LJ's Swords and Sticks
Oct 11, 2010 0:59:16 GMT
Post by Larry Jordan on Oct 11, 2010 0:59:16 GMT
My sword collection is probably among the smallest of those who frequent here. I've been less than satisfied with the uneven aesthetics of the inexpensive katana I've acquired during the past 4 years. The following represent my venture into "beaters" (Cheness Shura left, and Musashi Wind right).
Shura top, Musashi bottom:
Some closeups of the kissaki of each. Note the black speck of corrosion on the musashi:
Barry Dawson on the other hand produces some exquisitely finished swords, but these are not traditional katana. Instead they possess features that might appeal to someone not necessarily interested in Japanese swordsmanship, but who are after functional cutters with carrying options that coincide with modern western dress. Two of his millenium series with kydex sheaths and a novel blackened spring steel creation with a big-knife-style sheath with frog:
A detail of the handle wrap:
And the jimping on the back of the novelty blade.
One can also get an impression of the width and contours of the handles.
I spend most of my time training with sticks (bokken, jo and staves):
From top to bottom: red oak boken issued as part of my shinkendo training package; two inexpensive but well executed bokken from unidentified wood; a Bugei Trading company white oak bokken with bohi, and hickory bokken; two home made jo from (maple?) rake handles; two Purpleheart Armory hickory staves.
Canes (sans the CS Night Stick and CS Irish Blackthorne):
My personal favorites. From left to right: Canemaster stock hickory cane, Harvey natural crook, Cane Mart ash knob, CS Walkabout [reshaped], Purpleheart Armory standard LaCanne cane, Fashionable canes derby flame scorched beechwood.
Shura top, Musashi bottom:
Some closeups of the kissaki of each. Note the black speck of corrosion on the musashi:
Barry Dawson on the other hand produces some exquisitely finished swords, but these are not traditional katana. Instead they possess features that might appeal to someone not necessarily interested in Japanese swordsmanship, but who are after functional cutters with carrying options that coincide with modern western dress. Two of his millenium series with kydex sheaths and a novel blackened spring steel creation with a big-knife-style sheath with frog:
A detail of the handle wrap:
And the jimping on the back of the novelty blade.
One can also get an impression of the width and contours of the handles.
I spend most of my time training with sticks (bokken, jo and staves):
From top to bottom: red oak boken issued as part of my shinkendo training package; two inexpensive but well executed bokken from unidentified wood; a Bugei Trading company white oak bokken with bohi, and hickory bokken; two home made jo from (maple?) rake handles; two Purpleheart Armory hickory staves.
Canes (sans the CS Night Stick and CS Irish Blackthorne):
My personal favorites. From left to right: Canemaster stock hickory cane, Harvey natural crook, Cane Mart ash knob, CS Walkabout [reshaped], Purpleheart Armory standard LaCanne cane, Fashionable canes derby flame scorched beechwood.
