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Post by Student of Sword on Dec 13, 2010 1:34:45 GMT
I am a katana guy. So until recently I did not pay attention to Euro. Now that I am looking to diversify my collection and doing research on Euro, I realized an interesting facts about katana and Euro, very similar to girlfriends.
--Katana is like a high-spending high-maintenance girlfriend and Euro is like a frugal low maintenance girlfriend.
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Post by bloodwraith on Dec 13, 2010 1:44:04 GMT
Might want to be careful with a topic like this, it can get offensive and sexist very quickly.
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Post by johnapsega on Dec 13, 2010 1:47:41 GMT
I dont see this as the case at all.
and I agree with blood wraith this could get bad quickly.
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Post by Student of Sword on Dec 13, 2010 1:50:04 GMT
Boyfriend can be high-maintenance too. Since I am a guy and I am straight, that the analogy I used. You guys just have no sense of humor.
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Post by Bradleee42 on Dec 13, 2010 1:50:34 GMT
I was thinking the same thing. Many different opinions. On Katana And Euro. And especially by owners of both.
Luckily, all my "ladies" get the proper attention while being held.
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Post by bloodwraith on Dec 13, 2010 2:00:52 GMT
I have a great sense of humour, I'm just very aware of topics like this from the past and they never end well.
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Dec 13, 2010 2:26:16 GMT
well to try and ensure this goes the right direction, I can kinda see where you are going with this Student, at least as far as the maintenance goes. polishing a katana and getting that hamon to pop just right and etching it out and all that is a hell of a lot of work.
while the Euro swords I have like 400 grit finish, maybe 600 if they are really nice and nothing on them is supposed top be burnished to a high gloss shine, or polished in a different direction. those katana: picky, picky, picky!
on the other hand a good Euro is a lot more sensitive in terms of weight and balance. katana are so stiff you can hot swap furniture and tsuka and change their weights a lot more than a Euro without messing up how they work.
so I guess very much like choosing a mate you have to decide if you are willing to do the work for a high maintenance lover or if you would rather just like to roll comfortably on with a relationship like a well oiled machine.
you may be able to guess from this last statement which I prefer. . .
with swords I can see doing some extra work for certain benefits so I can enjoy katana, but in the end I get sick of that pretty quickly and just want to swing a sword that works and not spend tons of hours polishing and oiling and tying sageo and ito and all that other stuff. but when it comes to mates I have little patience for high maintenance relationships. my wife is just about as low maintenance, strong and independent as people come and that helps me be very happy in my relationship with her.
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Post by whitefeathers on Dec 13, 2010 3:45:38 GMT
I don't feel offended by this topic. I actually laughed aloud. I understand where he's headed with it. I love my katanas. They're the only swords I have. But as a person I'm very low maintenance and easy going
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Hairu
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Post by Hairu on Dec 13, 2010 3:56:53 GMT
I feel the fact is that I regardless of weather she is a euro or a kat that if she is the one for you the rest really doesn't matter and that applies to both swords and women\ *edit* for Instance both my favorite blade and my trusted woman are of a low maintenance and a very strong temper  (lol sorry couldn't resist that joke) |
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Post by Bogus on Dec 13, 2010 5:02:13 GMT
In other words, it's the best kind of topic. :twisted:
Anyway, speaking as somebody who isn't that hardcore a collector and has somewhat selective (Western) tastes, I do get the impression that katanas are big and flashy and those who buy them really get into the maintenance and talking about the fittings in proper terminology and etc. whereas Western swords tend to be more "it looks nice, it's sharp, it gets the job done" and that's that. In other words, there's not really a "longsword subculture" in quite the same way as there is for most Japanese offerings.
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Post by randomnobody on Dec 13, 2010 5:12:39 GMT
...Well, you've clearly not been around here long enough. You'll see. That said...heck, I have to admit, there are a lot of similarities and/or correlations to be drawn between my affinities for bladed weapons and, er, romantic partners. Leaning toward the plainer in both cases, preferring simpler things...of course, they have to be sharp. |
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Dec 13, 2010 5:15:07 GMT
tsk tsk. Student knows better than to juggle two different girlfriends  ... :shock:  "diversifying" huh? |
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Post by Student of Sword on Dec 13, 2010 5:20:16 GMT
For those of you who are not familiar with katana. They are finicky. We katana owner spend signficant amount caring and mantenance them. I assure you it is not for look. Poorly maintained katana fail. The construction of a katana is also complicated, composed of many parts. The wood of the scabbard and handle has to be a certain type of wood. The wrap has to be done a certain way...ect... All of them functional reasons but complicated nonetheless.
I have been looking at price of two types and katana as a class is decidedly more expensive. You can get a functional Euro for mid $100. A functional katana usually in the mid $200. A high-end katana is in the mid $1,000 to $2,000. Odin Blade a make you a custom longsword for the same price range. A custom made katana average about $3,000-$5,000. Putting the katana together from a bareblade alone cost $1,300.
Katana require more labor cost to constructed than Euro on top of frequent maintenance requirement. Hence my analogy.
I don't have much of a choice. I chose to practice JSA. I am just envious of you WMA types. You guys can play with more swords for the same amount of money.
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Post by randomnobody on Dec 13, 2010 5:25:06 GMT
Er, suffice to say...the same applies to both.
Euros are built to no lesser standard with regard to well...everything. There are really just as many parts on most Euros as an average kat, and they all have to fit together just as well.
I'd question a "functional" Euro at the $100 mark, and I've seen plenty of good, sturdy kats for less than that. As to custom pieces, well, that depends who you go with. Sure, our good friend at Odin can make a mighty fine anything for a mighty fine price...but he can also get a mighty fine price. Likewise, many makers have varied ranges depending on exactly what is ordered, so...yeah.
It may be viewed as easier to keep a Euro polished and sharp, primarily because there is no hamon to show on most Euros, but considering edge geometries and finish levels...they're really about the same.
...And then we have wom--er...relatoinships! Hoo boy, let's not go there!
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Post by RicWilly on Dec 13, 2010 5:49:13 GMT
I gotta disagree that kats are more expensive than euros. I got a Musashi Wind Dragon for eighty bucks, cut really well and held up great to my abuse. I haven't been able to find a compareable euro for less than a hundred plus dollars.
As to kats needing more maintaining, I'll buy that. I've never cared for the hilt constuction on katana because of this.
Just one of the reasons I prefer euros.
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Post by Midori Kawakami on Dec 13, 2010 6:56:29 GMT
I must also disagree that one cannot mount a bare blade katana for less than $1,000.00 in quality fittings, as I have done so and continue to do so. My Kris Cutlery, which will have two complete sets of fittings when it's complete (it already has both full sets of actual koshirae, just need one more saya and a tsuka core) cost maybe $300-400 to completely outfit. Of course, I'm not counting labor, as all of that has been provided at home, but a bare blade can be reasonably fit for $350-800 (by a customizer, no less). You just have to know exactly where to look and exactly what you're looking for. I read a quote once that struck such a chord with me that I modified it just a bit and stuck it in my signature. the original is: "Katana are like girls; they are happiest in the hands of someone who loves them." I believe this is true for all blades, and I believe it shows. A well-loved blade may not be the most beautiful, its fittings worn and beginning to look old, there may even be scratches, etc. on parts of the blade. But that sword will sing through the air when its' wielder swings it and its edge will be deadly. The blade will show obvious signs of care and upkeep, maybe even polish and repair; at the very least, it will sport a fresh coat of oil. It's obvious in the way the sword owner speaks or writes of the sword, as well: "Oh, this sword's my baby", "She's my favorite", "This is a great sword"...I could probably ramble on all night, haha. I tend to think of mine more as pets I suppose. I believe this is due to the fact I raised and trained show horses and show dogs through most of my childhood and teens. They're a trusted and relied-upon partner when in use and a good friend to spend time with when not. My swords are always close to where I spend the most time and it's rare that I'm not within eighteen inches of one. And in our house, we have a lot of friends. :lol: |
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Dec 13, 2010 9:15:30 GMT
I am actually more than 18" from my nearest sword right now. it is the first time all day and only maybe the second or third time I have been so far from my swords while at home. I'm feeling kinda naked. I'm thinking I may need to go get my Antioch. I have spent a lot of time lately with Lunaman's Venetian Bastard because I have tatami coming soon to feed her and I need to bond to her grip before I cut tatami. that grip started out feeling strange but now I like it. maybe even love it.
in my experience, cheap katana are much better than cheap Euros especially when we start talking $150 and less.
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Dec 13, 2010 17:35:26 GMT
Which is kinda funny when you think about it. If katanas are the high dollar high maintenance types, then what does that make all tho's $80.00 Musashis? Sword prostitutes?
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Dec 13, 2010 18:19:41 GMT
I'd call them easy-sleazies.
or as one easy-sleazy I knew was called "Cheeseburger" I'll let your imagination wander as to why she had that particular nick-name.
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Post by Midori Kawakami on Dec 13, 2010 18:52:30 GMT
Naw, I'd just call them the friends that didn't have it so good growing up, the ones who grew up like me: poor. That doesn't mean they have no pride or morals, fellas. Some of those Musashis are quite well-made for their price and even manage to look nice and sport a real hamon. They're the quiet, unassuming types that just get the job done, as opposed to the celebs of the sword world, which would be customs. I think the antiques would be like the villiage elders, abbots or Bodhisattvas: well-revered and respected for the centuries of wisdom, history and lore they bring to us.
That's my last wooden nickel, for what it's worth, anyway. :3
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(lol sorry couldn't resist that joke)
... :shock: 
