For me I think a 27-28 blade would be tops for me. I'm only 5'57" and have short legs, so swords tend to get close to the ground for me. Not to mention I don't have the longest of arms, and drawing and noto would probably be less safe with a blade longer then 28. My current primary bokken is an ebony that actually has a 30" nagasa. Swinging it is OK and all, but the balance is different because the wood is obviously lighter. It does feel a bit tip heavy, so I can tell a shinken would be way to tip heavy for me at that length. I use it with a saya to get used to draw and noto, and I've gotten used to the length on that, but again, it's easier to noto with a lighter bokken, that has a big thick mune and kissaki, then a steel blade. As for sori, I like the feel and look of around .5 to .75 inches on that. Just not a big fan of the big sori blades I've seen. No idea on handling, supposedly easier to cut with. My style calls for around 11" tsuka, but also based on hand size to give just enough space between the hands when placed correctly. For this would be about 11.5" to 12" tsuka. Bigger then 12 and it places my hands to far apart, making it to unwieldly and slow feeling.
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Post by Reisz on May 8, 2009 18:02:28 GMT
Sounds like you are getting a good feel for the way a sword should handle for you, there gman, Keep it up. I totally agree with you on the length of tsuka, I have relatively small hands and find that anything over 12" is just a waste of space for me, I prefer 10.5" - 11" as said. Just feels more natural and much easier to exercise tip control for me, It blows my mind watching James Williams and his 15" tsuka, It may simply be that I am not yet at a point in my study that lets me see the benefit of the gained leverage.
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2009 0:10:26 GMT
to the individuals who like the larger and bigger blades, in a practical since in modern times and since the katana is primarily a battle weapon so let us say that this will never ever have to happen but speaking from a practical since if you had to use your katana sword say on an intruder in your home(you have no gun) and you have your big 30" blade at your quick disposal. well in order to deliever a proper powerful cut you usually bring the blade over your head then swing it down at an angle you choose so unless you have 14ft. cielings this would be nearly impossible to defend your own home with your katana would it not? on a side note i know of low angle diagonal cuts but this would be difficult as well as you have to get the blade as far back and as low as possible then swing upwards which would actually probably be your best bet
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Post by randomnobody on May 9, 2009 5:40:54 GMT
to the individuals who like the larger and bigger blades, in a practical since in modern times and since the katana is primarily a battle weapon so let us say that this will never ever have to happen but speaking from a practical since if you had to use your katana sword say on an intruder in your home(you have no gun) and you have your big 30" blade at your quick disposal. well in order to deliever a proper powerful cut you usually bring the blade over your head then swing it down at an angle you choose so unless you have 14ft. cielings this would be nearly impossible to defend your own home with your katana would it not? The katana really isn't meant to defend a home, per se. That said, I have developed methods of not putting any more holes in my ceiling with a "standard" length kat; I imagine I'd be fine with a few more inches if I had to. It's not like I'll be out in the hallway. Overhead isn't the only place to put a sword. Which brings us to... No you don't. You can create a fairly powerful swing from holding the blade directly in front of you. It's all body mechanics; I don't want to use the phrase "a flick of the wrist" but it amounts to that much outward movement, ultimately. The principals of leverage are your friend. Besides, I have knives. I'm starting to wonder if you have any idea what you're talking about.
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