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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2007 13:50:34 GMT
This is what i would like to have done to my new Shura, really like some feedback or idea's. I haven't approached the company i want to do this yet for a quote & or possible suggestions they may offer but will let you know as it all comes together. Wave Habaki Wave Tsuba Wave fuchi-hiranami Wave kurikata-01 Menuki (Vagra Daisho) Menuki Menuki Battle Wrap Katatemaki Green Silk (I would like it darker) Frosted sliver? Same (matching or contrasting green)
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Post by handforgedkatanas on Aug 4, 2007 5:03:35 GMT
All looks great except for the menuki,I think they just look wrong for a katana
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2007 5:07:09 GMT
looks pricey! where are you looking to have the work done?
jason
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 4, 2007 5:17:56 GMT
I'm with handforgedkatanas on this one. Everything seems great except those menuki.
But it's your sword, so if you like them, get them.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2007 5:52:28 GMT
As a big fan of customising (or pimping) I'll just say be sure not to over invest, its easy to end up with a koshirae that's worth more than the sword itself. I like the menuki, I'm actally looking for a small set similar to those for a Ken tanto I have. I recognise the menuki, habaki and kurikata as Lohmans are they his f/k and tsuba as well? Dark green ito looks good over black same,I'd go with black same on the saya as well. Shop around for prices on the work,Lohmans do good work, so does Brian at Ronin Swords.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2007 9:20:29 GMT
I'm thinking of contacting Kam Appleford of Jigoku Studios to get a quote & his feedback, he's in Brisbane & so I'm I. Big bonuses their are supporting a local guy, face to face is always good & no huge delivery costs or delays involve. Has anyone had any work done by him here?
I like this menuki because it doesn't get lost under the wrap like so many other nice menuki, if you guys could drop a few pics of others you like I would greatly appreciate it. The Habaki is a little over the top for what i would normally go for but seems to go nicely with the rest of the "theme".
Over spending on a blade? I'm very tight with money as its so hard to find any after all the bills suck the bank account dry on a regular basis. I don't part with blades & since it's a shura I cant see it wearing out before me but like I said it all depends on the overall cost.
I may very well end up only having the Tsuka re-wrapped, new fuchi-hiranami & Tsuba (I was considering the black same but wanted to see what color wrap was available before making that decision). I'm a freak for same on the saya & would love to have the whole saya covered one day, just gota win lotto first LOL.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2007 11:00:26 GMT
Hey Spud, I've been meaning to get up and see Kam and his work, it looks nice on the website.( I didnt notice you were in Brissy, so used to talking to americans LOL). Heres my green over black tsuka,I like the combination, it seems Hanwei do to as they have done a few specials in that scheme of late. www.ausblade.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4Personally with the wave theme I'd go for blue ito over white same (ocean/surf) and use fish menuki. SoL had some nice Koi carp menuki in a smokey colour would look good and theres some nice lobsters on Lohmans. In fact that scheme is getting done on one of my swords very soon full same saya's? Yes Please! Like you mate, my mind has bigger ideas than my wallet at times, but hey learning patience is a good thing isnt it?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2007 11:12:25 GMT
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Post by Dan Davis on Aug 4, 2007 12:18:12 GMT
Yes, those menuki are perfectly fine. Just be aware that they would typically be used by a really devout religious person, a priest or monk.
Nothing really wrong with that but it may lead serious traditional practitioners to make assumptions about you as a person. Don't be surprised if they start treating you as a shinto aesthetic
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2007 3:52:08 GMT
Thanks Ronin, that looks great but i noticed of late a few companies have started to produce swords with that aqua green wrap & if I'm going to customize I'd like something thats completely different (pretty hard to do these days with so many swords being produced). I'm in the middle of huge changes at work at the moment so i don't know when I'll be able to contact Kam about this myself, if you get to see him before me I'd love to hear your thoughts on his work.
Chopchop thanks I agree about the Menuki & the fittings on the sword from Global are similar enough to consider buying just to swap them depending on sword cost verses quote when i get one.
wildwolfforge I know what you mean but I'm not likely to run into any enlightened people like that in the Circles i travel in LOL.
I'd be very interested in seeing what you guys might also consider as your "wish list" of customizations, pics are always best where possible.
Ronin you have used the battle wrap on your Tsuka's what is it like to handle, it seems to make the tsuka a little narrower does that affect the grip in any way?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2007 4:06:35 GMT
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Post by tajima on Aug 5, 2007 6:16:45 GMT
You have no idea how HOT that would look on a blade, spud. Bit pricey, though. It's like having a VW turned into a ferrari - a sleek fighting machine. Go for it, if you have the wallet!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2007 9:52:50 GMT
I like battle wrap, it feels quite good to me, I'm not so sure how it would go on a more waisted (hourglass) shaped tsuka tho. Wildwolf, I have 2 devotional style blades in the works , one is a Ken tanto which I'm looking for the menuki for and a honoto thats nearly finished with Ronin swords in all white and gold tachi fittings.Very much a yin to my all black shobu's yang.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2007 9:59:34 GMT
I like it, id probably make the mon and the top of the vajre/dorje the same color to keep some balance...
My wishlist for customizing is a Okatana in Fuji theme, ill post some pice directly...
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Post by tajima on Aug 6, 2007 6:18:59 GMT
I've never held battle wrap, but it looks very comfortable to the grip.
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Post by Dan Davis on Aug 6, 2007 13:51:12 GMT
Minor side-note on "battle wrap(s)": When going into battle the samurai wore kote or armored gauntlets on their hands, and a common feature of the kote tekko (hand covering) was a strap running across the palm.
The battle wrap was essentially a flat wrap that allowed the palm strap of the tekko to take the place of the crossing strands found in a "regular" wrap, making the feel and grip of the sword essentially the same as any other day in the life.
As a side-note to the side-note: the differing clans made their armor in different ways, and so the variations in "battle wrap" between clans (which eventually evolved into the various ryu) were simply to accomodate those armor differences.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2007 13:55:04 GMT
so a katana with battle wrap may feel a little thin to the ungloved hand? i've always thought it looked a little flat. sexy, but flat.
jason
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Post by Dan Davis on Aug 6, 2007 17:23:57 GMT
Yes. The twists in the tsuka-ito are primarily present to fill in the crease across your palm and the joint valley between your fingertip and first fingerbone (or second, depending on how you are counting). That raised area is not present or is much shorter in most battle wraps, so the tsuka may feel "loose" or "thin" in your hand. You can partially compensate for that feel by making the tsuka core a bit thicker, but not entirely.
Also, if your have primarily trained with a normal wrap and then switch to a battle wrap you may find yourself allowing the blade to "twist" or rotate in your palm without being aware of it. When cutting, this can result in a damaged or destroyed blade.
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 6, 2007 20:39:52 GMT
That's some good stuff to know. I've been contemplating the "battle wrap" on my next katana. Now I'm not so sure, but will take all this into consideration.
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Post by jw on Aug 7, 2007 0:32:38 GMT
I would do all that to a Kaze bare blade, too much good stuff for a non-authenticly hamoned blade, IMHO. Other than that the upgrades are classy and tight.
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