Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2011 3:59:56 GMT
So I've just picked up a set of 3 swords for $300 over the weekend and I've probably just got ripped off. 1st time impulse buyer here.
Now what I want to know is how badly I've gotten ripped off. According to the dealer the swords were all hand forged, high quality carbon steel, battle ready(don't really care just want to look pretty), and full tang.
But now that I'm looking at the blades and handle, I can actually see a wooden pin about 1 inch into the handle and the hamon looks way too even to be a hand forged blade. And for one of the blades I found another identical one online that says it uses stainless steel....
Is a dealer actually allowed to blatantly lie about the product as above? Because he said they were hand forged and full tang, but from what I'm seeing they're just your run of the mill production blades....
Oh yeah and they're from China....
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Post by jeimuzu on Jun 1, 2011 5:13:29 GMT
ALL swords these days are Mass production. There are alot of handmade Katanas's that are mass produced. Judging by what you said, its meant for display. That pin is needed as its what holds the nakago into the tsuka. The hamon can be even....but most of the mass produced display slo are either gunome or notare. the one you describe is possibly gunome....BUT without a link all what I said can be absolutely wrong. To me.....it sounds like you got ripped off. You can spend $500 for an actual functional set.
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Post by MTmind on Jun 1, 2011 5:36:51 GMT
If at all possible, could you please provide a link to the product you purchased. I'm sure that after viewing what you have purchased a much more educated assessment could be made. From what I have seen on Ten Ryu swords, most appear to 1045 carbon steel, some with genuine hamon (not bad for the price they are asking) which is usually between $60 -$150.00. An example from Swords of Might www.swordsofmight.com/ten-ryu-forged-musashi-katana.aspx. I do not possess the experience to make a firm judgement call on these, but if what you have purchased is similar to this then it may be classed as functional, just. Still, if you could provide some more information then I'm sure some of the more experienced folk here would be able to pass a more informed assessment. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2011 19:54:15 GMT
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Post by MTmind on Jun 1, 2011 21:56:53 GMT
Hmmmm....
There is no real delicate way to say this but, yes, you've been had.
Look on the brighter side though. You wanted some swords that had the "look" you were after, and on that side you succeeded. I would not recommend using any of them for any type of cutting though, most especaily the last one. Stainless steel a functional sword does not make.
Consider what you were overcharged as a tuition fee, from this experiance you have probably learnt more about swords and the market place to never make a similar mistake again. You probably may even save yourself some dollars in the future by having this knowledge on board for your next purchase.
By the way. Welcome to SBG. Feel free to ask anything you like, no question is too dumb/small/stupid etc. The only stupid question I know of is the one that is not asked.
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Post by randomnobody on Jun 2, 2011 0:39:04 GMT
Ah, Bleach swords... Rukia's still isn't even right, nevermind that...THING that's supposed to be Benihime...though I wonder how much of that is a IP/copyright thing... Anywho, yeah, what MTmind said. What the heck, most of us have all done the same thing at one time or another, and I've been to enough cons to see those vendors in action. So many people flock to them, only to throw away so much money, for so little... Stick around here, read up, you'll make up for it in time.  |
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Post by bleachsword on Jun 2, 2011 1:59:02 GMT
Did someone say my name?
The first oneis the only one that might be functional not recomended and only on milk bottles.
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Sam H
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Post by Sam H on Jun 2, 2011 3:31:09 GMT
You were definitely had but only because the vendor lied to you about the functionality of the swords. As bleachsword said only the first one looks usable and even then I'd relegate it to very light cutting.
As for prices you have to understand that while the prices online are great deals and you may feel like you got ripped off its not so bad. There's a few things that go into the prices you paid:
1. You're at a convention of some sort. Anything purchased from a vendor at a convention can and will be more expensive than you can get it online.
2. The vendor is in person and has it in stock there for you to pick up, handle and examine the product. That alone will make things more expensive because he has to cart the product around from show to show.
3. Speaking of carting from show to show you have to consider too that the vendor has actual costs he has to factor into the price of his products. Depending on the convention he may have to pay anywhere from $50 to $1000+ for his spot in the convention and in the end its the customer that pays that cost. Factor in travel costs, living expenses and of course his personal time that he puts in to man that stand, table and/or display to sell his wares and you could end up with product being between 40% to 100% above what you'll find online.
More often than not convention merchants sell right around or at MSRP (and sometimes above) because their operating costs are higher than an online merchant. This isn't to say that their prices aren't high but they have to make a profit too and well you're at a convention - everyone expects to pay more at such things... especially if its a gaming or comic convention.
In the end I have never purchased cutlery from conventions, shows or events like Ren Faires because the price you pay is almost always a premium. Bear that in mind and the price may not be out of the realm of reality for such purchases considering the venue but the fact that the vendor lied to you about their functionality means you were had. Sadly there's little action you can take against the vendor in this case. I'd take this as a lesson learned and make no more impulse buys unless you already know about the product.
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Post by zentesukenVII on Jun 2, 2011 13:06:19 GMT
I've looked over a few of these swords at thew Imports Channel by my house. They dont seem worth the money (at least the few I held) secondary bevel on the edge for the length of the blade and badly done tsuka, although the fittings werent all bad except the geartooth seppa. Sorry for your impulse buy, learn from mistakes I always say. Look on the bright side, you can use the fittings on these swords if you want.
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