George
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Post by George on Apr 21, 2011 11:46:37 GMT
Ok guys so ive sold lots of my old sword collection that is of no use or interest to me. Now i had a list of swords i wanted to get and its closer to be complete this year. I wanted to know what you guys thought and if you would add anything or change anything around. Hanwei tactical wak. Heard great things about this sword and basically just something tough to have sitting next to the bed ready for the zombies Hanwei Bamboo Mat. This will/would be my top piece, the pick of the bunch. SBG custom. Bo-hi, Tsuba – P17, Fitting – C6, Ito B4, Folded Steel This i want basically cause i want some thing that reminds me of a traditional sword but with the modern technology. This will be more display than function but i want to know it will be strong enough to handle pretty much anything. Cheness Oniyuri Bujinkan The first sword i knew i wanted when i stared looking around this site etc. The stealth and ninja side of things just really appeals to me. I know its Cheness BUT if they weren't out of stock of this i would already have it SBG custom. No-hi, Tsuba – R1, Fitting – C28, Ito B7 I want this one to be my regular cutting sword. No hi, to make it stong, plain fittings and that COOL bright orange ito. This is last on my list and ill only get this one if the first SBG turns out well Thats for my Shinken, ill also want some Iai blades BUT i want to start at the dojo before i rush out and get anything. Im thinking a good Alloy Japanese one... Maybe custom. Looking around not too sure yet
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George
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Post by George on Apr 21, 2011 11:48:00 GMT
OH dont worry im not buying these in one go! Haha this is my plan ahead for the next year. Ill start with the cheapest and work up Oh and just order the SBG next time i can!
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Post by whitefeathers on Apr 21, 2011 12:53:15 GMT
they just gave me the tracking # for my SBG custom i had ordered back in October. Ill be putting up a review for sure. I wouldnt mind having this one martialartswords.com/turtle-jingum-31
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ecovolo
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Post by ecovolo on Apr 21, 2011 16:11:11 GMT
I wouldn't change a thing. You've chosen some good low-budget blades.
--Edward
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Post by LittleJP on Apr 21, 2011 16:30:35 GMT
Personally, I'd go for one higher end blade, but that's just me.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Apr 21, 2011 16:37:05 GMT
Too many katana...
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Post by Student of Sword on Apr 21, 2011 19:11:00 GMT
Tac Kat: $139.95 Bamboo Mat: $479.95 SBG Custom (2): $660.00 Cheness: $229.95 ______________________ TOTAL: $1,509.85
For that you can get any Bugei except the Lion Dog. For a little more, you can get a MAS L6 Bainite. In fact, there is a used one right now on SFI for $1,000.00. In fact, you can even get some of the Citadel. Better yet, you can get a katana from Tozando, correctly assembled, and semi-customed (length and fittings) to boot .
I am a bit puzzle with that money, you don't start collect nicer katana. Every katana you mentioned was constructed using one or more short-cut. Even the nicest one, the Bamboo Mat, fall far short of a correctly assembled katana.
If you really want more than 1 katana, you can get two nicer ones than any of the one you mentioned.
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Post by Hiroshi on Apr 21, 2011 20:49:01 GMT
I noticed there are no ATrim swords in the lot... what gives? :-(
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Post by Elheru Aran on Apr 21, 2011 21:22:03 GMT
I do agree with Sean, averagejoe... just katana is kind of (no offense) boring. Vary it up with an Euro or two, and you'll be able to develop a certain flexibility. Now, if you're ONLY interested in katana, that's fine, but as long as you're open to suggestions, you couldn't go wrong with an Atrim or a VA Signature...
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George
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Post by George on Apr 21, 2011 21:44:12 GMT
This does make alot of sense. I mean in 10 years time will i be happy with my $300 sword or would i prefer one expensive blade? The main problem is money. I dont have $1,500 and this will take a year of hard saving plus some money i already have (about $600) So i can buy one or two now and fill my 'sword void' on my wall, OR wait all year. Im not too impatient BUT i wouldn't be too happy waiting that long for one sword. I want to start my collection and then later on possibly when i already have some i want ill be happy to wait and save. Now i dont know what to do, after looking at some higher end swords. Ok if you guys could do it again (your sword collecting) would you bother with 'cheaper' blades or just go in and get the big expensive ones? Not really into Euros myself. Just my personal preference. Maybe one day (maybe when i get the Hanwei Tinker for my mates wedding) but now im all things Japanese
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George
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Post by George on Apr 21, 2011 21:47:22 GMT
Im ALWAYS open to advice and i always take note Thats why im here really!
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ecovolo
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Post by ecovolo on Apr 21, 2011 21:54:33 GMT
Well, here's my take on it:
The only person I have to make happy is *me*. I had a low budget initially, so I knew my limits on how much I could spend at any one time. I wanted a well made low-budget katana as I waited to purchase better blades.
So, when I started buying, I started with some low-budget starter blades like the one you mentioned. These kept me happy as I saved up again for bigger purchases, like Bugei's Samurai and MAS blades. Eventually I got those more expensive, better-made blades as I practiced with my cheaper ones.
If you have limited monetary resources like I do, I say buy what makes you happy, and then save up for better quality ones later as you wait. When you do eventually get those more expensive pieces, you can always sell your cheaper ones in the Classifieds to reap back a portion of what you spent.
--Edward
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Post by craigd on Apr 21, 2011 22:23:17 GMT
If I was going to spend 1.5k over the next year I would wait and get one of the blades SoS mentioned (or a nice second hand blade and at that budget you could get a VERY nice second hand blade).
OR
I would buy the Bamboo Mat now. And then save for a nice blade so I would be more inclined to wait patiently for a nice weapon. I personally wouldn't buy a lot of budget swords that add up to the cost of a Tozando etc.
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George
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Post by George on Apr 21, 2011 22:49:22 GMT
Im thinking i may just save for a Bugei or Tozando. I mean im half way to saving the 1.5 k so i might aswell just stick it out. I know ill be happier in the long run if i have swords of value and not just cheap ones that all have tiny tiny problems. I have a cheap Musashi, this will satisfy me for now So now my question has changed again. For $1000 - $1500 what should i go with? Ive always wanted 3 things in my Katanas, if possible. 1. Strong enough for regular Martial Arts use 2. As traditionally made as possible, without compromising the strength. 3. Would like to be able to take it to Japan, if i decide to move there. **This is only a big MAYBE as i know Japanese made means the price sky rockets**
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Apr 21, 2011 23:29:22 GMT
This is a good question... and tough to answer... I've bought then sold/traded hundreds of swords in the past few years... all kinds of Windlass, DSA, Hanwei, Gen 2, Kris Cutlery, Valiant Armory, Cold Steel, Cheness, Dynasty Forge... and also higher grade Kensei/Oni Forge, Albion, A&A, Atrim, Tinker, and so on... Without all the 100-300 dollar swords before I got some of the 500-1000 swords... would I have really appreciated what those more expensive swords had to offer? On the other side... without having handled the more expensive swords... would I have thought the cheaper ones were all that? Hard to say. I think I'm glad I did it the way I did... because now I have a very good understanding of what makes a sword good or better then another, what I like about a sword and who makes em the way I like em... an so on. I spent a lot of money and a lot of time... but I gained a lot of experience.
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Post by Student of Sword on Apr 21, 2011 23:43:27 GMT
For $1,000-1,500 you cannot do number 3. Only nihonto is allowed in Japan and it costs a fortune. If you are lucky, you can get a used one for $5,000, if you are very lucky. If you plan to take formal class anyway, I would save up at least $600 for a good iaito. That is more important than any shinken because you will spend more time with your iaito than all the shinken combine. It makes training a whole lot more pleasant when you really like your iaito. See how much you have left after purchasing the iaito that you really want, then decide from there.
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Post by 14thforsaken on Apr 22, 2011 0:16:44 GMT
I probably wouldn't change much about my collection now that I am starting to get high end custom blades. I feel I have a pretty good mix of European and Japanese swords ranging from from budget ones to higher end ones.
Now in the future there are probably only 3 production swords left that I have any interest in getting:
Atrim Practical Longsword VA Signature Knights Templer VA Signature Actium
Unless something else comes out that just blows me away, I'll probably stick to getting customs from Brendan for European and fantasy style blades and will probably it get a customized MAS or a KC 29A Bare Blade and have it mounted by someone like Fred Lohman for Japanese swords.
I've already hit the point where it is hard for me to make room for additional swords as I have 30 at this time. Right now, I'm beginning to work on getting my armor completed and fill in some holes in my collection such as axes, maces etc.
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George
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Post by George on Apr 22, 2011 1:10:25 GMT
I figured as much. As i said tho thats not IMPORTANT to me as the other 2. I really really like the looks of the Bugei Old Pine sword. I DO want a GOOD Iaito blade, BUT im going to wait a while after i join the Dojo to see what i should get as i dont really have much of an idea yet. There is so much as to sizing etc it makes it hard for someone who doesn't know what he needs! Obviously an Alloy blade would be best as i can take that to Japan. I know it seems like im doing it backwards, Shinken first the iai blade. But its just a matter of timing. I CAN get a good Shinken soon, as i dont know what i need in an iai blade yet. Once ive done a few months in the dojo with my cheapie iai then ill look at a better one.
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George
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Post by George on Apr 22, 2011 1:13:00 GMT
I know exactly what you mean. Ive had 5 different Katans, all lower end ones. All of which ive sold appart from my Musashi Bamboo and my cheap Iaito. So i 'sorta' have an idea, if i did happen to get such a good sword i could hopefully tell the difference
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Post by Student of Sword on Apr 22, 2011 1:37:09 GMT
Quick note: Having an iaito taught me more about what a katana suppose to be like than having shinken. It may sound strange because the blade is zinc-alloy and cannot cut. But it allows me to understand several things:
-Familiar with how a sword suppose to feel in your hand. -What is the best tsuka shape for me. -What is the proper saya construction.
Until now, other than the blade itself, I still use Japanese zinc iaito as the standard which to judge whether a sword is correctly constructed.
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