George
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Post by George on Apr 22, 2011 1:44:17 GMT
So say i wanted to get a good Iaito BEFORE the shinken, as you are talking about. Where do i even start, there are so many places to choose from?? Keep in mind i only have around $600 at the moment.
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Post by Student of Sword on Apr 22, 2011 1:51:48 GMT
Let not get ahead of yourself. Find yourself a dojo first. I am sure your sensei and classmate will help you find a good iaito.
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Apr 22, 2011 1:55:50 GMT
If it was me id hold off and buy a really really nice one, im currently saving for a custom from Brenno, is likely gonna cost over 2K for what i want, and until i saved it up i wont be buying any swords, even if it means doing with out for over a year.
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George
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Post by George on Apr 22, 2011 2:38:41 GMT
Everyone seems to think save and get a really good one is better than 5 cheap-o's. I agree, im going to save up and get a really nice one. Also i will want a good Iaito, as Student said. That will be my new plan of action! Thanks everyone for your wisdom and advice!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 3:54:12 GMT
I started collecting katana a few months ago. I made a bad decision on my first purchase because I didn't research enough. Since then I've purchased a Ryumon folded dragon, a Hanwei Ninjato and a Munetoshi Take. I just ordered a Hanwei Shinto Silver Anniversary edition and it is the last of the cheaper production swords I am going to purchase (even though it wasn't cheap!). I only bought it because there are only a few new ones left out there. I found 3 and I bought one of them. My next purchase will be a MAS or Citadel or Tozando.
If I were you I would keep a good eye on the classifieds. There are several out there now and more daily. You may get a good blade before you know it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 12:55:52 GMT
Why don't you go with carbon steel iaito rather than a stainless steel one. It should handle like the real thing. This one looks decent to me: sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... iaito.html There is a positive review on this piece. This info might be useful for you: Recommended word lengths for your height. Height Avg Length Range Avg Length Range 6' 6" 31" 30" to 32" 2.6 Shaku 2.5 to 2.7 Shaku 6' 5" 30" 29" to 32" 2.55 Shaku 2.45 to 2.7 Shaku 6' 4" 30" 29" to 32" 2.55 Shaku 2.45 to 2.65 Shaku 6' 3" 30" 29" to 31" 2.5 Shaku 2.4 to 2.6 Shaku 6' 2" 29" 28" to 31" 2.45 Shaku 2.35 to 2.6 Shaku 6' 1" 29" 28" to 30" 2.45 Shaku 2.35 to 2.55 Shaku 6' 0" 28" 27" to 30" 2.4 Shaku 2.3 to 2.5 Shaku 5' 11" 28" 27" to 30" 2.35 Shaku 2.25 to 2.5 Shaku 5' 10" 28" 27" to 29" 2.35 Shaku 2.25 to 2.45 Shaku 5' 9" 27" 26" to 29" 2.3 Shaku 2.2 to 2.4 Shaku 5' 8" 27" 26" to 28" 2.25 Shaku 2.15 to 2.35 Shaku 5' 7" 26" 26" to 28" 2.25 Shaku 2.15 to 2.35 Shaku 5' 6" 26" 25" to 27" 2.2 Shaku 2.1 to 2.3 Shaku 5' 5" 26" 25" to 27" 2.15 Shaku 2.1 to 2.25 Shaku 5' 4" 25" 24" to 27" 2.15 Shaku 2.05 to 2.25 Shaku 5' 3" 25" 24" to 26" 2.1 Shaku 2 to 2.2 Shaku 5' 2" 24" 24" to 26" 2.05 Shaku 2 to 2.15 Shaku 5' 1" 24" 23" to 25" 2.05 Shaku 1.95 to 2.1 Shaku If it is hard to read go to the source(the formatting lost when I copie dit here) : eijiforge.blogspot.com/search?up ... -results=1
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Post by Elheru Aran on Apr 22, 2011 12:56:59 GMT
The whole saving up for good swords later versus buying cheap ones now is honestly an individual thing, though. What matters is that a.) you're HAPPY with what you buy, and b.) the sword can do what you want/need it to. So far I've bought 3 swords; none of them were more expensive than $200. Am I happy with them? Heck yes! Are they the best swords I could've bought? No. I could have saved up the whole total until I got to about... eh, let's call it $600... and bought a VA Signature with customization, or a very basic Albion. But I would've had to wait ~6 months for that, and let's be honest, I'm not that patient a person So if you're able to wait that long to buy a nice sword, good on you! I can't blame you for holding on to that Musashi though... sometimes you just gotta go out and cut something
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 13:02:51 GMT
I ruined my first sword, and got several cuts when handling it. Buy a cheaper one to let you learn to handle and maintain them. But you should avoid wall hangers, its dangerous to play around with one.
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Post by 14thforsaken on Apr 22, 2011 13:04:32 GMT
I think I can say for most of us, each sword we buy has some meaning to us one way or the other. Do I have some blades that aren't as nice as the ones I could afford now? Yes. Would I want to trade them in or sell them off? No. Each one has its own special place in my collection and the various swords I have purchase detail the journey I have taken to get to where my collection is now.
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Post by Krelian on Apr 22, 2011 17:05:48 GMT
Because Average_joe101 intends to join a dojo and potentially study in Japan his iaito can be neither stainless nor carbon steel. Also, prescribed length varies not only by experience level but from person to person and also from ryu to ryu (and even different branches of the same ryu). The lengths on that particular list are pretty conservative and may not be conducive to learning proper sayabiki in some styles (I for example use a 2.45 shaku iaito despite being only 5'6"). As far as the original question goes, it really is a matter of personal preference but you will likely find better value saving for one or a few better blades over a pile of low-end pieces, that's MY opinion anyway... In your position I would probably keep the Musashi Bamboo as an ultra-light beater and get a nice Japanese-made iaito from Tozando or Yamato Budogu or the like and maybe a good value mid-grade production cutter like the Bamboo Mat and from then on just save up for a high-end/custom blade every so often.
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George
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Post by George on Apr 22, 2011 21:35:20 GMT
Thanks for the opinions guys. Its good to see its more of a personal thing and advice is more, just go with your gut sorta thing ![:)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) My gut tells me in 5 years time ill probs just sell my cheapies to buy an expensive sword anyway, so why waste the time n money now? Krelian i think what you said is EXACTLY what i plan to do. Once i start at the Dojo i will know what i need in an Iaito. I can get that then. I would like a good sword soon, as ive already saved for a while. So i think i will get the Bugei Old Pine bugei.com/old-pine-sword-1510-prd1.htm Looks similar construction to the Bamboo Mat anyway. My Musashi Bamboo will last me a while now just will little stuff. Then maybe in years to come ill have more money and can get even better blades
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Post by mikeS on Apr 22, 2011 21:51:11 GMT
i REALLY dig/like/get "off" haha on natural wood sayas....i mean the things we apprec. in a blade are also what makes nice wood....supr. more peopl dont agee ( ![;)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) )
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George
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Post by George on Apr 23, 2011 10:43:06 GMT
These something just a little too 'production' looking about them tho. Maybe to me its just the name, Martial Art Swords. Just seems to cheapen it for me. What u guys think of these?
Oh the wool look IS epicly cool!
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ecovolo
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Post by ecovolo on Apr 25, 2011 19:25:57 GMT
MAS (Martial Art Swords) *rock*. I own two, for a good reason: They're well made, and have awesome horimono-- hard to find on production blades.
I recommend them.
--Edward
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George
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Post by George on Apr 25, 2011 21:02:19 GMT
Im looking at making one of the L6 beauties my next choice after i get the Bugei. ![:)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Thanks for the tip!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 8:58:15 GMT
Each month I transfer the equivalent of about $100 into a savings account which I use for expensive useless things. Usually that means swords. My last buy was an Albion Hersir, and now I have almost saved up enough for either another Albion, or a Bugei exclusive. If I save up some more, I will have enough for a Patrick Barta, as well (his viking swords are the most beautiful I have seen). But I think I want a Bugei this time around (my very first Bugei, in that case).
My patience may be a determining factor here, though. Albion has several attractive models in stock, and there's a four month waiting period for items not in stock, according to them. I have heard of people waiting a year or more on Bugei for the exclusive designs, depending on demand. And as my Bugei candidates are the Peace, Old Pine or Wave, I think I can count on the demand being high, and the wait long. Barta has a backlog over a year long as well, last I heard. I understand and respect these waits, but they might just push my attention back to Albion. But by all means, Albions are great swords. It's just that it's Bugei that has me all misty-eyed at the moment.
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Post by Deepbluedave on May 3, 2011 11:05:43 GMT
Hey Joe About 6 months ago I contacted Bugeiabout purchasing an Old Pine Sword they had one left in stock but wanted $400.00 just for delivery add to that Australian Customs $200.00 and your $1200.00 dollar sword just cost you $1800.00. Bummer eh as it is a fantastic sword, I find I keep looking in the classifieds hoping that one day someone will sell theirs.
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Post by masahiro560 on May 3, 2011 11:10:56 GMT
$400
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George
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Post by George on May 3, 2011 11:37:30 GMT
$400!?!? I have email them, waiting on reply as i have the money for the sword... NOT for delivery tho! Oh dear... Maybe ill have to stick with another sword? Crap, crap crap!!!
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Post by Deepbluedave on May 3, 2011 11:40:42 GMT
Yes is a lot, I emailed them back asking if that was with customs fees included as well and they said nope.
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