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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 9:18:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 9:55:41 GMT
First and foremost welcome to the forum, I hope you'll really enjoy it here. I'm not the most knowledgeable guy around here but I'll try and provide some answers while we wait for someone more qualified to show up. One point of terminology, (This one threw me at first too) as I understand it it's not properly called Damascus it's "pattern welded steel" people are varying degrees of finicky about that, ranging from "bite your head off over it" to "Call it Damascus if you want, it's no skin off my nose" but I try to remember to say pattern welded steel. As far as I know (and that's not very far) there's no reason they can't "pattern weld" stainless steel just as easily as carbon steel. Did your sword come coated in oil, or with directions to keep it coated in oil? (Of course that black coating might mitigate the need for that...and no, I don't know how they do that) You say it's supposed to be 1060, I don't see anywhere on the BudK site that mentions that, was that in the documentation that came with the sword? I honestly doubt they'd outright lie about it. If it says it's supposed to be 1060 my best guess is that's exactly what it is. As for Shinwa's reputation I don't know much about that but I can tell you that there are retailers you might find much better than BudK, on the SBG home page there's a listing of retailers, there's some excellent ones there. I hope some of my meandering around your questions has helped a little, and once again welcome to the forum.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 10:57:54 GMT
Thanks for the reply. I did see the same model somewhere that stated it was 1060, I could have been sadly mistaken though. ~__~
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 11:02:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 11:11:14 GMT
Hmmmm...which really makes me wonder why Budk didn't make a big fuss over it being carbon steel. Did it come sharp? I've honestly never heard of Shinwa, but I've learned most of what I know hanging around here so I know the brands that are popular around here.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 11:19:03 GMT
Yeah, it's decently sharp. Able to go through 2 water bottles at once, a 1 inch thick tree branch, and a some cardboard I had around.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 11:32:02 GMT
Well, it's carbon steel, it's able to do what you want it to do, if you like it it's a good sword.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 11:36:24 GMT
How can you tell just from that? I am a bit new to collecting more nice quality swords.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 11:56:01 GMT
I'm just saying that according to that one site it's carbon steel, I have no reason to doubt that, you're able to cut water bottles with it which is presumably what you want to do (I doubt you want to lay waste to your enemies) so it fulfills it's purpose. If you're happy with it, than it's a "good sword". I suspect, as you get more into this, you'll find yourself drawn to higher quality pieces than what you find at Budk, But that's no reason not to enjoy this sword, now.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 11:58:44 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 12:05:07 GMT
That would be a significant step up, all right. I take it you like colored blades. Are you in Australia?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 12:09:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 12:18:58 GMT
That eBay seller gets mentioned in this thread /index.cgi?board=japaneseswords&action=display&thread=13402 it's more specific to their DH blades for a couple hundred dollars but still might give you a little information about them.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 12:25:35 GMT
That eBay seller gets mentioned in this thread /index.cgi?board=japaneseswords&action=display&thread=13402 it's more specific to their DH blades for a couple hundred dollars but still might give you a little information about them. Cool, seems to be ok then. Hmm, maybe I try it out.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 12:33:44 GMT
I'm curious, do you want the titanium blade just because it's low maintenence? Because taking care of a blade isn't that big of a deal. (Assuming you haven't done it before, apologies if you already know all about it)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 12:36:21 GMT
I'm curious, do you want the titanium blade just because it's low maintenence? Because taking care of a blade isn't that big of a deal. (Assuming you haven't done it before, apologies if you already know all about it) No, I do, I didn't mention I like the idea it's infused with titanium, plus it looks different and can be functional being 1095.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Dec 23, 2009 12:42:00 GMT
I know about Shinwa, I have a buddy that owns one and there used to be a store near me when I lived in SC that sold Shinwa swords.
their blades are pretty decent in most cases. better than masahiro and comparable to the newer mushashis of similar price. Shinwa does seem to enjoy doing whatever it is they do to color their blades that way. I think it is some sort of anadization and it IS only surface deep so sharpening and cutting will scratch it off. the big problems I have with shinwa are: 1. their tsukamaki (handle wrap) is often so lose that it will fall right off. if you swing a shinwa it might fly out of your hands and leave you holding the shoestring ito. my buddy had the kashira fall off with his bottom hand on his first swing with his Shinwa but he was able to hold one with his top hand so the sword didn't go flying. it tried though.
2. their fittings tend to be really cheesy and il-fitting
3. they trend to try and sell their stuff at ridiculous prices. my buddy's ninjato was bought by his wife who didn't know better and she paid something like $650 for it. what a shame. budK is at least good at giving cheap prices.
I might get a Shinwa if it is on huge sale and I want to remount it but that just seems like too much hassle to me for what I'd be getting.
as far as "damascus" goes yeah it's pattern welded steel, real damascus isn't made anymore as nobody living knows how. I don't like it being called damascus but I'll reall only bit the heads off of dealers that call it that. buyers I will gently inform so they know what it really is. nothing wrong with pattern welded steel if it is done right, but it isn't damascus. and if you ever see the term "Techno Wootz" on a seller's web site or booth run away very fast.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 13:02:14 GMT
lol, I see. Well, thank you both for the advice. I figured the coloring was just skin deep, black detailing usually is. The blade is quite good for it's price though, only 80$, durable at that. Just wish it was a tad sharper and I'm not sure where my cleaning kit went.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2009 16:15:38 GMT
I'm not a huge fan of Zatoichi style swords, or swords in shirasaya in general. I did not know, until recently, that swords in shirasaya were only supposed to be temporarily mounted as such...who knew?
Anyway, I don't know much about Shinwa, but if BudK is selling it, my first thought is that it is cheap. Just my humble opinion, your mileage may vary.
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