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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2011 15:43:45 GMT
Hey everyone, As the subject title suggests I'm a first time buyer looking to purchase the following sword. However there seems to be a slight problem in my case as athe bottom there was the following footnote: "NOTE: Due to USPS max package length restrictions of 42" this sword cannot be shipped outside of the USA." I was wondering if anyone would have any advice with regards to possible ways of getting my hands on this sword. I have sent this question to the site via the contact page. But if they are unable to send it via the normal methods I was wondering how I would go about importing it for the cheapest price. Also if you have any thoughts on the O Katana I would not mind hearing them. -Zahir
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Post by LastGodslayer on Oct 31, 2011 16:33:24 GMT
You can find it for 50 bucks less at Kult of Athena, and they might not have the same problems with the shipping. There is also a UK retailer of Cheness, but I can't remember their name...
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Post by Ninjadave89 on Oct 31, 2011 17:46:09 GMT
Be VERY cautious when buying katana from outside the UK as they are very difficult to import into the country!You have to prove that it has been handforged (which is quite difficult) and there are likely lots of other stupid laws you would have to get through. Straight bladed swords like euros and such are fine but its likely that your katana would be seized by customs and you will never get to see it. This doesn't happen every time but I personally wouldn't take the chance.
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ecovolo
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Post by ecovolo on Oct 31, 2011 18:03:40 GMT
I own one. It's as durable as hell, and very forgiving when it comes to botched cuts. Personally, I have no problems: The fittings are tight, and the blade is firmly seated in the tsuka. If you're looking for a durable tameshigiri tool, you can't go wrong with this one.
--Edward
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Post by shoboshi on Oct 31, 2011 18:08:59 GMT
I've heard plenty of horror stories about importing, so I'd be sure to do some very good research on that, as well as trying to find a seller within your country.
As far as the blade in question goes, Cheness can be a pretty polarizing subject. So hopefully this won't get heated.
My opinion is you can do better for your money. My recommendation would be Dynasty Forge, either the musha class or the class B, if you can find them. My reasoning is that I've had several Cheness as well as DF and I find the heat treat much better on the DF.
You might also consider the Hanwei practical pro. While not an o-kat, it is close. Or maybe the raptor nambokucho.
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ecovolo
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Post by ecovolo on Oct 31, 2011 18:41:08 GMT
It won't, as long as people follow the posting rules:
"5. Keep other Members’ threads on topic by not derailing or otherwise hijacking the topic of a thread. If the OP (original poster) asks about a specific product or question, do not answer ‘get a [insert alternative product here] instead’ unless the OP has specifically requested alternative options. If you do not like a particular product, you must address it in a ‘pros and cons’ format. In other words, find a few good things to say about it – not just dismiss it out of hand because it is not to your personal tastes;"
So, my question to the OP: If you can't get the sword you want, are you interested in other brands?
--Edward
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Post by Neovenetar on Oct 31, 2011 19:18:08 GMT
I agree with ninjadave, it is far safer to get a katana that is already in the uk, because if customs confiscate mere machetes, think what they'd do with a katana!
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Oct 31, 2011 19:19:04 GMT
i did some research and i cant seem to find a uk dealer for cheness,my advice would be to email koa and ask if they can see any problem shipping it to the uk,the uk laws on katana's are a bit of a grey area,if koa are willing to state that it is a treaditionally forged blade,and include documented evidence you !SHOULD! be ok there are no guarantees though due to the fact that its a katana size wise,i ordered a gsow and they sent it with no problems you could also ask blades uk for their advice,they're very knowledgeable when it comes to our crazy import laws,and they will be able to tell you if importing one will be safe actually yes you should really contact blades uk if it is doeable they can import it for you
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Post by LastGodslayer on Oct 31, 2011 19:21:29 GMT
There are a few shops in the EU that carry the Cheness brands. Swords24.eu carries pretty much all of them except the O katana.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2011 19:40:54 GMT
I have looked around to see if there is a UK supplier but have failed to come up with any. Having looked at the one on Kult of Athena I'm tempted as it seems they will provide documentation to allow a smooth as possible shipment.
So as long as it's hand made I would have through it would be fine import wise. But I was under the impression it would be simply a case of pestering customs to let them through as I assumed cheness would provide said documentation. The only thing putting me off here is that I would want a proper handle which as a beginner I would not want to muck it up experimenting on customising my first katana.
I don't doubt that there are better blades but it seemed to be the best for me. As it came around my £225 (£360) total cost price range. I originally was drawn to it's length as a taller man it was either going to be a katana or a longsword, but of the longswords I looked none of them fit my criteria that well. And not to mention it's functionality which I read from the review on this site. These were the boxes I wanted ticked and it came highly recommenced from this site. I'm of coarse open minded but no other seem to hit those sweet spots.
I have no real brand loyalty and am only looking for a sword that hits the following:
-Around £225 -The longer the better bladewise -As functional as possible
The cold steel grosse messer was another one I had short listed but it was sold out did not look as visually appealing as I plan to hang it up.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2011 19:46:39 GMT
Just a quick scan of the site and it seems pretty expensive for my self
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2011 19:50:00 GMT
I'll try and do this tomorrow and get back with the results.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2011 16:30:17 GMT
Well yesterday I listen to the suggested advice from you fine gentlemen (or gentlewomen). I emailed both Kult of Athena as well as Blades UK to ask them about importing. I have gotten two differing answers it seems:
Kult of Athena Reply:
It seems i'm in luck as not only do they have the sword I want but it is legal to import into the UK. With KoA apprently doing it often with no real hitches and simply cross referancing the specs of the product.
However Blades UK reply was drastically different:
So I'm wondering what to do now as from reading around both Blades UK and KoA have excelent reputations. Whom do I belive. I part of me thinks I should just bite the bullet and go with KoA who suggest they have had both experiance as well as sucess importing while another part of me thinks I should stay away as blades UK is most likley going to be more knowledgable in ares regarding UK import laws.
I would not want to make a $300 purchase which I will get impounded and destroyed by the HMRC.
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Nov 1, 2011 18:23:16 GMT
i would believe both ,it all depends on wether you want to risk either losing $300,or having to fight customs to get the sword released my gut instinct says that as long as koa are supplying documentation guaranteeing that it is hand forged you should be ok, its a difficult call though and there are no certainties when dealing with beurocracy :?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2011 18:55:51 GMT
I bit the bullet and ordered: Product Quantity Price Amount Cheness 9260 Spring Steel O-Katana -(CI18808LBRN)I 254.95 254.95 Hanwei Sword Maintenance Kit(PC1003)I 22.95 22.95 Bokken Wooden Pratice Katana - Natural(BK759)I 9.95 9.95 All prices are in US Dollars Subtotal 287.85 Shipping 73.60 Tax 0.00 TOTAL 361.45 Massive rush going through my body now
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Post by ratfink23T on Nov 2, 2011 0:36:26 GMT
Happy NSD! (New Sword Day)
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ecovolo
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Post by ecovolo on Nov 2, 2011 2:47:03 GMT
Good luck. Please let us know what happens, so our other UK/European members can get the info? Yeah, I know what you mean . Now it's just a matter of sitting tight, and waiting for the order arrive at your doorstep. --Edward
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2011 18:44:40 GMT
Well it seems hat everything went off without a hitch. It sailed through customs and while I did have to pay and extra £44 ($70) as import duty hopefully tomorrow I will have it in my hands. I am wondering now if I would not have been better off buying the UK. But to anyone following this thread as a UK buyer I cannot not recommend Kult of Athena enough. As it all worked out in the end.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 22:41:05 GMT
It came today . It is s massive as it looks. However I have one question I have yet to take it out for some back yard cutting but when I try to slice paper it difficult to do. Should I be worried that the blade has not been sharpened properly?
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Nov 18, 2011 22:57:29 GMT
there's no need to worry if it's not paper sharp,a sword is not a knife,it doesn't need to be razor sharp (in fact razor sharp is bad for a sword) razor sharp is only good for razors,try doing some cutting with it,if you feel it needs a bit more bite then you can always touch the edge up(try using a steel to align the edge),unless you're into trick cutting a sword doesn't need an aggresive edge,katana's traditionally aren't razor sharp (no sword should be),you have a razor sharp edge for shaving,not for cutting with a sword,it needs to be sharp but also resiliant,you can't have both, there's been a lot of emphasis on razor (or even sharper which isn't possible unless you use obsidian or glass) swords recently, granted im old school and i want a sword that can cut,but have some resiliance,if you're bottle or mat cutting you can take the edge as sharp as you like,for practicallity i look for the middle ground,check out saito's deer clip, or lancelot's deva slayer videos,not razor sharp,but more than up to the task of the sword's intended purpose
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