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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2010 1:37:21 GMT
I recently purchased the SBG Entry Level Custom KoKatana a month ago. After further examining, i noticed that the butt cap fittings at the end of the sword's handle is held together with glue. I got my saya colored white, and there are pale yellowish blemishes near the bottom. At the very end of the saya, the lacquer is already starting to crack and some peeled off. I rarely ever picked it up from its mantle. The blade itself is heavy which is good, but there are finger prints on the back of the blade and blade collar that do not come off, which lead me to believe that the blade was touched and wasn't cleaned until it was stained permanently, I have been oiling the blade every week since i received it, it doesn't come off. The edge is nowhere near as sharp as I expected it to be. Is this really something that is supposed to be worth three hundred dollars? I want to get a refund, but im not sure on the steps to doing so, explain please. Sorry my camera is not that great, i can't get too close or it blurs the picture.  |
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Post by Elheru Aran on Dec 25, 2010 1:52:48 GMT
I'd suggest using the SBG Sword Store's contact links to get in touch directly with Mr. Southren.
It would probably help if you could take more pictures, as well...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2010 3:57:44 GMT
I know where the forge is located from the sticker on the box, im just waiting for a response. It's past the 30 day wait time, but im sure Mr. Southren is a reasonable man, there is another item i would like to get instead, but i want to return this sword first.
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avery
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Post by avery on Dec 25, 2010 5:07:25 GMT
Vincent, would it be possible to see more pics? Seems you have a lot of issues here, and you have a camera, but I'm not seeing any pictures of the issues aside from the bed shot. Also, how is it you waited past the 30 day mark to make this complaint?
Please don't misunderstand, you may have a valid claim. So far though, color me skeptical.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2010 5:16:02 GMT
Every picture i try to take is blurred, you really can't see the problems that I'm pointing out. Finding out that the butt cap was sealed in with super glue really makes me mad. Spending 300 bucks on an item that you're supposed to be able to dissemble and finding out that someone sealed it shut permanently is insulting to me. I only discovered this super glue problem today. It was a real shock to me. Best i can do. I can poke the glue with my finger, it left little indents. Can't believe this..  |
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avery
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Post by avery on Dec 25, 2010 5:27:22 GMT
Am I to take it that you can't remove the tsuka as well as your issues?
Edit: nevermind about the tsuka, I see what you're saying now I think.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2010 5:30:08 GMT
Im afraid to take the pegs out, i don't wanna destroy it on accident. I see glue involved im immediately paranoid about the rest of this thing's construction.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2010 5:32:29 GMT
The fittings that i requested in my order for this sword C2, which are gold. As you can see, they gave me some kinda black and silver fittings instead. I let that slide but seeing glue in my sword is the last straw.
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avery
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Post by avery on Dec 25, 2010 5:33:22 GMT
Is it the fabric of the knot that's glued or the butt cap itself? In other words can you untie the knot and the cap still won't come off?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2010 5:36:29 GMT
Im not sure, the fabric moves from the knot, but the cap is lopsided, it's slightly uneven with the rest of the handle, i don't know how its being held down without wiggling back and forth without glue.
I can't really do anything else if Mr. Southren will not give me a refund. Worst case scenario I'll just sharpen the blade with the handle attached.
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avery
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Post by avery on Dec 25, 2010 23:39:57 GMT
I'm sure Paul will do right by you, he's pretty good at getting back to a customer quickly. Given that it's the holidays, though, he may be a little slower than usual.
Hope you get it resolved!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2010 1:24:10 GMT
I hope so too. I guess the reason why i didnt notice the problems right off the bat is because when it first arrived, i was so excited and had too many stars in my eye to give it a real thorough examination. Im surprised though, i expected better from something with an asking price that high. All I've ever purchased are cheapos, I wanted to get something nice. My 60 dollar ninjato that i sharpened is sharper then then the 300 dollar sbg sword. That really made start questioning the price justification. I plan to purchase this (if) right after i get my refund. Read the review, seems solid and simple. It's plain design is what turned me to the sbg custom blade to begin with, but it doesn't do me much good if it can't deliver on something as simple as cutting. I just want something that works well and doesn't fall apart when i swing it. sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... atana.html |
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 26, 2010 3:23:21 GMT
The glue on the Kashira (Buttcap) is actually very common in production swords. Its not ideal by any means... but in the 300 dollar and less almost all katana have that. Also... removing the Kashira is not at all needed and is in fact inadvisable... unless you want to change out the entire tsuka and fittings. the fact that there is glue on the Kashira has no impact on if you can take out the mekugi and take apart the katana.
Now... 300 dollars may be a lot of money to you... it sure is to me... but in the world of Katana its really NOT a lot of money at all. If you are expecting perfection in a Katana for 300 dollars you are misleading yourself... you'll have to spend a lot more then that. 300 dollars would be considered the high end of LOW end production swords... meaning that while for 300 you should expect better then a Mussashi Black Bamboo... you should NOT expect super high quality... you need a lot more bread for that.
Lastly... I do not think you would be any happier with that Cheness Ko-Katana in your link then you are with the SBG sword... in my experience Cheness Katana have an even more poorly put together tsuka and itomaki and fittings then the sword you are unhappy with.
This might be more about expectation management.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2010 3:36:05 GMT
Fair enough, but the waiting time and money still seem unjust when i could just get something simple and 100 cheaper.
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 26, 2010 3:38:55 GMT
I actually agree with you somewhat on this...
The value, to me, with the SBG swords is not in them being inherently better then other swords of the same price... in my opinion they are not. The value comes in the options. Picking your own saya color, ito color, fittings, blade types... and so on. They are then worth the price to me because the give the casual collector who might not be able or willing to try and make those customizations themselves an option to get something closer to what they want... since the production swords might not offer what they are looking for.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2010 3:41:53 GMT
And that's the huge appeal of a customized blade isn't it? I sure took the dive, i just wasn't happy with the finished product in the end. The saya's paint job was really crummy, i got it white, but there are scratches and blemishes UNDER the lacquer. The ninjato that i purchased for 60 bucks at least can get a saya colored properly.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 26, 2010 4:04:54 GMT
Indeed. The fit and finish issues as well as the fittings not being the color you wanted... those might have had me returning the blade for a refund when I got it. Its unfortunate you did not address those issue upon first receiving the sword.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2010 4:36:11 GMT
I had stars in my eyes when it first arrived. Im still a kid at heart, haha.
So you recommend not purchasing the cheness ko katana? Finding kodachis are pretty hard, and im not sure what to trust, especially now. Any recommendations? Don't worry about the price, post away.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 26, 2010 7:07:07 GMT
If you like short Katana... my favorites are:
WSS Ko Katana
Kris Cutlery Katana 26
Dynasty forge Ko Katana
All of those are under 300.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2010 7:12:28 GMT
Impressive..lets hope that i can get my refund.
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