ecovolo
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Review Points: 95
"Ich bin ein Landsknecht."
Posts: 625
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Post by ecovolo on May 7, 2009 18:09:21 GMT
So, Another member of SBG and I PM'd back and forth about United Cutlery katana. We have read some bad press about them here on the board . . . but no one has submitted a review here. At least, that's I noticed on the Review Index . I've ordered one, and I'll review it when it comes in. If these things have such a bad rep, I want to see *why*. It will be one of the lower-end "United Black" carbon steel ones (either a 1045 or 1060; you'll know when you read it , so hopefully there might be a chance at finding a diamond in the rough. A lot of United Cutlery's older offerings were stainless steel SLO pieces; hopefully their carbon steel pieces will measure up. This remains to be seen. More info on this as it happens. --Edward
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Post by shadowhowler on May 7, 2009 18:13:04 GMT
Good luck on that... A lot of the bad Rap on United Cutlery is based on older offerings... I don't know anyone who has had or even handled one of the new katana that you are getting... so it should be interesting. It does not LOOK to me like something I would want... but I look forward to reading your impresion of it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2009 18:44:10 GMT
Bill should weigh in on this; he reviewed one of those stainless 'full tang' katanas with the sandwich handles. Even though it was stainless, he raved about its 'tank-like' abilities.
Not a pretty sword by any stretch of the imagination, but sturdy, according to him. If they make their tempered steel with the same level of attention they do their stainless, they may be around a while.
They'll not win in any 'does this look real/authentic' contest tho.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2009 18:52:28 GMT
for me the biggest thing they'll need to do is get rid of the second kurikata i saw on most of the newer models
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2009 19:03:07 GMT
Well, are these being marketed as 'traditional'? If so, I'd agree, flash, but if not- well, depends on the market they're aiming at.
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Post by sparky on May 7, 2009 20:11:37 GMT
I've ordered one, and I'll review it when it comes in. If these things have such a bad rep, I want to see *why*. It will be one of the lower-end "United Black" carbon steel ones (either a 1045 or 1060; you'll know when you read it , so hopefully there might be a chance at finding a diamond in the rough. --Edward Here's to hoping it's a diamond in the rough ecovolo ;D
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ecovolo
Member
Review Points: 95
"Ich bin ein Landsknecht."
Posts: 625
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Post by ecovolo on May 8, 2009 0:11:16 GMT
Well, are these being marketed as 'traditional'? If so, I'd agree, flash, but if not- well, depends on the market they're aiming at. Traditional? The United Black katana I ordered is pretty far from it . I think the focus of the review will be more on how it performs and the *condition* of the fittings, versus how traditional the katana looks. I have to agree that if you're looking for a tameshigiri/cutting katana with traditional Japanese-style fittings, don't waste your time reading the review (when it happens ). Given that, perhaps United is trying to break into the low-cost cutting katana market, with a twist-- they aim at the customer who wants something *different* (Hip? Edgy, maybe?), versus the other companies that seem to produce theirs with the idea that the fittings should at least resemble traditional Japanese ones. Consider also that those other companies have traditional fittings that are usually identical to one another on their low-cost models. --Edward
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Post by Reisz on May 8, 2009 1:48:07 GMT
Yeah the one thing you can call these swords is Unique. Whether you like what makes them unique however, That is another point entirely! Haha, I am the other SBG Memeber Edward mentioned, I will be ordering mine up this weekend, it will be a good exercies in curiosity if nothing else, hopefully the "hip" "edgy" fittings will lead to some half decent production quality. I have never thought of UC as a bad company, They just haven't stepped into the functional category till recently, Should be an Interesting couple of swords! -Reisz
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 1:50:56 GMT
From what I recall, I don't think their katana can be disassembled...
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Post by Reisz on May 8, 2009 3:33:38 GMT
Yeah I understand that is the case for most of their previous lines, No Idea about these ones though,
Hopefully we will soon find out.
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ecovolo
Member
Review Points: 95
"Ich bin ein Landsknecht."
Posts: 625
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Post by ecovolo on May 8, 2009 5:46:33 GMT
From what I recall, I don't think their katana can be disassembled... If that's true for the katanas Reisz and I ordered, just look on the bright side: they will be very short reviews . --Edward
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 7:14:43 GMT
Ecovolo, I applaud your spirit! I think it's admirable that you put your cash down to find out for yourself if UC's dodgy reputation is fully deserved. It expands our collective knowledge, and we should all be grateful. +1 sir! I hope you discover a rough diamond! Cheers Marc E
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 8:05:25 GMT
best of luck ecovolo
nice one for taking the plunge
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Post by kidcasanova on May 8, 2009 8:38:58 GMT
I look forward to the review.
Looking around at their offerings, the double-edged katana inspired me to design something. I'll post the picture in my design thread later. The katana guys are going to kill me for sure. ;D
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 13:41:03 GMT
Let's see it, man!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 13:42:34 GMT
I look forward to your review,the prices seem pretty darn inexpensive and they look real nice.What kind of bothers me though is the few I've seen are in the BudK catalog also the metal guard and pommel (their words) are made from cast metal.Seems every time I see cast metal used for something it turns out to be that cheap white metal that cracks real easy. Hey maybe you hit on something we could all want, dont know till you try.
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ecovolo
Member
Review Points: 95
"Ich bin ein Landsknecht."
Posts: 625
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Post by ecovolo on May 8, 2009 23:47:40 GMT
Ecovolo, I applaud your spirit! I think it's admirable that you put your cash down to find out for yourself if UC's dodgy reputation is fully deserved. It expands our collective knowledge, and we should all be grateful. +1 sir! Thank you for the karma, but I can't take full credit for the idea, though. Reisz PM'd me first about ideas we had concerning United Cutlery katanas and their rep here on the board (this came from a commentary in a different entry somewhere around here . . . , and that pretty much got this whole thing going-- it's as much his idea as it is mine . PMing with him gave me enough impetus to finally order to blade, and post about plans for it. Spare a little karma Reisz's way; he deserves some too . --Edward
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Avery
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Manufacturer/Vendor
"It's alright little brother... There are more!!!
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Post by Avery on May 9, 2009 0:07:53 GMT
Talk about taking a plunge, good luck guys, I sincerely hope both of you are happily surprised.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2009 12:38:32 GMT
Spare a little karma Reisz's way; he deserves some too . Done! Plaudits to you both! Cheers Marc E
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Post by Reisz on May 9, 2009 18:12:37 GMT
Thank you for the Gracious words Edward, unnecessary but much appreciated. And you too poohze, thanks!
I just had a look at the Official spec sheet for the 1060 model I will be getting, It mentioned a "stamp" on the "Tang" that "can only be found on a United Black sword" Interesting little tid bit, seems to be a reasonable expectation that we will be able to take them apart.
Looks it will be a revealing week to come, Haha.
-Reisz
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