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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2011 20:49:59 GMT
I saw this sword on youtube and been looking up "Haz" on the site for the past week now and I don't know about you guys, but as far as youtube videos go this blade doesn't look like the typical overproduced blade that's been marked up to deceive someone. In all honesty I very much am a fan of it. Here it is ... r_embeddedP.S. This has been such an informative resource and seems to be a good community! :mrgreen: Chris |
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Post by Wes on Apr 17, 2011 21:09:02 GMT
First off, welcome to the forum! In reviewing the products they have on their eBay page I have a concern. I can't speak to the quality of their blades, but I do agree they have some interesting fittings. However as seen in this picture (hopefully ebay allows direct picture linking)  The ito on their swords are not properly alternating. This generally speaks volumes of the quality and attention to detail of a particular manufacturer. If they can't be bothered to properly alternate their ito, what other corners have they cut. For a >$500 blade I expect more. |
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Apr 17, 2011 21:10:53 GMT
It is a great looking piece. Hazama Yakiba, the source of it and many other great looking blades, has been mentioned here and on other sites, though not in a very nice way. The proprietor has been accused of being extremely unpleasant, and his blades are said to be not worth what he wants for them. It's also been mentioned that it's not Hazama himself who is a pain in the ass, but the person he has in charge of sales. I'd definitely look around, Google it and the smith as well as the site to death before I bought anything. I couldn't find a lot, so what I read could just be the opinion of a rare dissatisfied customer.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Apr 17, 2011 21:12:42 GMT
And yes, welcome aboard! Lots of great people and advice around here, so enjoy.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2011 21:38:45 GMT
Hey thanks for the replies! I do love the curvature on the blade and also like how the tsuka is straight and the blade naturally curves from the tsuba. The only thing I don't like about the blade are the fittings. They aren't symmetrical enough and ask too much attention for my taste and personality. The problem with going for a production line katana is that the next average person can and will be able to purchase a sword just like it and that definitely isn't something I'd like to see. I'm still doing some research but most of the threads already here again brings the average joe to stores with production line katanas.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Apr 17, 2011 21:46:54 GMT
Generally I've noticed people tend to prefer a tsuka that curves with the blade. It means the nakago also curves with the blade... and is harder to do then a straight tsuka. Thus, straight tsuka are the norm for production katana and curved tsuka are more rare on more often found on customs or higher priced swords. Why is it you prefer the straight tsuka?
"Hazama Yakiba" (Not his really name but like a 'stage name' for his biz) is a vendor/seller of swords... not an actually maker of swords himself. Like many of the sellers on Ebay he contracts with China swordmakers and then sells his swords international threw Ebay. He does not have a person in charge of sales... he is the guy you deal with in all things, so the problem people have is certainly with him and not a sales guy of his.
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Post by Wes on Apr 17, 2011 21:51:32 GMT
Well the problem is the price range. You're pretty much stuck with production katana for less than $1000 (and in some cases even more than that) However there are ways you can get some level of customization for little money. Huawei the ebay seller for one. I've bought a bare blade and a completed katana from them now and have been pleased. stores.ebay.com/huaweiswords?_trksid=p4340.l2563 You can specify blade length, sori depth, kissaki style, etc. And they have a fairly wide selection of fittings to choose from. You don't have to buy their "ready made swords" from their site, Write Jackie through their ebay page and discuss what you want with him He'll shoot you a pretty reasonable quote. |
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Apr 17, 2011 21:54:08 GMT
Even tho I had my issues with Huawei's customer service... I would buy swords from them LONG before I would buy anything from Haz. Huawei offers a LOT of options to the sword buyer... custom made blades to spec, wide range of fittings choices, and reasonable prices.
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Post by chrisperoni on Apr 17, 2011 21:58:05 GMT
That is true about the threads leading to production swords- such is the nature of a forum based on the sub $300 sword market. However we are just 'based' upon this and in fact we all regularily check out, talk about, buy and review all manner of swords from $30 to $3000.
Lots of forum members have many custom made swords that are truly one of a kind and I'm sure if you just start a thread in the japanese sword section asking about good custom katana makers you'll get great feedback. I know that Huawei is popular right now for doing custom orders at good prices (but now that I think of it, part of how they keep their prices down is by making several copies of any custom order blade and selling the extras as well). Huawei allows for a good deal of specific dimensions to be requested, ie. sori, niku...etc/et al.
(edit/add: looks like I've been beaten to the punch about Huawei)
And...is Haz the guy who will not sell to anyone who mentions SBG?
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Apr 17, 2011 22:05:58 GMT
Shadowhowler; Yeah, I wasn't sure which way it was. I read a pretty confusing thread somewhere describing it the way I did. I couldn't remember where, so I just reported it the way I saw it because I thought he should know. That's also why I believe he should Google the whole lot, to find out as much as he can. Also, to the OP, if you really like the blades, you could get one and just redo the tsuka. If your willing to spend that kind of cash on it, even if you loved the original fittings, a full custom job would probably happen at some point. A full job can be had for pretty cheap through Cottontail Customs or Katana Kustomizations for a good price. Well, not cheap, but less expensive than through most other customizes.
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Apr 17, 2011 22:12:17 GMT
I don't know that this is the case anymore... awhile back when there was a huge argument at SBG between many forum members and 'Haz'... and also with SBG management... he was quoted as having told a couple people, who were SBG members, that he would not sell to them. He also used to have a bit about SBG on his Ebay Storefront page that said something to the effect of "If your a member of SBG don't even bother to ask me any questions about my swords, I would not sell to you anyway." so it was certainly the case then that he was less then pleased with us at the time.
As to the situation now, I can't say. Have not had direct contact with the man in some time, and I'm more then fine with that.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2011 22:17:58 GMT
Just playing angles. Here is a picture of the katana with the handle a little on the long side.  Thanks for all the resources! I shall speak to huawei on ebay and figure things out from there. Awesome tips guys! and I haven't thought about getting custom tsuba and fittings I'll have to google.. I mean research some more. Chris |
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Post by chrisperoni on Apr 17, 2011 22:18:37 GMT
Yes, so this was the guy who gave attitude over asking questions as any informed buyer might ask... that alone is a real red flag to me. If someone doesn't want to sell to people who know what they are talking about then doesn't that mean they are looking to trick rubes into a bad deal?
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Apr 17, 2011 22:23:36 GMT
I'll try and point out what I notice to be major problems w/ either the katana or the seller: 1. Lack of consumers reviews and feedback- he sells around 30ish a year. Swordlord, one of our customizers, is the only persom on SBG I know of, who has handled one. Swordlord thinks the katana is worth less than half of what is advertized. 2. Rayskin panels look like crap - sub $100 grade. 3. NO RETURN POLICY - in fine print and on the shipping policy on ebay - 4. Previously FALSE advertizing - but seems to have been corrected. 5. Very bad reputation and simply inexcusable behavior. www.myspace.com/roninkatana/blog/495216907www.myspace.com/roninkatana/blog/500787020 (Warning: the language in this post by Haz is pretty offensive) |
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Apr 17, 2011 22:32:45 GMT
I know of 3 others who have handled a Haz blade... one of them owned it and loved it... but had VERY limited knowledge/experience with Katana... the other two had the chance to take one apart to fix some issues... and their findings where the same as you say Swordlords were... that there were many quality issues with the sword and it was overpriced at at least double what it was worth.
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Post by Student of Sword on Apr 17, 2011 22:55:52 GMT
If a person see a picture of Hazama Yakiba's blades and think that they are great looking, that person needs to pick up a book or two on katana and really learn what a traditional katana supposed to look like. For instance, there are many different handle (tsuka) shapes in traditional katana. However, none of them are straight.
Hazama Yakiba's blades are nothing but the same crappy katana from China from numerous Chinese vendors in Longquan. At least with those vendors, their asking prices are a fraction of Hazama Yakiba.
Please get books first, they are much cheaper than real katana.
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Post by Cold Napalm on Apr 17, 2011 23:05:30 GMT
Ah very true. That was the first thing that stuck out when I saw haz's blades. The tsuka is straight?!? Wow, talk about a dead giva-away that it's not worth $500+.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2011 23:34:46 GMT
Who says anything about staying traditional? Albeit I know nothing about katanas all I know is that when it comes down to it I need the katana to cut whatever it is I need to cut. The last thing that I would be thinking of is how pretty the ito is or the colors of the actual sword are going to look or how the japanese "traditionally" smithed their blades. Sorry friend but your advise seems to come from someone that will only use the sword for display and cosmetic purposes. History and culture is all good but the purpose of a sword is not to sit there and look pretty. It has a gruesome past and to me it will be for protection. Since you only mention how a sword is supposed to look like just remember looks don't count when you're cutting material up my friend.. I suggest you change your tone a tad and specify that this person needing to pick up a book is actually me.  I don't bite I get it I need to read a book. But tell you what.. I actually won't buy a book for it because that's the reason why I signed up here. :roll: |
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Sam H
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Post by Sam H on Apr 17, 2011 23:45:23 GMT
Well I think we should stop feeding the trolls here folks. Oh yeah bud the only thing I'll say in this thread is if you like his blades so much then go buy it. Why on earth did you even bother to come here to ask for input if you already seem to be set on purchasing one of his swords?
Now then stop stirring the pot and go buy your sword. Its your cash and not mine so I don't give a damned although perhaps next month I'll buy a Musashi $50 katana and re-mount it with cheap furniture off ebay then sell it to you for $1000. Interested? I've also got a used space shuttle that I want to sell too - just retired by NASA and given to me as a gift by Pres. Osama... :roll:
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Apr 17, 2011 23:49:16 GMT
Hey, don't sweat it. The appearance and the liking or not liking of it is massively subjective. Just remember, we can only give you our advise and opinions, but at the end of the day, get what you like or you wont be happy. Just be leery of people and vendors who would take advantage of you.
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I don't bite I get it I need to read a book. But tell you what.. I actually won't buy a book for it because that's the reason why I signed up here. :roll: 
