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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2006 21:03:17 GMT
Hardy,I think theres a lot of people who would like to know what exactly is hanwei/Bugei's "swedish powder steel". I havnt polished it so I dont know how hard it is, but certainly makes a nice blade. Bugei's "Swedish powder steel" is made by a company that is known as Assab-Bohler-Uddeholm, or various combinations of those names. The particular steel used is K120-C, but I don't know anything about the formulation, aside to speculate that it might not be *extremely* different from D-2, which Assab number as K100. Their website is at assab.se, I suppose you could always contact them and ask.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2006 2:46:08 GMT
Hello All And hello Ron, it's me your sword mounting friend I will send you pics of your Honto. I just wanted to say that I understand about folks getting interested in the arts and buying swords to use them. I did not bring up the fact of swords bending or breaking and proper techniques to make any one feel bad about what they do with thier swords. I only spoke of these things to bring light that to many swords get a bad rap as being a junk beater, I dont even like the word beater associated with swords. I believe that the 440 wall hangers have no place being used, but the low priced swords and high end swords can all crack or bend. The only difference is the finish and fittings which to me sets the bar. I have remounted many swords as folks like a blade but dont want the cookie cutter fittings as everyone else. So they buy a sword get new fittings from Fred Lohman and send to me to mount and add silk ito. And folks say you spent to much money on a junk sword, but to them it was worth it. It becomes more personal and adds spirit for them just as samurai of old didnt have cash to throw around but put personal and spiritual representation in the sword. I have swords from antique to Cheness, Last legend, Hanwei etc but why would I take my Koto tachi out to do cutting with. Even if I had a custom shinken from Japan made that cost thousands I dont think I could bring myself to use it, even thogh that is what they were made for. I will stick with the production lines to cut with and enjoy my swords of old, if only they could tell me thier tales. Regards Brian
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2006 3:32:22 GMT
Hi Brian, glad to see you here.I sent the fittings to you today, with the xmas mail rush, I doubt you will see them before xmas tho.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2006 21:52:35 GMT
Just to toss in my couple of ducats worth-I read a review on a Bugei blade and the reviewers were not impressed. It was dull (according to the reviewers) and did not cut well-but this was a few years ago so perhaps they simpky got a lemon or something.
The reason the Japanese folded their blades (originally) was to distribute any impurities in the ore more evenly through the steel-they also did not have coal-only charcoal to heat their forges and could not achieve the high tempratures needed and couldn't get the high carbon content of their European counterparts.
I read a treatise on Japanese blades where several prominent sword makers got together to exchange information and test blades (I think this was in the 16th Century) and it was surprising how often blades broke when used-even the best sword makers had blades fail-and even Samurai were apparently inclined to do "stupid" things with their swords (hard to believe) one erstwhile warrior decided to impress some villagers with his "skills"and struck a rock with his sword-and was angry because his sword broke! Duhhh!
Modern day steel is a lot better in quality-and I think a lot of those bumps and uneven spots occur in the blades because they are supposedly hand forged-every hand forged blade I have seen has those ripples and uneven surfaces. They usally are not noticable and do not affect the blades performance I.M.O.- maybe I am wrong about that...
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