admin
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Post by admin on Dec 4, 2006 0:25:46 GMT
I think probably the most important news over at SBG has to do with the development of this very forum...! So it's as good as any place to start. It's been in the back of my mind for a while to start a forum for people who appreciate sturdy but affordable 'entry level' swords and beaters, but recent developments have pushed it to the forefront... I suppose that having some of my posts deleted to my online newsletter competition over at Sword Forum International and being asked to remove all links to said forum because of my article on backyard cutting was the trigger.. But the real reason was - there really was no place for sword enthusiasts who were willing to sift through the mass of sub US$300 swords to find the real 'gems in the junk' to congregate and compare notes... At least, not without getting mocked by folk who judged a sword more by its price tag than on its own merits - which gets pretty boring real quick. Anyway, with that in mind - I designed this forum to fill the vacuum! And as my good friend and contributor to SBG, G. Scott Hoagland has noted - 'I wonder how many “closet” backyard hackers are hanging around the various forums afraid to reveal themselves?'Let's find out shall we! ;D It's early days yet (it's not quite a secret at this point, but I haven't announced these new forums or linked them from SBG at the time of writing this post) - but I'll soon be inviting all the fans of tough swords and affordable beaters out of the shadows to join me! Maybe its not just me, Bill Tsafa and G. Scott out there after all...!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2006 6:41:04 GMT
SFI has no concept of open, free, honest discusion. There sole motive is to promote the overpriced swords of the favored members of their own community. When I first started posting at SFI their position was buy $500+ costum because cheaper mass produced swords have no durability and would fall apart in real combat. I started hitting tires and first they told me that even if the sword survived the first 10 stikes I have weakened the metal and it might break after the 11 th strike. After 2,000 strikes on the tire they totaly changed their tune saying that those are really not swords but rather overwieght crowbars. I think they finally got fustrated when I demonstated the Gen 2 Lucerin and Black Prince which weigh in at about 3 lbs 4 oz are capable of withstanding over 2,000 hits on the tire-pell. I think that is when they implemented their Nazi style censorship.
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admin
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Post by admin on Dec 10, 2006 10:47:35 GMT
I know exactly where you are coming from Tsafa, but SFI has its place in the grand scheme of all things sharp and pointy.. I think us enthusiasts of affordable and functional blades sometimes put a few (slightly snobby shaped) noses out of joint by daring to say that a sword under $300 is functional. But there are a lot of great people on SFI and when it comes to custom swords and the like, their pool of knowledge is pretty impressive... Perhaps their biggest problem was the place where custom sword enthusiasts and people like us who enjoy a decently made functional blade at a decent price tends to rapidly deteriorate into a battleground.. So by creating the SBG sword forum, I hope that those people who think like us can find honest and good advise to answer their specific questions, and people with big $$$ looking to spend them on a sword, can find their answers on SFI.
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Post by rammstein on Dec 10, 2006 16:05:20 GMT
I have been disgusted with SFI though I've never been a member. Many of its users seem like such...airheads for lack of better term, and I am not at all impressed that 99% of the posts focus solely on katanas. The entire aura of the site seems just so nausiating.
MyArmoury seems the exact opposite. People there are smart and well versed in history and is more dedicated towards eurpean swords. However, they can be a bit snobbish at times like "Don't buy a windlass, save up for an albion or A&A!" apperntly, no one realizes that some cheaper swords can be quite good, as tsafa points out wth the lucerne and and Black Prince.
SBG forum is quite interesting as people are just as versed in history as myarmoury but focus both of eastern and western arts. QUite a nice balance. Also, there as some people new here to swords and it feels nice to try to help them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2006 1:02:51 GMT
MyArmoury seems the exact opposite. People there are smart and well versed in history and is more dedicated towards eurpean swords. However, they can be a bit snobbish at times like "Don't buy a windlass, save up for an albion or A&A!" apperntly, no one realizes that some cheaper swords can be quite good, as tsafa points out wth the lucerne and and Black Prince. I highly recommend myArmoury for those interested (like me) primarily in European swords. The wealth of knowledge available there on the subject is astonishing. It is also an extremely well-run site with numerous great people. A quality show all the way around. As to snobbery, there are always a few snobs anywhere, but I've never seen it as a matter of policy there. Realize, too, that the primary purpose of myArmoury.com is to serve as a source of historically-accurate and in-depth information for the serious historical arms (again, largely western or European) collector or enthusiast, with the forum aspect taking a more or less secondary role. What does all this mean? Simply that many of the members there have been collecting for a long while and have gone through the "lower-end" phase and moved on to better (and more expensive) items; hence, there's bound to be a more discriminating (in a positive way) class of sword collector there than you may encounter elsewhere. Sure, when you ask about a low-end sword on their forum, you sometimes feel like you're asking about a Yugo on a Ferrari forum ( ;D), but I certainly haven't seen the sort of outright, irrational dislike for lower-priced swords that I've seen in certain other places. P.S. Geez! After going back and proofreading this post I realized that I sound like an official spokesman for myArmoury! ;D Not my intent, just voicing a different perspective.
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Post by rammstein on Dec 11, 2006 1:11:37 GMT
Good point kriegschwert, thats what I was trying to intend, but after re-reading my post it doesn't sound that way at all. The people on myarmoury are just plain incredible. So much knowledge is availible there. You are right that since they've been collecting for years, sometimes decades, that they buy only the best of the best since they can appreciate every nuance available. I guess this can seem like snobbishness to some. I just don't like it when the person specifically says that they want a good $200 sword and are told that "at that level, you won't get a good sword. Only a bad sword that is better than other worse ones." and its wrong too . Windlass and gen2 are fine companies.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2006 1:31:58 GMT
I just don't like it when the person specifically says that they want a good $200 sword and are told that "at that level, you won't get a good sword. Only a bad sword that is better than other worse ones." and its wrong too . Windlass and gen2 are fine companies. I totally hear you on that. I agree that when somebody specifically asks about a Generation 2 Lucerne, for example, that they should get responses pertaining to that particular sword, not speculation, derision, or suggestions to "save up for a ____". That's why we're all here.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2006 20:48:36 GMT
I just don't like it when the person specifically says that they want a good $200 sword and are told that "at that level, you won't get a good sword. Only a bad sword that is better than other worse ones." and its wrong too . Windlass and gen2 are fine companies. I totally hear you on that. I agree that when somebody specifically asks about a Generation 2 Lucerne, for example, that they should get responses pertaining to that particular sword, not speculation, derision, or suggestions to "save up for a ____". That's why we're all here. My hat off to each of you. And yes the people at My Armoury are very nice and open minded people. I remember that when Paul and Bill posted in Both Sword Forum and My Armoury, they were slashed at Sword Forum but at My Armoury Bill Grandy was open was appreciated the comments. I will tell you I am loking foward to see what Bill has to say on a review of both the Lucerne and 12th Century Viking sword. Anyway what I started to say before I started rumbling is on the Quote "That' why we are all here". Yes and as you can see daily "It is growing"! ;D
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Post by ShooterMike on Jan 4, 2007 19:47:34 GMT
So...after reading through this whole thread again, a question occurs to me.
Not that I'd ever get the chance, but it would be interesting to see the confidential sales fugures for Albion, Arms & Armor, Angus Trim, Generation 2, Museum Replicas Limited, Paul Chen's western swords, and possibly a couple of other companies, to see which "category" of companies actually sells more swords. That would include total number of swords sold and how many of each model.
I would think the companies that primarily sell battle-ready swords for $300-400 and less would have far and away the most sales.
Just a little food for thought. I think everyone here has plenty to be proud of. :-)
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Post by rammstein on Jan 4, 2007 20:45:36 GMT
I'd be willing to bet the $.49 ebay katanas are the best sellers out of any other swords ;D
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Post by ShooterMike on Jan 5, 2007 2:36:36 GMT
Oh...yeah you're probably right. Well that shoots my argument down the toilet...kind of. But I still think there's a niche for $100-300 durable swords that rivals or exceeds the moderately expensive niche, and far surpasses the really expensive niche. So I stand by my position that we should be proud of the service to humanity we are doing here. lol ;D
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Marc Ridgeway
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Retired Global Moderator
"The best cost less when you buy it the first time." - Papabear
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jan 5, 2007 4:17:37 GMT
I can not agree with the anti SFI stances...I'm an SFI addict, and the top people in the industry and hobby are there.
We're talkin Gus Trim , Tinker, Vince Evans , John Lundemo, Anthony di Cristifano,Rick Barrett, just to name a small few.
The knowlege and experience in all arenas is mind boggling.Guys like Hyakutake Colin, a Grandmaster of Kenjutsu in Japan, in the style founded by Musashi. What a heritage .Also many production vendors are regular posters , like Paul Chen and Loren Graves.
However, as the original proponet of the Masahiro Bamboo, I have taken my fair share of abuse. It's nice to find this forum which caters to the value minded sword buyer.
VIVA LA SBG SF
As far as sales go, the big guys like Lundemo and Barrett, as well as production leaders like Gus Trim, have no prob telling you that they make little and have to work second jobs to make ends meet.
Gus, and the Smiths are limited to what 2 people can produce...
MRL ships several hundred a day...I know , I used to be the UPS guy for MRL. The shipments fill a trailer daily.
There's a place in the sword world , and my collection, for swords of all prices.
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Post by ShooterMike on Jan 5, 2007 4:52:16 GMT
Amen to every bit of that, Marc. I would in no way take anything away from the higher end makers, especially Gus. We were emailing just today about a sword he's making for me and also one of his new tactical swords. And...of course, "Hi, my name is Mike and I'm a swordaholic. I can't control my impulses and I bought another Gus Trim sword from Lee Reeves today..." My only point, though I'm not very good at getting it across, is that there's nothing "second rate" about this area of sword collecting. I now own high-end pieces and enjoy reading about them. And I spend a shameful amount of time on myArmoury, loving every minute of it. But I plan on buying several new Gen 2 swords and maybe a couple of more from MRL. I enjoy the beaters more because if they fall apart I can write about it. And if they stand up well to all my abuse...I can write about that even more! Anyway, this is a great forum, with interesting people, and the area of owning and using what we call "beaters" is every bit as fulfilling to me as owning a house full of Albion and A&A swords. And...it just occurred to me that the difference between a 16 year-old teenager and a 44 year-old teenager is... Rammstein has a mother to tell him when to quit. And I obviously need adult supervision. ;D
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admin
Site Admin
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Post by admin on Jan 5, 2007 12:03:46 GMT
I can not agree with the anti SFI stances...I'm an SFI addict, and the top people in the industry and hobby are there. We're talkin Gus Trim , Tinker, Vince Evans , John Lundemo, Anthony di Cristifano,Rick Barrett, just to name a small few. The knowlege and experience in all arenas is mind boggling.Guys like Hyakutake Colin, a Grandmaster of Kenjutsu in Japan, in the style founded by Musashi. What a heritage .Also many production vendors are regular posters , like Paul Chen and Loren Graves. However, as the original proponet of the Masahiro Bamboo, I have taken my fair share of abuse. It's nice to find this forum which caters to the value minded sword buyer. VIVA LA SBG SF As far as sales go, the big guys like Lundemo and Barrett, as well as production leaders like Gus Trim, have no prob telling you that they make little and have to work second jobs to make ends meet. Gus, and the Smiths are limited to what 2 people can produce... MRL ships several hundred a day...I know , I used to be the UPS guy for MRL. The shipments fill a trailer daily. There's a place in the sword world , and my collection, for swords of all prices. Absolutely - no SFI bashing please...! I know some of us have had run ins there, which is part of the reason I made this forum: so that folk could get answers to specific questions on 'low-end' swords and look at them on their own merits instead of getting the proverbial 'get an _____ (insert $1000+ sword here)'. But let's play nice when we talk about other forums, they all have something to offer!
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Post by rammstein on Jan 5, 2007 14:19:18 GMT
psshh....
Just wait till I get a full-time job and graduate college.....Just you wait.....I'm not sure I COULD stop myself from on outrageous spending spree on swords. And swords from EVERYWHERE, as well. Anything from windlass and gen2 to custom designs....No one to stop me there, of course.
Hm...if your an adult, doesn't that mean you technically have adult supervision in the first place, as you are an adult and therefore (supposedly, now, its unproven, of course) able to make rational discisions on your own?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2007 14:50:37 GMT
... I think they finally got fustrated when I demonstated the Gen 2 Lucerin and Black Prince which weigh in at about 3 lbs 4 oz are capable of withstanding over 2,000 hits on the tire-pell. I think that is when they implemented their Nazi style censorship. LOL I just came across this... How do they censor posts? I do not think SFI is all that bad; There are a lot of nice people but I have also come across those who look down on any cheaper blades. Paul was right on with " 'get an _____ (insert $1000+ sword here)' " I've gotten that advice on SFI...
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