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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 14, 2012 2:52:45 GMT
It's a long story....
But I have learned that 10 years in Kendo and now Kumdo have left me yet completely uninformed about real swords.
I have forged blades myself for about 15 years, and it really yet left me unprepared for the task of finding a sword I can be proud of no matter the sword company Im with.
Im sure you sword guys think about this sort of stuff all the time. Perhaps starting now I will join you in that study.
All I knew going into this was my own ignorance about swords had combined with a desire to end up with a blade that was interesting....and thats quite a jump to make from a dead start.
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Post by chopper on Mar 14, 2012 2:57:19 GMT
I only started collecting a little over a year ago. I knew nothing. I learned a lot from this forum that has helped me make good decisions on what to buy. Brother, if you need to ask a question, go for it.
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Post by lamebmx on Mar 14, 2012 3:08:33 GMT
Screw the sword company you are with, forget pride and find what is satisfactory for YOU. People with this experience are not throwing these ideas and the same companies out there as recommendations to fool you. I mean even look at the main site. sub $300 swords, but the sword they put their name is over $300. I haven't been into swords that long, but everything i picked up on here has proven to be accurate. While your budget is under $1000's its going to be a give and take purchase. You did do good popping in here though.
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jhart06
Member
Slowly coming back from the depths...
Posts: 3,292
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Post by jhart06 on Mar 14, 2012 3:17:16 GMT
5160 I have heard is a bit tough to forge right, so maybe that's where you dislike comes in.
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jhart06
Member
Slowly coming back from the depths...
Posts: 3,292
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Post by jhart06 on Mar 14, 2012 6:31:20 GMT
Tried and failed to find the pics of the huawei 1095 custom somebody had them stone polish that ended up looking near spot on for a ninhonto,and couldn't.. But I think going with huawei you will be able to get the customization you want, and if pieces dont hande or you dont like them as you thought, you havent broke the bank. Then you can be more prepared for your next order of a higher end sword, or if you're sure or crazy enough, move up to a 'low end' custom maker for katanas.. And by low end i mean price, not quality [aka Rick B or similar, as I dont actually know kat smiths well.].
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Post by Erick R. on Mar 14, 2012 12:05:18 GMT
"I have forged blades myself for about 15 years, and it really yet left me unprepared for the task of finding a sword I can be proud of no matter the sword company Im with."
Seems to me you should be knowledgeable enough to make some of these decisions for yourself and/or "forge" your own blade. Asking for opinions is one thing but you have to utilize your ....."decade and a half..." of experience.....
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 14, 2012 12:51:54 GMT
The personal hate I have of 5160 is likely based on my years and years of beating that hot steel into a knife. The common use for the steel is springs on cars, (older) and on trucks. Thus it gets around, and is only used all the time in homemade knives because it's so easy to find wherever you live. But in the bladesmithing comunity the use of 5160 is seen as a beginner's steel. Yes many great knife makers still use it, but there are a lot who have left it and moved on to steels that are better at holding an edge....5160 gets as sharp as any steel i would guess, but the blade will not stay sharp with one use. So it's a very tempting steel to use to make swords with....and I would use it to make a beater sword with. But try to use it to forge a really good Katana?...no I would not use it for that . 5160 has a very hard time showing a hamon line...To get a hamon as far as I know you have to use lots of acid etching .....I have used acid etch to bring out a hamon and you end up with a lot of extra things also popping up that were hidden. After I make a knife I more or less sharpen it for life free of charge...and I have noticed that my 52100 blades dont get that dull, but the 5160 blades get dull faster. This is a common complaint of the steel seen on many blade chat rooms . A lot of the guys that use 5160 are not all that happy with it. Attachments:
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jhart06
Member
Slowly coming back from the depths...
Posts: 3,292
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Post by jhart06 on Mar 14, 2012 14:43:01 GMT
In his defense, forging knives is an utterly different game than forging swords.
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Post by Erick R. on Mar 14, 2012 18:00:16 GMT
Quite true, I guess I missed where he specified he forged knives. However, it does seem he's more interested in a sword that will impress his fellow practitioners based on the opinions of the sbg forum members, rather than a sword that will impress him. As others have stated, it's ultimately his decision. I suppose I did come across a bit rude.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 14, 2012 18:29:28 GMT
Well, it is a kinda dance we do....
One guy calls me on the carpet saying > "Alan why dont you listen better to the advice members of the forum are giving you?"
The next guys says to me, > "Alan why do you care so much what other people think?"
Now my Kumdo teacher has a sword forged by some type of national Living treasure or something. I'm sure that sword is worth.....well I'm not sure how much. Likely thousands and thousands. So I'm not going to impress him, nor should I hope to.
But I don't think there is any harm in noticing the very bland types of swords that mostly get used in a cutting class, and thinking that it would be cool to have a sword with a bit of an unexpected "Wow!" to it....
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Post by Erick R. on Mar 14, 2012 19:17:37 GMT
Kumdoalan, no there isn't anything wrong with that or with seeking the opinions or others at all. I simply mean to say that getting a sword based mostly on the opinions of others as far as aesthetics may leave you less satisfied that using those opinions to come to your own informed decision. By all means, ask your questions.... but don't leave every minute detail to be decided by anyone other that yourself. I wish you well in your search and hope you find that special sword.
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Post by chopper on Mar 14, 2012 20:28:39 GMT
I'm not sure if you are new to the forum or not but if not, read through the reviews and some of the older posts. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here. I have read through them and had some of my questions asked. And have made my own decisions based on them but I always get what's going to make me happy. Wether people like or don't like a sword that someone is asking about, they're always going to tell that person to get what's going to make them happy, no matter what. If Im beating a dead horse, so to speak, Im sorry. Keep us updated on what you get.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 14, 2012 20:49:08 GMT
I found a sword....will post photos in April
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Mar 14, 2012 21:31:54 GMT
I look forward to seeing what you decided on. Have fun with it.
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Post by Erick R. on Mar 14, 2012 23:42:33 GMT
Congratulations, I hope you're very pleased.
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Post by lamebmx on Mar 15, 2012 2:03:37 GMT
Sweet, its about dang time lol! And i am going to second that due to length, swords are a different ballpark to forge something long term usable. A knife you can accommodate a lot to get a great edge, the length of the material plays a much larger role in a sword. The T10 that I destroyed would be great to cut mats all day long, great against metal armor but if i had a hoard of zombie I would grab a sword with greater toughness at the expense of hardness. And yes, I am certain it would dull much quicker than T10 and even bend easier. It would however survive being bent back numerous times and take more force to actually break after all the bends.
Looking forward to some new sword porn myself!
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 15, 2012 2:17:14 GMT
I know nothing of T10, so being that my first sword is made with it, this should be interesting. www.ebay.com/itm/FUNCTIONAL-SOE- ... 9652527990 You know what the sickest thing is?...I'm actually still looking at all the swords that I have run into over the last two weeks for my "next" sword.....and I'm clearing room for a floor-to-ceiling sword stand... (Dont tell the wife)
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Mar 15, 2012 3:44:43 GMT
That is a great looking sword. Is it the exact configuration as in the photo? I like that tsuba a lot, and the color of the saya.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 15, 2012 4:03:23 GMT
I will post photos , Im told that it will be with about 2 weeks...or so....
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Post by lamebmx on Mar 15, 2012 9:46:10 GMT
Nice sword and good planning! I wish would have picked up a floor to ceiling stand at the beginning lol. Well get to know it a little bit, yours is on the left: Should you wonder where its limits are: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8915Enjoy the anxiousness and it gets worse and worse until one day you have a funny looking box!
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