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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 5:31:52 GMT
How in general do i judge a sword? Of course there is research but is there some kind of standard that i could compare any sword to to help me pick the right one? Is there anyway i can get a sword and know what it is capable of without having to do hours of research?
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Post by tajima on May 13, 2007 6:41:47 GMT
Make sure the buyer is recommended before you buy. Im not sure what you want to find out so moe information is neccessary.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 8:30:14 GMT
It depends on what you want the sword to do, if its just going to sitting there on the mantlepiece then really all that matters is asthetics and you can choose whatever you like... If you want something functional then youre best of going with a known brand, pretty much everything made by Hanwei, Dynasty Forge, Cheness Cutlery, Oni Forge, Last Legend, Kris Cutlery, Pro Swords, Cold Steel and Bugei (any i missed?) are functional. Alot of first timers start out with a Hanwei, though Cheness is getting better and better all the time and has a very solid reputation... If you intend to cut realistic targets then most swords by the above retailers will do fine, then its just a matter of sword sixe (if you care) and asthetics... Theres no real standard because there are two many variables even within a particular model, though obviously some models build up reputations for being particularly good in one area or another... www.ausblade.com/page/search/ allows you to search most production swords based on specific criteria if you know what your after or want an idea of whats out there Although pick a sword that you like the look of, because the sword you pick might do everything perfectly, but if you don't like it it will always be a sub standard sword...
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 9:13:25 GMT
How much do you want to spend? What do you want it to be capable of? If you dont want to spend a few hours researching, dont spend too much. Personally I think before buying a 3ft long razor blade you really should spend a few hours researching what they can and cant do and the right way to handle one. Sorry if that sounds preachy but swords are dangerous things.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 18:13:26 GMT
Agreed, i guess there is no way to get what you want without doing a whole bunch of research, that said research aint so bad it's kinda fun actually and it gets you excited about buying the sword.
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Post by rammstein on May 13, 2007 18:23:02 GMT
Not really. You have a few choices:
Look around SFI or MyArmoury and see if anyone's done a review. If not, ask a question on a forum. If that's too slow, find out about specifics: Does it handle well? Is it structurally sound? Or you can research the manufacturers: Are they known for making good solid swords or are they like BudK, only making cheap knock-offs. Generally if you know about the maker, you know about the sword. There are some exceptions, a great one is windlass steelcrafts. Windlass' quality has been a little shoddy in their history, but many and most of their swords now seem ok. Still, in this case it's better to research the sword.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 18:26:42 GMT
i think the most important thing to have when considering a purchase is patience. we all know how bad the itch is when we see a sword we want but it really is best to ask around first. better a longer wait and a nicer product.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 18:52:01 GMT
Quick information that helps when evaluating ANY sword are to look for what the manufacturer says about it.
Do they say 'High Carbon Steel' or do they specifically mention the grade of steel.
Do they say 'fully tempered' or do they tell you the KIND of temper, and what RC hardness the blade is.
Do they say 'well balanced' or do they give you precise measurements like weight, CoG, grip length, thickness of blade at base and thickness of blade near the tip?
Generally, if a manufacturer does only the former of all the above, then it's probably a bad sword. If they give you the details(see above) then you know they know more about what they're talking about than bad marketing people and you can *probably* trust them.
Other things to look for(in the japanese vein) are: Does it say 'samurai sword'. If so, STAY AWAY. Look for things like what material the Tsuba, Fuchi, and kashira are made of. Look at the material of the tsuka ito. Is the hamon(if any) real or etched? Do they mention other blade details like the style of blade(shinogi zukuri, shobu zukuri, etc). Do they tell you the measurement of the curvature of the blade(sori). Is the same(ray skin) in the tsuka real or fake?
While knowing all these questions helps GREATLY, and I wouldn't buy a sword online unless I had all my questions answered, there are some manufacturers that seem very pat but give you an inferior product. Then there are others who seem hokey but actually do a pretty good job for what you pay for. So really, the above advice from the others is very valuable: Go with a maker with a good reputation. Talk to them in person if you can. Ask about the product from others who have handled or owned products from the maker.
If you're careful, there's really very little risk involved, and you're sure to be pleased.
Note: 500th post. W00t.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2007 19:46:47 GMT
aye thanks for the details they help alot
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Post by tajima on May 13, 2007 21:33:05 GMT
Yeah, that pretty much covers it lol!
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