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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 3:12:08 GMT
I've been going a bit nuts lately on eBay, buying several low-cost Japanese style blades. My latest acquisition is the Furubushidoo 1024 Layer Folded Red Tanto (or something like that ) from seller "handmadesword"(Sunpoint USA). As with my other recent transaction with them (through "razorsharpkatana" on eBay), in which I bought my Masahiro "Bamboo", the transaction was smooth as a baby's...well...you know...from start to finish. The tanto came in a thick outer cardboard box, with a Furubushido box inside, containing the tanto in its saya surrounded by bubble wrap. Specs: OAL: 15.5"/39.5cm Blade Length: 9.5"/24.3cm Tsuka Length: 5.5"/14cm Thick at habaki: 1/4"/6.5mm Thick 1" from tip: 3/16"/5mm Blade width: 1-1/16"/2.6cm (@habaki) Weight: Not measured The blade is quite attractive, with a reasonably noticeable grain pattern (much more visible after a polishing with Wenol polish and a soft cloth). The blade has a nicely-done convex edge with no secondary bevel. There are engravings (stampings?) on either side: an Asian Character (Japanese or Chinese) on the right flat which I don't recognize, and a long, slender, funky-lookin' symbol on the left (again, no idea what it symbolizes). Both are nice and crisp, fairly deep, and well done. When I took the tanto out of the box, the edge was semi-sharp and would cut an index card in half, but would not smoothly cut paper. I gave it a couple of swipes on my Edgemaker polisher www.edgemaker.com/products.htm and it really came to life! This thing is terrifyingly sharp now! It slips through paper cleanly and effortlessly and shaves arm hairs to the skin (just a tiny bit of grabbing). I wouldn't normally suggest an edgemaker on a convex edge, but with this tanto's almost flat-ground profile, it's okay. The habaki and seppa are brass and are plain and functional and nicely done. The tsuka is retained by a single mekugi. The fuchi and kashira are blackened alloy, while the tiny oval tsuba is blackened steel (magnet tested ;D). The menuki (only one, which is on the right side) is brass. The wrap is real same (panels) and the ito is a nice bright red (though still shoelacey-looking) cotton. The ito is the real kicker on this thing! This is THE TIGHTEST ito I've yet felt on any tsuka. Granted, My experience is limited to the Masahiro, PK/PPK, and Cheness Mokko wak, but this is tighter than any of them. The saya is really nice, too. The fit is superb: not too tight and not too loose. The finish is a smooth, glassy blood-red lacquer. There's no sageo, per se, just a length of black flat cord through the kurikata. The shitodome appear to be brass and feel cool, so I don;t think they're plastic. I'm gettin' pretty handy with these Japanese terms. Marc (MK) Ridgeway would be damn proud! ;D Considering that I paid $49.99 USD + $16 USD shipping, I am extremely happy with this piece. Had I seen this tanto in a local shopping mall knife shop (with their usual markup ), I wouldn't have been at all surprised to find a $149 or even $169 price tag on it. I unhesitatingly recommend this to anybody looking for a very nice and very affordable tanto. Now, to the pics! Note: I hadn't wiped down or polished the blade yet. img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/GSH70/tanto01.jpg[/img] img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/GSH70/tanto02.jpg[/img]
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 3:12:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 4:34:06 GMT
thats one handsome tanto!
$50!!!! Must....get...for no...reason!
hmm, say kriegschwert, would you recomend the "edgemaker" over other crock stick sharpeners?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 4:56:09 GMT
thats one handsome tanto! $50!!!! Must....get...for no...reason! hmm, say kriegschwert, would you recomend the "edgemaker" over other crock stick sharpeners? ;D That's why I got it: no real reason. I mean, I'm not gonna be doing a lot of tatami cutting with a tanto (though I probably could). It just looked so cool on eBay (and even cooler in person) that I figured I'd take a shot. It was WELL worth it. As far as the Edgemakers, they're great for knife sharpening and even swords that have either a flat V grind edge or secondary bevel. I sharpen all my knives and my beveled swords with them. I've always sucked at sharpening, but these allow me to get a decent edge on almost anything. The only thing I wouldn't suggest them for are blades with a thick convex (appleseed) edge, as they can impose a secondary bevel pretty fast. I only used it on the tanto because it's edge is fairly thin (close to a flat grind). They're easy to use, too. Just lay the handle part on a table and draw the blade through at a 45 degree angle. I bought a whole set of them: the blue one for putting an edge on a dull blade (takes off a LOT of metal!), the orange one for further refining the edge (2 steps), and the yellow one, which is a polisher with smooth steels in it. I got 'em here: www.shammysolutions.com/site/1618064/product/100-14 for $20 + shipping.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 5:03:53 GMT
Hey kriegschwert! Great looking Tanto, what a great price! I'm with Hobomurai on this one, I gotta get one! I think you scored bigtime! Someone should give you a karma point or something!!?? Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 6:55:44 GMT
The grain pattern is very nice. I've tried to capture it better with a few more pics, but no luck so far. The trick was to wipe the shipping goop off the blade (those whitish streaks on the blade in the pic where I'm holding it are just oil shine, btw) and then polish it vigorously with a soft rag and some polish. I used Wenol, which is a very fine paste polish (jeweler's rouge, basically) for polishing automotive chrome, but Flitz or any other good polish will work.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 7:22:29 GMT
that looks pretty cool for the price. The engraving is of a Ken (straight double edge sword) with a buhdist mount.It was a popular thing to put on blades. I have no idea what the other side is sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 21:49:20 GMT
that looks pretty cool for the price. The engraving is of a Ken (straight double edge sword) with a buhdist mount.It was a popular thing to put on blades. I have no idea what the other side is sorry. Thanks for the info. I know somebody will come up with the meaning of the other side, eventually.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2007 1:59:25 GMT
The long symbol on the blade( not the kanji!) is a sword, with a hilt that is a Vajra. The 'Vajra' is used by tibetan monks for meditational purposes, and was bought to Japan by Buddhist monks about a thousand years ago. It works on the same principals as what Hippies think crystals do ? As a store for good karma. It is also found as far as in Roman sculptures. I can recall seeing an effigy of zeus with one in his hand in Athens ! Although it may have been seen as a weapon in Greece, as the statue seemed to be throwing it ! They are available in every market in Nepal. It represents the MALE side of enlightenment, while its partner the DORGE is the female side . It looks the same as the Vajra , but one side is a bell, to be rung after every step !
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Post by admin on Mar 3, 2007 10:05:57 GMT
I have to say I am not a fan of the color of the fittings, but that blade is really very attractive and it looks like a heck of a lot of fun to boot! Karma to you Mr. Schwert! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 3:39:51 GMT
I have to say I am not a fan of the color of the fittings, but that blade is really very attractive and it looks like a heck of a lot of fun to boot! Karma to you Mr. Schwert! ;D Thank you, Mr. Southren. P.S. I can't friggin believe it, but...I've actually got another one on the way! I was so impressed with the quality of this one that I decided to try a non-folded model... What can I say, I've got another "Bamboo" coming in tomorrow and one of these coming in the next day... ;D cgi.ebay.com/Hand-Forged-Double-Edged-Full-Tang-JAPANESE-TANTO-719_W0QQitemZ280089771175QQihZ018QQcategoryZ43338QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemI SWEAR! This is it! My next purchase WILL be WESTERN! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 5:35:55 GMT
*pat pat* sure it will be, I understand. I promised myself that the Marshall would be the very last sword I bought for at least a year. That was in November of '06, and since then I've ordered the Side Sword and will soon be laying out money for the Banshee. Well, you see, technically, it is now '07 so while it hasn't been 12 months, it has been a year. Per se. sort of. kinda. Oh hell, I have no will power!
-John
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 5:48:33 GMT
Maybe that's the trouble. There are so many western swords I want that I'm avoiding having to make the choice by spending all my cash on Japanese stuff? A likely story... Actually, I'm now doubly screwed. ;D Since buying a few cheap Japanese style items, I've come to appreciate them to the point of considering buying a more expensive katana... Where does this madness end? I'm serious! THis isn't merely an addiction, it's a disease! One for which there doesn't appear to be a cure...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2007 8:36:54 GMT
hahaha, there is no cure! resistance is futile! I said this year I was saving for a custom katana from a US smith or a trip to japan and I wasnt buying any swords. So far I have bought a kaiken,commissioned a ken and have a custom tanto to be mounted, a katana away being mounted and an antique wak to be polished and mounted,and bought a Yari. No, theres no cure
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 22:45:35 GMT
I didn't see the need for another full review, so I am adding this on to this thread. I just received my second Furubushidoo tanto, this one being a monosteel version with dark red (burgundy almost) ito and black saya. Dimensionally, this one is identical to the folded version, except that the blade is about 1/16" thicker with less distal taper. The blade also has a false edge of sorts that runs from about 1.5" from the habaki to about the same distance from the tip. Additionally, there is a wire-brushed hamon on this model, as well as the Furubushidoo logo stamped into the left flat. As with the folded model, the fittings are nice and solid brass, while the small tsuba is steel. I said that the fittings on the folded model were alloy, but I have since managed to accidentally scrape away some of the black finish to reveal brass underneath. As with the folded, the ito is super tight and pretty even. Once again, I gave the blade a half dozen passes through the super-fine Edgemaker and it now handily shaves arm hairs. What can I say, I'm equally impressed by the fit, finish, and overall solidity of this tanto as I was with the folded model.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 22:46:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2007 3:42:02 GMT
Man Krieg, you're killing me! After I saw your 1024 tanto, I went and got one. Now I'm looking at your new one and I'm thinking, hmmm! Should I even attempt to sneak another one past my CEO/CFO, (Wife!). I think I better lay low for a little bit. Besides, if I take a beating over another blade I buy, it's going to be for something big! Like a Cheness Kaze! Anyway, nice tanto and thanks for sharing with us!!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2007 1:11:38 GMT
Man Krieg, you're killing me! After I saw your 1024 tanto, I went and got one. Now I'm looking at your new one and I'm thinking, hmmm! Should I even attempt to sneak another one past my CEO/CFO, (Wife!). I think I better lay low for a little bit. Besides, if I take a beating over another blade I buy, it's going to be for something big! Like a Cheness Kaze! Anyway, nice tanto and thanks for sharing with us!! ;D ;D ;D Hey, 88, sorry I took a while to get to this. Anyhow, if you'd care to make any further comments or agree or disagree with any of my conclusions about the 1024 layer tanto, please do. I always like to see another person's review and see how they're experiences/perceptions differ from mine.
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Post by rammstein on Mar 11, 2007 1:34:29 GMT
2nd reviews are always great. Kriegscwhert did the first review of windlass' shrewsbury www.sword-buyers-guide.com/affordable-sword.htmland I followed up later with my second opinion review www.sword-buyers-guide.com/windlass-shrewsbury.htmleven though our thoughts on the sword almost mirrored each other, just in different ways and the combination of the two create of a nice diverse few of the sword, it was still worth it because it shows that more than one person bought the sword and actually liked (or didn't like) it!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2007 1:38:53 GMT
Exactly! I was thinking of our Shrewsbury reviews when I wrote that last post. I'd like to see more multiple reviews in general for the vary reasons you mentioned.
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