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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2009 21:24:12 GMT
I seem to have bought my katana well enough, but obviously too dangerous to 'play' with. I'd like a bokken to train with so I don't have to worry so much about my lack luster technique slicing anything that's meant to be attatched to something else. My questions are 1. What kind of prices should I expect for a bokken on average? 2. Is there anything I should be noting to know I'm getting a bokken of quality? (well, my katana was only $100, but it's not a piece of crap) ex. types of wood, some kind of strength/flex score, ect. Thanks for the help.
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Post by sparky on Jun 22, 2009 21:53:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2009 22:59:07 GMT
I recommend getting a white oak bokken. Can't find a good vendor on the web, but if you go to your local martial arts store you can pick one up for less than $25
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jun 22, 2009 23:21:07 GMT
I second the love of CS's polypropylene bokken. It's not perfect, but it IS indestructible. It feels like a real sword in-hand, and is completely indestructible. Oh! And did I mention that it's indestructible? ;D I went to a 3 hour sword seminar at my karate studio and trained with a friend who had a wooden bokken. At the end of the class (after doing drills and such where we hit our bokkens together about 500 times), his nice wood bokken was nearly serrated, it had so many dents. My CS bokken had no damage whatsoever. No scratches, dings, or scuffs. You could go all out on a 4x4 all day long and it would only be minorly scuffed; trust me, I've done it. Anyway, that's my $.02... And if you do go with the CS, PM me, okay? When I bought mine, I got it from KoA, but got them to pricematch another site I found that sells it for $16. If you PM me, I'll see what I can do to find it again. I hope this helps! -Slayer
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Post by sparky on Jun 22, 2009 23:35:54 GMT
I second the love of CS's polypropylene bokken. It's not perfect, but it IS indestructible. It feels like a real sword in-hand, and is completely indestructible. Oh! And did I mention that it's indestructible? ? Anyway, that's my $.02... And if you do go with the CS, PM me, okay? When I bought mine, I got it from KoA, but got them to pricematch another site I found that sells it for $16. If you PM me, I'll see what I can do to find it again. I hope this helps! -Slayer Now you tell me You are an Internet guru ;D
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jun 23, 2009 0:37:50 GMT
Thank you, thank you very much! ;D I would classify myself more as a guy with WAAAAAAAAY too much free time combined with way too little money and a love of swords and knives. The result? A champion price-finder. *fanfare plays* ;D Really, I should put that in my signiture. I'm more than happy to spend time finding the best prices for people. The only ones I haven't been able to beat are DSA on KoA (but I'd still buy from AoV, just to support a fellow forumite and his GREAT customer service) and that's about it. Maybe I could do something short 'n' sweet, like this: You want to buy a knife, sword, axe, or spear? PM me and I WILL find you the best price. What do you think? -Slayer
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2009 3:22:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2009 3:38:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2009 15:32:37 GMT
Ah nuts! You beat me to it! Those are made by Kim Taylor in Guelph Ontario Canada, just down the street so to speak from me. That is where SDK Supplies is located. All of his prices on that web page include shipping withing North America just to let you know. Kim produces some very good quality training weapons. His bokken are some of the best in the world in my opinion.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2009 22:31:18 GMT
So many to pick from, I don't know where to start. I don't think I've even heard of some of those wood types. >~< Thanks to everyone for their help so far.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 15:11:18 GMT
A rather important thing to consider when getting a bokken is, what are you going to do with it. Are you going to be doing solo kata and practice with it, or are you also going to be doing contact practice with it. Just about any bokken of desired size and shape is fine for solo practice, and many can be found for less $25. But if you are planning on doing any contact practice with it, you want to get a well contructed bokken, from a good, tough wood. Well constructed means go with something made by someone who makes wooden practice weapons for a living. They know the ins and outs of the wood to make a good weapon.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2009 23:56:06 GMT
With the wisdom from gman I would definitely say get in contact with Kim Taylor from SDK Supplies. He'll be able to set you up with what you need in either case.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2009 21:34:33 GMT
This may be an odd question, but does anyone make bokken made out of bamboo (not a shinai, but an actual bokken)?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2009 9:46:02 GMT
I just got my hands on one . They are as lovely as you've imagined. Very well balanced, and just as gorgeous. I could never bring myself to pay the $200 + for one, but I was lucky enough to snatch one from someone at SFI. This may be an odd question, but does anyone make bokken made out of bamboo (not a shinai, but an actual bokken)? Here's a compressed bamboo bokken: bokkenshop.com/eng/125.htmlI have a bokkenshop.com "White Oak Bokken Deluxe". Also a lovely bokken, and a good deal overall.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2009 10:12:13 GMT
I seem to have bought my katana well enough, but obviously too dangerous to 'play' with. I'd like a bokken to train with so I don't have to worry so much about my lack luster technique slicing anything that's meant to be attatched to something else. Speaking from experience, bokken can still do some damage, so be careful ;D . 1. What kind of prices should I expect for a bokken on average? For a good shiro kashi bokken (Japanese white oak) you can expect to spend about $40 - $80. They're common and good. sdksupplies.com/cat_stdweapons.htmbokkenshop.com/eng/154.html2. Is there anything I should be noting to know I'm getting a bokken of quality? (well, my katana was only $100, but it's not a piece of crap) ex. types of wood, some kind of strength/flex score, ect. Thanks for the help. For a good read on many of those questions, I recommend Kim Taylor's article "Bokken Bashing" : ejmas.com/pt/ptart_taylorcol_0603.htmlWhat I don't recommend, is spending too much. Granted, I just spent $165 on a Kingfisher, but that was entirely a treat, and I honestly will probably be over protective of it and use my Japanese white oaks for contact ;D .
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2009 16:35:50 GMT
Speaking from experience, bokken can still do some damage, so be careful ;D . Understandable, but those are more 'learning' bruises and welts instead of life threatening injuries. For a good shiro kashi bokken (Japanese white oak) you can expect to spend about $40 - $80. They're common and good. For a good read on many of those questions, I recommend Kim Taylor's article "Bokken Bashing" : ejmas.com/pt/ptart_taylorcol_0603.htmlWhen it comes to different woods, is heartwood (the young wood of the tree on the very inside) ever used or is there not enough? If it is used, is it better to use or worse than sapwood (the wood encompassing the outside of heartwood) for a bokken? That was a good read. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2009 20:10:14 GMT
So Tengu, how is that Kingfisher? I'm assumging it must be a level 7 at that price. I think my next bokken purchase will be one of theirs, but probably only a level 5. I'm curious how they handle, balance and feel etc. What style did you get?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2009 22:26:30 GMT
When it comes to different woods, is heartwood (the young wood of the tree on the very inside) ever used or is there not enough? If it is used, is it better to use or worse than sapwood (the wood encompassing the outside of heartwood) for a bokken? Hmm... good question. I don't really know about parts of the tree. I think you'd want the heartwood, but I really don't know. So Tengu, how is that Kingfisher? I'm assumging it must be a level 7 at that price. I think my next bokken purchase will be one of theirs, but probably only a level 5. I'm curious how they handle, balance and feel etc. What style did you get? It's very impressive. Yes, it is a level 7. You will love one, I'm sure. Mine is a kenjutsu style with a 15" tsuka and a 29" blade. It is amazingly light, and very well balanced. The kenjutsu has a little more taper than I am used to, but is very tough. Because of the longer tsuka it is a very graceful weapon. The chosen inscription, "aki kaze" (autumn wind/storm) is very well executed. Maybe I'll try to take pictures soon .
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 10:06:36 GMT
I use to work in a lumber/railroad crosstie mill when I was alot younger. Heart wood is the strongest part of the tree as far as crossties go. Some contacts we had call for crossties only from the heart wood.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 14:58:43 GMT
Yea Tengu, give us a preview why don't you? I'm planning on doing one for my dragon ebony bokken I got once I get some pics. Hm kind of tapered hug? I'm torn between the shinto model and the katori. The shinto being a full 40" and 11" tsuka, which gives a little more weight for a bokken, but a katori is 38" total no noticable tsuka, so a little closer to the proportions of a shinken I would use.
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