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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 5, 2012 1:53:40 GMT
I have now decided that the TSUBA will be Solid Brass. I have also decided that I like the one listed here - sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-gui ... nents.html under the title of - P9The reason i like it is due to it not being too centered around things that are not part of my life, (flowers, dragons etc)... It has a bird on the face of it, and that is something that I think fits the bird hunter in me. This then pointed me to the Fuchi/Kashira listed as C12 as it kinda goes with it. comments? Remember i seek your views
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 5, 2012 1:59:15 GMT
as for the "Folded steel" matter?....
I just dont know.
I still have not hear enough to decide if I want folded steel or not?
Im concerned the folding effect, while nice, might cover over the real hamon...... I think i want the blade to be folded, it sure is not much extra money for it...and it may set my sword apart from all the others in the Kumdo/ Kendo gyms I belong to.
Is the folded steel blade have a look to it that marks it out as being different when people look at it? any suggestions?
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 5, 2012 11:15:59 GMT
From more reading on topics here on your sword forum , I have learned from one post that "folded" steel in a sword will not hide the hamon......
Is this correct?
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Post by wolf_shade on Mar 5, 2012 15:25:40 GMT
I remember seeing a picture of a folded steel blade with a visible hamon in the custom gallery, but I don't remember where. Whether the steel "hides" the hamon is going to have more to do with the way it is polished than the fact it is folded (someone jump in here and thump me if I'm wrong). It's possible to "polish out" (as in make it non-visible or very very faint, not remove it) a real hamon, I think by making the blade too mirror finished. Similarly it would be possible to "polish out" the hada (think that's the right term) so that it is very very faint. If the hamon is close enough to the pattern of the hada it's possible that the hada will flow into the hamon and the hamon will not be as pronounced. All that said, since you're asking opinions, I love a folded blade, and would get the folded option myself if I were to order one for me. However, since you specifically said that you loved hamon, I would advise you go with non-folded. The hamon will not be hidden by the hada, but it will not be the only (getting real technical here) "wavy thing" on the blade to catch the eye, which means the hada might be a distraction from the hamon.
Not sure if you got your bo-hi no-hi worked out or not. For a long time I thought that bo-hi was just how a katana was made, to the point that I assumed that all of the swords I have (mostly wall hangers) had Bo-hi. They sit in the sheath's (not going to call them sayas) most of the time, so when I drew a couple recently I was shocked to discover they were no-hi. I thought that I preferred bo-hi and did not like no-hi at all. But I've since discovered that so long as there is a clear distinction between the spine edge angle (?) and the blade edge angle so that there is a distinct ridge between them, a lack of hi is not a problem. Which looks cooler? To me, still bo-hi. For your first sword I'd say get bo-hi to train yourself. You say it's going to be your only sword, and if you can stick to that more power to you, but you are posting on what is basically a collectors forum, so good luck with that.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 6, 2012 2:18:21 GMT
Well, I mean I say that now on the chance my wife is reading my posts.
but between you and me........... :mrgreen:
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 6, 2012 2:20:52 GMT
I have now decided.....
Im getting the folded blade!
Thats about all i needed to decide....and now.....to await my tax return...and then I will be ever so busy asking you guys how to place my first order...
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Post by lamebmx on Mar 6, 2012 11:07:09 GMT
First off, ask your questions now. They sell out pretty fast.
Tax return you say, snag up an $80 musashi with bo-hi. The louder sound will help you get your edge alignment down with dry swinging. Lots of time working on grip and form. When its there and consistent you can ditch it and focus dry swinging the the no bo-hi SBG for its tachikaze. Plus with the cheapie sword, your first mistakes wont be made with the SBG. Mine include quite a few ceiling scrapes, some of which have scratched the tip of my sword. A couple dropped swords. Bo-hi does bring out the folding in the blade a bit more though.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 6, 2012 11:14:01 GMT
Thanks for the advice....
This is all very good to learn now as i contemplate this. I know for many people on this forum that own many blades that my worrying about this or that might look silly. But this is a very big deal to me right now...I want to be able to look at this sword for the rest of my life and not have regrets over not knowing what I should have asked about before hand.
Oh and does anyone know where to pick out the Saya ?...I found a page listed that shows many colors, but they dont seem to list the ordering numbers there for each color....
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Post by lamebmx on Mar 6, 2012 11:17:44 GMT
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 6, 2012 11:35:53 GMT
Thanks!...I see the spot now where the different colors are listed by ID number.
I believe that I want a blue color saya, but I would like it to be a type that does not show finger prints....
Does S8 saya fit my needs?
What is "egg shell"? on a saya?
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Post by lamebmx on Mar 6, 2012 13:20:38 GMT
S8 would be nice with the blue sparklies. The only one that wont show fingerprints would be S11, black textured. They are really easy to clean though and I think the appearance benefits if you want a glossy saya definately outweigh cleaning. Since we are talking budget stuff here, egg shell most likely means a crackly style paint job. outside of budget range, they do use egg shell inlays in lacquer design.
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Post by wolf_shade on Mar 6, 2012 16:07:15 GMT
Ordering occurs in batches once every 3 months or so. If you go here and scroll down to the section labeled "SBG $330 Entry Level Custom Katana! (2.0)" (5th image down) there is an area where you can put your e-mail address and name. This will sign you up for the e-mail list that lets you know when ordering is going to be opened. You can also use the blog, although I don't know how often it will update. Once ordering is opened the process is simple. On the page with all the options is a form (just below the pictures of the basic options and above the pictures of the advanced options) that you fill out via the pulldowns and hit the "order" button. I believe that Paul Southern tracks orders by the e-mail they come in under, and you can make modifications or specifications to your order by e-mailing him the additional details. He'll let you know whether they are feasible and any additional cost involved. After your order is placed regular e-mails are sent to participants letting them know where in the process the batch is. Orders closed so that no more orders are accepted. THis is the time where all details are worked out and finalized. Order sent to the forge, meaning that no more modifications can be made and the forge is in the process of making the blades. I'm assuming there will be another order shipped from forge which means they are on their way to Paul's agent in Canada who does final quality checking and ships the swords to their individual destinations. I think you will also get an order shipped message when your blade is en route that includes a tracking number, but I haven't gotten that far in the process yet. Overall time frame, assuming no major issues or delays, is generally 3 months. Most of that is posted within the information pages linked to off the order page, and the blog and its past entries are a good place for info as well.
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Post by shadowless_sword on Mar 6, 2012 18:28:01 GMT
Hi there,
I am new here too.
If you think you are going to screw up a lot, if not most, of your cuts to begin with it might be a better idea, as another poster suggested, to pick up one of the $80 1060 Musashi katanas to use until you get your technique down better and then upgrade to a more expensive blade later. That way if you do damage due to bad cuts, it is not as big of a deal on a $80 vs a $300+ sword.
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Post by Krelian on Mar 6, 2012 19:33:08 GMT
Any gloss saya will be prone to show some fingerprints. The only way to really avoid it would be to go with a matte finished says like S11 or one of the "egg shell" ones in the optional upgrades (S+1 and S+5). It's hard to tell in the small picture but the egg shell one have a top coat of black (S+1) or maroon (S+5) that looks like it's cracking all over the surface exposing another color underneath (hard to tell from the pictures, maybe white). You can see it a little better in the middle picture on this page: www.sword-buyers-guide.com/Sword ... ry-11.html
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 6, 2012 22:57:28 GMT
I tried, and I tried... Im not sure who designed this website, but I have some serious issues with their efforts...
I try to leave my name and email and it just keeps coming back asking me for a 'field name" or something...
WTF is that?
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 7, 2012 1:38:20 GMT
I posted a question to Paul.....and from what I understand there are not swords to offer for sale right now....so this is all moot for a while.
But its good Im getting set in my mind what i want my sword to look like so that when the time comes I can get in my order with little trouble.
Im not sure where the option of getting "Folded" steel is found?... It did not seem to be listed with the rest of the stuff....
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Post by lamebmx on Mar 7, 2012 2:54:13 GMT
Its below the main sword, down where you found the additional saya options.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 7, 2012 20:14:47 GMT
From what I have been asking, and from what I have said I would like in a sword, is it your advice that I continue seeking to get the SBG $330 sword?
(anyone can respond)
The price seems right to me for the SBG sword. Im seeing the sword itself is offered for the $330 price, and I wish to have the folded blade and I think thats another $60 extra...so that gets me to around $400 and that was my budget for this anyway.....so what do you guys think?
Is the SBG sword that we are talking about the correct one for me? It will be my first sword...yes I have cheap truck-stop swords that I have owned in the past, but this will be my first sword.
Oh, and a little about me. I have been in a Kendo or Kumdo class for the past 10 years running. I have done lots of cutting with borrowed swords in the past as part of my time in the sword arts.
Im not a guy who just cuts on his own in the back yard on the willow tree. Im in a real sword arts class, and I plan to use my own sword in class under guidance of a trained teacher.
But I want my sword to not only cut, but it has to have a "Wow!" factor too.. Something that most of the lower-end swords lack.
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Post by lamebmx on Mar 7, 2012 21:03:34 GMT
Well wow factor is a bit subjective. Spray paint it neon pink and you will get a lot of wow's and people putting on their sunglasses lol. Sounds like you have a good handle on cutting, so the SBG would probably be a good buy for you. I only bring up the cheap musashi as its decent to practice for edge alignment, and cheap if it gets messed up on a bad cut. You are probably well beyond any benefit it would have to learning. Dont forget to discuss your plans with your sensei, should he not like sparkly blue in the dojo etc etc.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 7, 2012 22:05:24 GMT
I discuss this with everyone!...even my dog.....I discuss this with strangers on the bus....I talk about my sword questions with people standing in-line at Walmart...
But so far....the common answer is also the common answer given here.. Everyone keeps telling me to "Do what you think best"
I will try to...But I just want to know what you think too....
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