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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 2, 2012 21:58:06 GMT
Time to get my first sword! I found the look of a sword blade that I seek - sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... atana.html it's the photo of the Katana with the great looking hamon with the yellow handle , sitting in front of the Samurai book. But what is this blade called? "BG $330 Entry Level Custom Katana! (2.0)" ? Or is it called something else?
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 2, 2012 22:04:38 GMT
The reason i have this question ?...see below
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 2, 2012 22:05:31 GMT
The reason i have this question about names of SBG swords is because I saw this SBG video- that seems to show that the $330 SBG blade does not have as good of hamon as does the Official SBG Katana? Yet in the photo the hamon is just want I want and does not appear to fade in and out as suggested in the video? I want a great hamon, so what do i order?
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Post by ineffableone on Mar 2, 2012 23:18:11 GMT
That video was from 2009 and is a bit outdated now. Hamons varry from blade to blade, there is no one picture that will show what your hamon will look like unless you buy that exact sword. Hamons also are not the easiest to see in photos or videos, lighting sight angle etc can change how a hamon looks on film. Check out the custom katana gallery, and you will see many great examples of the custom with great hamons www.sword-buyers-guide.com/custom-katana.htmlThat sword you like is a SBG custom, which means it was made to order for someone. The components were picked from the list and then it was assembled and shipped to that person. If that is the sword you want, and you want a great hamon, contact Paul and tell him that is what you want, he will be able to help you and make sure your blade has the hamon you want.
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Post by ineffableone on Mar 2, 2012 23:20:38 GMT
While you cannot really see too much of the fittings in this picture, as the customer was really more enthralled by the beauty of this blades natural and unenhanced hamon, but for the record it had the B2 cord ito on a black same background, a P17 classically styled tsuba and C2 fittings.
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Post by ineffableone on Mar 2, 2012 23:23:50 GMT
BTW congrats on getting your first sword, the SBG line has a good reputation and you will be very happy with it.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 4, 2012 22:32:13 GMT
Ok guys, over the last 24 hours I have looked and looked at topics and forum posts and photos of swords.
I now have new questions based on what I have learned:
There seems to be a different older SBG forum that is no longer running?
In the other forum I saw a lot of great swords, and I have learned about the groove "Bo-Ho" and what I guess is the lack of a groove , No-hi.
From what i have read from you guys, the real notable difference in the groove is the weight and the sound. The trade-off is the warning that a groove might mean a bent sword if you screw up.
I want a light sword. I like the idea of a sound that is nice and loud..
However I tend to screw up everything, so at this point Im going to order my sword with no groove , "no-hi"
My question is, If you know for a fact that Im going to screw up a lot with my cuts, would the lack of a groove prove a smart idea? Or is the idea that a no-hi sword being stronger all hype?
Would it really matter to a normal guy like myself who will cut with his sword only once a month and will try to be careful, (I will NEVER cut in my backyard, or cut trees, or cut water bottles), but I do tend to goof up? Your suggestions/comments would be helpful.....
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 4, 2012 22:34:28 GMT
Is there something you could point me to that shows the current offerings, and would give me an idea what to expect?
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 4, 2012 22:54:10 GMT
My next question
I cant find the area on the SBG website where you are shown the different options for handles and stuff. In -fact, I have a lot of trouble finding anything on the SBG store website!
Can anyone post the link to the place where I can have a look at the different things I get to pick from?
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SeanF
Member
Posts: 1,293
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Post by SeanF on Mar 4, 2012 23:10:37 GMT
A no-hi is stronger than a bo-hi, but I don't think it is makes any difference unless you plan to be particularly abusive to your sword. If you are doing stuff that is going to make your bo-hi sword take a set than it probably also wasn't a good idea to do it with a no-hi sword. Yes, that is the old SBG forum. There is still a lot of great information there. sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-guide.com/330custom-katana.html#Just click on all the little thumbnails to blow them up so you can have a look.
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Post by THE_SUPERWEIRDO on Mar 4, 2012 23:25:19 GMT
First off, the $330 SBG Custom katana is made with a well forged T-10 Steel, very durable. So, it doesn't matter if you can get a Bo-hi or a No-hi, same materials same strength. But, if you really want someone to recommend you which blade type you need, I suggest a Bo-hi. It's good for beginners to practice a good edge alignment. A No-hi is just for more force-full cuts. Here's a thread I started when I got confused with the "Bo-hi or No-hi" Differences: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9451If you're using once month then, a T-10 steel blade will hold on for a long time. And don't worry, the SBG Custom katana have been tested in some destructive tests, and the results were surprisingly good. Read the review here: www.sword-buyers-guide.com/custo ... words.html But don't abuse a sword. It'll be such a waste of a good blade. For the SBG Custom Katana: sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... atana.html And here's the parts: sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... nents.html Just Beware: I'm a Novice. :mrgreen: But I learned alot of things when I joined here. Oh, and welcome to the forums.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 5, 2012 0:03:06 GMT
Thanks for the information and the link!
I have went over the posts on that link and I see new things.
From what i have learned, the groove is useful to a new sword person as the sound it makes can be used to judge the manner the sword is handled...
I like the sound idea...I want my sword to make a good sound....and so we now come to another important question concerning the Bo-hi, or no-hi issue > What looks cooler?
I know its up to the person, but I also think you guys with sword knowledge greater than mine have things things to share that i can gain from.
so what looks cooler?
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Post by Maynar on Mar 5, 2012 0:06:32 GMT
Cool is in the eye of the beholder, Kumdoalan. Let your taste be your guide. Some like hi, some like no-hi. Choose what YOU like best. I have examples of both, so I don't have to choose. And, Welcome!
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 5, 2012 0:10:07 GMT
Im only going to have the one sword....and I want it to look cool...not just to me, but for most people.
so from what you have seen in the way people react when they look at sword designs, would you say most people prefer the groove ?
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 5, 2012 0:17:49 GMT
New Question!
I see that for an extra $60 I can get a "folded" blade.
I think I want this addition too. Can anyone point me to someone who has this same "Folded" blade?
I also want to make sure that I have a nice looking Hamon.
Will the Hamon show up well on the folded blade?
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Post by THE_SUPERWEIRDO on Mar 5, 2012 0:41:02 GMT
The Bo-hi is the most common type of blade on the market, yet a No-hi is somewhere in the market. In peoples view, a No-hi screams out "Power" and a Bo-hi has a feeling of agility and speed and most people just like the Tachi-kaze Bo-hi swords make. That can simplify your choices, now you're on your own on choosing a blade right for you.
I'm no expert, but I think the additional $60 for folding adds some additional stength to the blade, but I think it does nothing but add a unique design to the blade... Again, I'm no expert. :?
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 5, 2012 0:43:01 GMT
TSUBA Question!
from your link I saw a lot of different TSUBA to pick from.
My question is about what they feel like and look like in real life.
first- Do the Solid Brass Tsuba have a "real-ness" about them when you feel them in your hand, and when you look at them, OR do that appear to be just cheap copies of a real Tsuba?
The next question... The Iron Tsuba, do they seem more "real"?..... I notice that they designs of the iron Tsuba are not very complicated, do they end up looking boring compared to the Brass?
Next question The Alloy Tsuba, are they able to last for years?, or are they of a metal that you just know will not take much of wear and tear?
as always, I request all your views on these issues...
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SeanF
Member
Posts: 1,293
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Post by SeanF on Mar 5, 2012 1:10:19 GMT
You can create a tachi-kaze with any sword, it is just easier and louder with a bo-hi. I prefer it without. I can hit it every time with a bo-hi sword and so it doesn't give me any useful feedback, a no-hi is much more demanding.
Folding is purely asthetic.
From my experience in looking at higher level katanas they typical don't have a bo-hi. Honestly I can go both ways, depends on the sword.
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Post by ineffableone on Mar 5, 2012 1:15:17 GMT
Brass tsubas, are real tsuba. Not sure where you get the idea a brass tsuba would not be real. Traditional tsuba have been made from many metals through history. Iron, copper, silver, brass, alloy, even leather has been used to make battle tsuba.
So yes brass tsuba are quite real feeling, since they are of real quality.
I think you need to realize "real" is not a good way to describe different tsuba, maybe you mean traditional? Most modern tsuba are copies of traditional tsuba you can find used on blades of all different eras.
Comparing Iron, brass, and alloy tsuba is comparing tsuba styles of different era. Iron tsuba tend to follow older era tsuba styles, brass a middle era, and alloy the most recent. Note more intricate tsuba styles tend to be from more peaceful times where swords were not actually used in combat. While simpler designs came from a more utility based era of combat. This of course is not always so, there are exceptions to this, but generally it is how it goes.
Will alloy tsubas last years? Sure, though they tend to be softer, so if you abuse them bang them about, they will get dents and scratches. Alloy tend to be cheap soft metals used for the softness and ability to carve into designs.
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Post by ineffableone on Mar 5, 2012 1:28:20 GMT
My preference is for iron, silver, or brass tsuba. I like solid metal tsuba instead of alloy. I think you would feel alloy felt cheap and "unreal". Most people who go for alloy tend to prefer decorative swords, over functional. Not that alloy is a bad choice if you like the tsuba, but from what you have said, I am guessing you would prefer an iron or brass.
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