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Post by Unit731 on Nov 20, 2011 0:28:11 GMT
I could only wish to have so much money to easily spend 900$ on one item. :lol:
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Post by Unit731 on Nov 20, 2011 0:35:34 GMT
I am definitely going for a Katana. The more I think about it, the more I find it's shape appealing. Might fit with my fencing style. I have no formal training, but years of stick fighting and developing a way to avoid being hit (with a hockey stick) helped me develop my own form of fencing. Thanks for all the advice, I will purchase my Oni Yuri right here from the SBG store.
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Post by Unit731 on Nov 22, 2011 10:10:36 GMT
Just in case I change my mind last minute, if I were looking into a Traditionally made Katana (Geometry, Hamon, Fittings) what would you guys recommend for under 300$? Hanwei? Munetoshi? SwordnArmory? Hung Shing TS? Cheness? Ronin? Dynasty Forge? What would be the best bang for my buck if I were looking into a fancy, but functional show piece? I would prefer Silk Ito (something other than standard black), Full Same Wrap (I wish), Buffolo Horn Saya pieces, Iron (Brass and Copper are nice too) Tsuba and Tsuka furniture, DH blade (Choji Hamon preferably, but not picky about this), and no Bo-Hi (I can live without a lot of these options, but would like at least half of them). I know it is a lot to ask, but this is the direction I might want to go if I choose something fancy over something strong. Also, I am aware about the SBG Custom Katana, but I do not want to wait that long for a sword, I would much prefer ordering something that is stocked already so I may receive it before Xmas. Also, I would prefer a maru lamination. I don't care too much for folded or forge welded steel. Nice looking, but not my cup of rye. Edit: Is this a good sword? It has caught my eye, and the reviews I have read have not shed enough light on them. www.swordnarmory.com/T10-Munetos ... -choji.htm
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Nov 22, 2011 14:55:43 GMT
The Ronin Dojo Pro line is handsome and very functional/tough. Kris Cutlery katanas are attractive, very tough/well built and made from high quality components, but very basic in appearance. The do have a very nice, more traditional geometry compared to most of the others. Dynasty Forge makes an extremely tough, fairly attractive sword. Hard to go wrong with one. Munetoshi makes a good sword. I'm not sure which model you linked, as links to anything but their homepage don't work. If you were to just name the model it would be better.
Honestly, for all that you listed you'd have to breach the $300 limit.
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Post by Unit731 on Nov 22, 2011 16:29:37 GMT
I am willing to do some of the customizations myself (Samegawa full wrap, Silk Ito, Iron Fittings), as long as the sword has most of the things I cannot (horn saya pieces, hamon, geometrical yokote) I would be happy.
What about a Hanwei Practical PLus?
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Post by Unit731 on Nov 22, 2011 19:42:06 GMT
Btw, the sword I linked was the Munetoshi Akitsushima Katana T10 Choji Hamon.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Nov 22, 2011 22:49:48 GMT
Okay. That Munetoshi is a very lightweight blade, more geared for trick cutting. Not really good for possible personal protection(at least for more than a couple engagements, that is.) It seems like a pretty nice sword. Here is a review on it, just in case you haven't seen it yet. forum.sword-buyers-guide.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1201If you're willing to do some of the work and just want to ensure that all the parts you'd need are there, I'd say Kris Cutlery is where it's at. The tsuka has a full wrap, but not samegawa. It is more like lacquered gauze. Not traditional, but still nice. All of the parts are great quality, and the tsuka is very well carved with nice taper and curve. If you are considering it, look long and hard at it first. Its great quality, but not everybody's cup of tea. The Ronin Dojo Pro is already all finished, with great quality parts. It doesn't have the full samegawa wrap, and it is TH so it doesn't have a hamon, but it is very high-quality across the board.
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Post by Unit731 on Nov 23, 2011 5:12:06 GMT
I know the Munetoshi is a light sword, but I for some reason have this urge to own a beautiful looking show piece that is also deadly functional. Not a war sword, but it might make a neat dueling sword. But I don't know much.
Kris Cutlery looks tempting though. I wouldn't mind customizing it at all. I have too much time and it would be nice to have a project to keep me busy.
Also, how is the Darksword Svante Nilsson? Seems like a pain to sharpen, but would it make a decent weapon?
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Nov 23, 2011 6:02:59 GMT
That thing, sharp or dull, would likely be a brutalizer. I'm not a Euro guy, so I'm not an expert. DSA seems to have a pretty good track record as well.
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Post by Unit731 on Nov 24, 2011 8:08:07 GMT
Would a Kris Cutlery 26III S be more likely to take set on a flubbed cut than a 26A (considering it has a small bo-hi near the habaki on one side of the blade)?
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Nov 24, 2011 8:11:16 GMT
I don't think so. I think the difference in structure from the small bo-hi is too slight to have much bearing.
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Post by Unit731 on Nov 24, 2011 8:30:55 GMT
Aside from blade geometry and the fact it has a DH blade, what are some other advantages from Kris Cutlery (26A/26III S) compared to Ronin Katana (Dojo Pro)?
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Nov 24, 2011 9:17:07 GMT
Arguably, and very much so, the blade is tougher. It is made from 5160 spring steel, like the Hanwei Raptors, and has a very good heat treatment. It also has a geometric yokote, which is a real plus on a sub-$300 katana. The fuchi/kashira, koiguchi and kojiri are all iron and the koiguchi is horn.
The Ronin, however, is amazing in its own right. All its parts are high quality, the TH 1060 blade has a phenomenal heat treatment, bull-horn parts, real silk ito, and real samegawa panels. the blade is sharp and tough.
Really, between the two, just go for the one you like the most visually. These are two well matched katanas, and I can't really recommend one over the other. You can rest assured either is going to be well made and tough. The KC may require a bit more upkeep, but not much. It is also pretty much a blank slate as far as customizing.
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Post by Unit731 on Nov 24, 2011 9:32:38 GMT
By the looks of it, the Kris Cutlery has a slightly more pronounced sori than the Ronin, how would this affect it's performance? Would it lend itself better to a practiced swordsman, or to a beginner as well?
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Nov 24, 2011 18:39:50 GMT
Well, deeper sori will lead to slightly better cutting to a point. Too much is like too much of anything, not good. It may be slightly more awkward to use at first, but I've found that I like the overall balance of my KC more than any other sword I own.
The Ronin is really user friendly regardless of experience level.
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