My Buy Iaito reveiw (and first sword review!)
Jul 31, 2012 17:31:30 GMT
Post by Airman755 on Jul 31, 2012 17:31:30 GMT
First off this is my first sword review....please cut me some slack....
I have edit this review a couple of times and i just read all of the rules on posting and just saw the format i am supposed to use, so....my bad.
Introduction
in late june i decided to buy myself something awsome, and came with an awsome idea to get a custom shinken. i began to save money,i stumbled upon www.buyiaito.com and saw their custom line. but saving $600 and paying for summer school was a difficult task so i decided to shoot for something lower.....a custom iaito. since im going to be going abroad for school i can take an aluminum iai with me to most countries this made my choice...now I know that I should go to Tozando for that but i decided to give buyiaito a chance with their custom budget series, and i have yet to see a zhi/buy iaito aluminum iaito review. after ordering the iaito it took about four weeks to arrive at my house, week 1 processing payment, week 2-3 making the product, and week 4 shipping to the sight it would give me small updates. my friends nor fellow kendoka/iaidoka had no knowledge of buy iaito so!!!
Full Disclosure
I am am not bias on the work of sword companies, and i understand the phrase "you get what you pay for" since I dont have as much money to buy great and expensive swords, I know there are many people like me out there in school and dont have too much financial support, but try to do what they love i am willing to give some things a try, anyways i am just starting iaido so my opinion isnt much.
this is my shot in the dark...
order specifications
Budget Custom Made Katana IV - : - Blade Material: Stainless Steel (non-sharpened)
Blade Length (Nagasa): 2.35 shaku (71.2cm)
Bo-hi (Groove): Single Full Bohi
Hamon: Mock Sugu
Hand Polishing: 8 stages traditional hand polished
Hand Sharpening: No, I prefer non-sharpened (blunt)
Saya: Black matte with stone pattern
Sageo: Blue
Sageo Tying Style: Untied
Habaki: HABAKI 02
Seppa: Black Copper Seppa
Alloy Tsuba Series III: TSU028
Fuchi & Kashira: FK011
Tsuka Length: 8.5 Sun (25.8 cm)
Same'gawa (rayskin): Genuine White
Menuki: AMU006
Menuki Placement: Center
Mekugi: Bamboo Single
Ito: Synthetic silk blue
Tsuka Ito Style: Battle-ready Type
I quickly realized that my computer tripped out when i submitted and saved it as stainless, so i e-mailed them to change it to aluminum and they did!
now here is the problems, the blade is very flat and thick, as my friend had put it, it looks machined...if you know of a better term please say so...
as well the kissaki is kinda weird.
and my main issue with the iaito is that the blade does not completely fit well in the saya, when its put away it does not "rattle" but I have found that I have to slightly rotate my wrist to the left while sheathing to not have it stuck.
Conclusion
i dont have a negative view on this iaito because it kinda sticks on you eventually, the other iadoka didnt like it at first but eventually their faces smiled with every swing.
the iaito is SUPER light wich is a problem to some but to me is a fun toy that cant cut, and hardly stab unlike other iaito.
\
to me buy iaito did a fine job making me an iaito with the total price of $126($88+$38S&H)
and even after iaido and kendo i come home still swinging my iaito around the house and even had to Spackle my ceiling from the iai's cut :lol:
I personally feel a good connection with this iai being my first ever iai bought with my own money, the site has many options, and even some that tozando doesent have. like what type of seppa. (but tozando does have alot more choices within options)
Pros:
custom fittings with good options
fun to play with
good customer service if you e-mail them
light weight, good for iai noobs
low price
cons:
not as good of quality fittings/materials
light weight, not for pros
saya jamming issues
the bottom line:
the iaito is perfect for someone just starting iaido and and a "broke college student" so until they become an iai pro its a good starter, if they arent willing to pay $300+ from anywhere else.
I have edit this review a couple of times and i just read all of the rules on posting and just saw the format i am supposed to use, so....my bad.
Introduction
in late june i decided to buy myself something awsome, and came with an awsome idea to get a custom shinken. i began to save money,i stumbled upon www.buyiaito.com and saw their custom line. but saving $600 and paying for summer school was a difficult task so i decided to shoot for something lower.....a custom iaito. since im going to be going abroad for school i can take an aluminum iai with me to most countries this made my choice...now I know that I should go to Tozando for that but i decided to give buyiaito a chance with their custom budget series, and i have yet to see a zhi/buy iaito aluminum iaito review. after ordering the iaito it took about four weeks to arrive at my house, week 1 processing payment, week 2-3 making the product, and week 4 shipping to the sight it would give me small updates. my friends nor fellow kendoka/iaidoka had no knowledge of buy iaito so!!!
Full Disclosure
I am am not bias on the work of sword companies, and i understand the phrase "you get what you pay for" since I dont have as much money to buy great and expensive swords, I know there are many people like me out there in school and dont have too much financial support, but try to do what they love i am willing to give some things a try, anyways i am just starting iaido so my opinion isnt much.
this is my shot in the dark...
order specifications
Budget Custom Made Katana IV - : - Blade Material: Stainless Steel (non-sharpened)
Blade Length (Nagasa): 2.35 shaku (71.2cm)
Bo-hi (Groove): Single Full Bohi
Hamon: Mock Sugu
Hand Polishing: 8 stages traditional hand polished
Hand Sharpening: No, I prefer non-sharpened (blunt)
Saya: Black matte with stone pattern
Sageo: Blue
Sageo Tying Style: Untied
Habaki: HABAKI 02
Seppa: Black Copper Seppa
Alloy Tsuba Series III: TSU028
Fuchi & Kashira: FK011
Tsuka Length: 8.5 Sun (25.8 cm)
Same'gawa (rayskin): Genuine White
Menuki: AMU006
Menuki Placement: Center
Mekugi: Bamboo Single
Ito: Synthetic silk blue
Tsuka Ito Style: Battle-ready Type
I quickly realized that my computer tripped out when i submitted and saved it as stainless, so i e-mailed them to change it to aluminum and they did!
now here is the problems, the blade is very flat and thick, as my friend had put it, it looks machined...if you know of a better term please say so...
as well the kissaki is kinda weird.
and my main issue with the iaito is that the blade does not completely fit well in the saya, when its put away it does not "rattle" but I have found that I have to slightly rotate my wrist to the left while sheathing to not have it stuck.
Conclusion
i dont have a negative view on this iaito because it kinda sticks on you eventually, the other iadoka didnt like it at first but eventually their faces smiled with every swing.
the iaito is SUPER light wich is a problem to some but to me is a fun toy that cant cut, and hardly stab unlike other iaito.
\
to me buy iaito did a fine job making me an iaito with the total price of $126($88+$38S&H)
and even after iaido and kendo i come home still swinging my iaito around the house and even had to Spackle my ceiling from the iai's cut :lol:
I personally feel a good connection with this iai being my first ever iai bought with my own money, the site has many options, and even some that tozando doesent have. like what type of seppa. (but tozando does have alot more choices within options)
Pros:
custom fittings with good options
fun to play with
good customer service if you e-mail them
light weight, good for iai noobs
low price
cons:
not as good of quality fittings/materials
light weight, not for pros
saya jamming issues
the bottom line:
the iaito is perfect for someone just starting iaido and and a "broke college student" so until they become an iai pro its a good starter, if they arent willing to pay $300+ from anywhere else.