Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2012 7:57:42 GMT
From what I understand from reading the beginner's guide it looks like differentially hardened steel is what I'm looking at. But I've also seen terms like 1060 carbon steel and such... I kind of want something a bit stronger than 1060 but when I look at a sword that is differentially hardened steel I see different terms instead of carbon 1060 or something... (link for reference sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-guide.com/Kaze.html) Let's say for example I want a sword for killing hundreds of zombies and possibly a few trees. I want something tough and sharp. Can anyone point me to something that would be good for this sort of thing?
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Feb 27, 2012 8:22:44 GMT
This would do nicely: Swords are not made for cutting down trees or endless beheadings. They will fail at these tasks, as they should, or they would not be agile and light enough to be considered proper swords, or have an appropriate edge profile. Steel differences are mostly hype once people are using proper high-carbon steels. Far more important than the type of steel is the heat treatment it receives and the skill of the smith making the blade. This applies both to the toughness of a sword and its ability to retain an edge. Sharpness is a deceptively muddy concept, since different edge profiles are more appropriate for certain tasks than others. It sounds like you need to get more information and narrow things down much further before people could provide suggestions for a purchase. "Tough and sharp" are pretty vague specifications, and swords will not readily perform the tasks you are inquiring about. Not meaning to discourage you, just point you in a more focused direction.
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George
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Post by George on Feb 27, 2012 9:46:29 GMT
I can recommend Ronin Go dojo pro, obviously 1060 is tougher than 1045
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2012 14:36:54 GMT
That's why I posted on teh beginners forum
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2012 15:11:51 GMT
DH blades (differentially hardened) produce harder edge and softer spine swords and you get the temper line - hamon - in the process with varying degrees of sharpness and toughness depending on the carbon content of the steel. ie -1045, 1055, 1060, 1070, 1095 etc. TH (through hardened) blades will not have a true temper line but may have a cosmetic one wire brushed or acid etched on. For ex. - a 1060 TH blade that is tempered to spring steel will be fairly sharp if polished to a razor edge and will be more forgiving to bad cuts and abusive cutting on harder less forgiving targets.
Like was mentioned swords and trees are a bad match as dance partners. hence the ax pic. a machete style zombie slayer may be what you want to look at. Spring steel machete profiles will whack on trees and other stuff all day long whereas one hit with a DH blade against any thick tree will result in blade damage more often than not. A set or bend will happen or a chip or blade snap. :shock: and you turn a katana into a stub-tana. :oops:
If your wallet is fat get something nice and then a beater spring steel blade and have your cake and zombies, too. For a recommendation...if you search much on here you'll find a majority of nods to the Musashi line of swords for starting out.
HTH and good luck.
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Post by lamebmx on Feb 27, 2012 15:44:42 GMT
If not the ax above then Cheness Tenchi -> but listen well to the other advice in this thread and around this forum. while it will probably survive hundreds of zombies and a few trees and meets your toughness criteria, better learn how to sharpen it because the edge wont stay long under those conditions. If you are fine with water bottles and learning how to handle a sword more properly, then a $80 Musashi is probably a better bet. My 1060 TH Dojo pro is plenty strong enough, and handles very well. It wouldnt survive what I put my Tenchi through, but it feels better to use. Myself vs Myself, one with Tenchi & other with my KC 26, I would win! (hardy har har) Whichever me has the KC will win. The KC wont go though trees though, and it took a helluva set from my buddys bad horizontal cut on a single roll tatami. I got it though the mat fine all the way around the clock, but have a lot more practice and edge control than my buddy. It got through the mat like butter, and yet feels about as nimble as a thin branch. Anyways point is, there is a bit more to swords than lopping off heads. If what you truly want is "killing hundreds of zombies and possibly a few trees" you may want to look into some high quality broad head ax's. Also tough and sharp do not currently exist together, you get kind of a sliding scale between the two. Search around here some and you will find plenty of learning material regarding edge geometries, that combined with the different strength and toughness of the different steels will help you learn a lot about how to find what you are looking for.
On a side note, I think I may be eligible for a rambling post award award by now.
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Feb 27, 2012 15:47:03 GMT
Tough and Sharp: For around $100.00 (Click the first search result for Sword-n-Armory) www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&t ... 00&bih=558 (I hope the link works) The beater series from Munetoshi is a lovely piece if all your going for is tough and sharp. However, after the 20th zombie head, you might need to touch up the edge. The Beater is through hardened and thick spined which means that you probably won't be able to slice through tatami without disturbing it, like you see the pro cutters do. It's blade is really thick, and I haven't put a set in mine yet. Hell, I don't even think I could bend the thing with my hands. However, you are trading off a few things for tough, sharp and cheap. The "fit and finish" aspect of the beater falls a little short. The butt cap sometimes has a sharp edge on it (easily fixed with a file), the holes through the handle are rough (so if you want to take it apart, you have to work it a bit) and the cotton wrap is good, but not the best. I know that Musashi might have some through hardened options, but the blade is thinner then the Munetoshi. So, for the durability that you are looking for, the Munetoshi Beater is probably your best bet. HOWEVER: Don't use it against trees... Unless by trees you meant tiny little saplings that are no bigger around then your finger. Seriously, for trees get an axe, or hatchet or a stout machete. The only time you see swords being used against trees is in fiction. Oh, and I didn't talk much on the edge of the Beater. It comes sharp, mine is still sharp, so, there ya go. And if you wanted to expand your horizons to western swords, then we could offer you some more options. And here is Jonis doing a review for Sword-n-Armory: While he does say "Light to medium cutter" he doesn't mean it in the same way that a Musashi DH is a light to medium cutter. The Musashi is light in the sense that you shouldn't cut dry bamboo with it. I've cut dry bamboo with the Munetoshi with no damage to the blade.
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Post by Chinook Kaze on Feb 27, 2012 16:48:58 GMT
FYI: Greg, I've seen you recommend the 1065 Munetoshi Beater sword a couple of times recently to folks. I think it's a great recommendation, I would love to buy one myself. Unfortunately, I don't think Sword N Armoury has carried them in stock for quite awhile. Shame, I'd love to see them bring them back out, sans that awful carving on the saya.
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Post by Groo on Feb 29, 2012 10:26:02 GMT
Sounds like a job for a Da Dao! The axe/guillotine of the sword world, Or a Kukri (the axe of the machete world)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2012 13:21:04 GMT
Sure does! A dadao can chop zombies, trees and Japanese swords - ask the Japanese soldiers who fought against Zizhong's 29th Dadao Corps which fought the 1933 Battle of the Great Wall. Oh, sorry, there wasn't any Japanese left... :shock:
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Post by Toast on Feb 29, 2012 13:35:08 GMT
Blackthorn is absolutely right regarding the military uses of the dadao. I have numerous pictures of the dadao being used by Chinese troops in various capacities. If the zombie apocalypse happened tomorrow, the first sword that I would grab would be my Hanwei dadao. It's brutal. I customized the grip and even further sharpened it. It is pure devastation that can be easily carried. I love the katana, but if I was attempting to survive in some dire modern post-apocalyptic situation, I would have that dadao with me. The cutting power of this sword is almost incomprehensible.
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Post by johnwalter on Feb 29, 2012 13:40:59 GMT
I totally agree I recommended that sword to everyone for their first cheap beater.Nothing could touch it anywhere near its price.Bar none!I wish they would bring them back.
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Post by Toast on Feb 29, 2012 13:48:13 GMT
I did manage to score of of those 1065 Munetoshi Beater swords. What a bargain! I refinished that saya right after I got it by filling those kanji symbols, doing a partial rattan wrap, and then a textured lacquer. I loved the fittings and blade on that sword! Great buy for the money.
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