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Post by Metallus on Oct 5, 2012 17:00:43 GMT
Ok, i had decided to order www.coltello.biz/paul-chen-rapto ... 17897.html (because the choice was quite limited) but then got to know that i could have requested another article, even if it wasn't in stock. There were still problems with importing double-edged blades, but there was none for any other piece, and so i asked how much the Katana - "Tenchi" - 9260 www.chenessinc.com/9260.htm would have costed. Now we are at a crossroad: what is more convenient? Paul chen raptor nanbokucho: 407.50 € Katana Tenchi 9260: 440 € Now, Cheness cutlery sells it for 280$ (215 €) + 30$ (23€) shipping + 8.50 € delivery, for a total of 246.50 €. I somehow feel tricked; i mean, i got to pay 200 € more just because i can't directly order it from the official website? Sounds a BIT overpriced to me, but it might just be that i'm new to this "business" and that it's "normal" for retailers to almost double the price... or not? So, which of the two would you pick? Which is the more convenient affair? I checked the raptor nanbokucho price on hanwei site and it's marked 400 $ (307 €). Moreover, i'm assuming that the Katana Tenchi is actually better (more resilient, resistant to brutal uses) from a practical point of view; have i made the right assumption or the raptor is in another league? At a first glance, the raptor seems more convenient, but i'm still an amateur and don't know semprini Thank you for the attention
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Oct 5, 2012 17:11:22 GMT
That price for the Raptor was a bit high... those went for around $300 here before they were discontinued.
I would say that since both were around the same price range, it would have been a coin-toss or depending on what blade size you prefer. My experience with a Cheness wasn't all that great, as their fit and finish was rather lacking. I haven't had any experience with Hanwei, but several threads over the summer have popped up with people having issues with their raptors, and many reviews/inputs complain about the handles on the Raptors as well.
If it were me, I would have gone with the choice you went with, because the koshirae fittings look way better, and Raptors don't come with the ugly fake hamon that Cheness TH blades come with.
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Post by Metallus on Oct 5, 2012 17:37:06 GMT
I must say that i look more for functionality rather than appearance; i mean, if we could measure appearance and functionality, from the impressions i received and from the reviews i read, it would go this way:
Tenchi 9260 Functionality: 100 Appearance: 90
Raptor Functionality: 90 Appearance: 100
This is why i wanted the Tenchi rather than the raptor.
HOWEVER, if i got it all wrong AND the tenchi just isn't convenient, i'll go for the raptor. Do you think you could be able to give a rating to functionality/appearance parameters, so that i get the (correct) idea?
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Post by Dr. Whom on Oct 5, 2012 17:37:36 GMT
I prefer the Raptor (at least the Shobu as that is the only one I have and currrently own). 5160 spring steel and the geometry is dialed in very good on this blade.
The Tenchi has cheaper fittings and cheap cotton ito (Raptor has faux suede) and did not handle as good as the Raptor. I sold my Tenchi almost as soon as I gotten it.
They are both Spring steel so they both should hold up very well although like mentioned already, the Shobu Raptor has a great edge on it.
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Post by Dr. Whom on Oct 5, 2012 17:38:42 GMT
I actually think the Shobu Raptor is superior in functionality and appearance compared to the Tenchi.
The Raptor is discontinued so you are getting something that might not be around much longer. The Tenchi will still be avialable
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Oct 5, 2012 18:18:09 GMT
My only experience with 5160 is with Kris Cutlery Katanas. Mine has been dropped, hit a metal dowel (my former mat holder/peg thing) several times, and even helicoptered into the stucco/cement side of my house and fell to the cement walkway along the side (I lost my grip), and it's still alive straight and cuts, albeit not as pretty.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Oct 5, 2012 18:45:18 GMT
both are spring steel, if you are looking for ultimate toughness then go for the 9260, I have put a Kaze through hell and back and the blade is still pretty.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Oct 5, 2012 20:45:49 GMT
Even though I have never owned a Cheness, as I don't personally like them much, I would say go with Paul Chen (Paul Chen of Hanwei ). I've briefly owned one different type of Raptor series, and it was fairly good sword for the price. European vendors are always much more expensive than US vendors, as they have already paid the VAT, and the product is already shipped to their location. Don't know the exact VAT % there in Italy but we have 23% here in Finland. So prices with VAT (and those prices that you stated) would be c. 300€ for Tenchi and c. 375€ for Raptor, however note that you can get Nambokucho Raptor way under the MSRP, so it'll more likely be the same c.300€. And from the things that I hear about Italian sword laws I can easily understand why vendors take some "extra" profit too. That country seems to be bit nightmarish for production sword fans... But eventhough here in Finland we have easier laws, we have much smaller market. Therefore vendors can ask very inflated prices. I just recently saved c. 300€ when I ordered an item from the US, instead of buying it from Finland, that's how bad it's in here too. But I fully understand their need for big profit per item, as very few people in Finland buy swords, and they need to stay in business. Hopefully you will get a good sharp sword without any hassle by legal authorities. You'll probably get a fairly good sword regardless of which manufacturer you decide to choose.
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Post by Metallus on Oct 6, 2012 6:53:48 GMT
Ok, i'll tell you why i'm struggling I have read SBG guide on the 9260 tenchi katana and i when i saw "TOUGHEST MONSTER BEATER" above the Tenchi, i somehow felt "semprini, that's what i was looking for". HOWEVER, if the raptor is just almost the same in durability, while being WAY more good looking than the tenchi, then i'll go for it. Once again, if the Tenchi is way more durable than the raptor, i'd be tempted to go for it. The main purpose is that i want my katana not to get screwed when i hit heavy targets (blocks of wood etc). I saw the video about the Tenchi hitting an iron pole and not getting even scratched, and so i immediately fell in love with it. If the raptor can withhold the same abuse, then i'll go for the raptor. Also, from how you describe it, is the Tenchi really so much horrible/unattractive?
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Post by Vue on Oct 6, 2012 7:16:04 GMT
Matallus - The review for the 9260 is a few years old so the demonstration is only relevant then, nowadays there are many production swords that surpasses the Tenchi or any Cheness in the same price range. The Raptor is the same in terms of/ toughness/ durability, as for everything else the Raptor wins hands down.
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Oct 6, 2012 7:29:13 GMT
Yeah, what Vue said. Keep in mind the non-forum SBG and SMG sites are kinda out of date. I didn't realize how out of date until after I bought a Cheness. The SMG site still hints that Kris Cutlery is bad... :lol:
The newer more current ultra mega beater is Ronin Katana.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 9:56:09 GMT
The tenchi just looks very 'ordinary', with cheap alloy fittings like on any other budget Chinese katana, and the cotton ito wrap is very cheap looking, like fuzzy shoe lace material, but real tightly wrapped. The tsuba (guard) is a very plain brass double-ring Musashi style, the whole thing looks very 'plain' that would be the best way I'd put it, and the fittings look fairly cheap - still, I like mine for the blade!
As Vue has said, you can get much better value swords these days for the same money, the other manufacturers have lifted their game since the days of the Tenchi review. From the reviews recently I think the general opinion is that the Ronin Dojo Pro katanas give you much better value for the same money.
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Post by Vue on Oct 6, 2012 10:16:03 GMT
Good advice fellows and don't forget Dynasty forge Musha series, here's what they can do. If you know what you're doing with Konrad - and if you don't, it won't matter much as our own Aaron show's -
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Post by Metallus on Oct 6, 2012 12:57:22 GMT
Ok so, it looks like Ronin Katana is the way to go, at the moment. I suppose i can ask the manifacturer if he can get this katana in stock (most probably for the same price of the Tenchi, meaning 440 €): roninkatana.com/dojopro2.html Are there any better (meaning tougher, more resistant to "abuse") katanas on the same price range? Or should i still stick to the Raptor katana (and its 76 cm blade) ? Thank you again for the answers, you are being very helpful.
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Post by Vue on Oct 6, 2012 13:33:18 GMT
I didn't realize it'll be that much for you, just a few more Euro's I rather get either of these from Dave Lorrez and he's based in the Eurozone as well. The two model Dave has left is superior to the Tenchi, Ronin or Raptor's IMO. www.samurai-sword-shop.com/swords.htm
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Post by Metallus on Oct 6, 2012 14:05:16 GMT
As stated before, i can't purchase such weapons from outside Italy. I can purchase weapons only WITHIN Italy (Otherwise i'd have gotten many other badass articles). No, even if it comes from neighbour countries, they still won't pass the frontier. How annoying, ye :/
If i asked the manifacturer i've recently contacted to order that weapon, it'd probably cost me 600 or more euros, which is totally out of budget. I mean, a katana that is worth approx 290 € (counted the VAT) will cost me 440€ :S
The question is: is there any other katana, in the price range of the Ronin, Raptor and tenchi ones (meaning 270 - 300$), that is tougher or more functional or simply better?
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Post by Vue on Oct 6, 2012 14:22:09 GMT
Sorry my bad, didn't read your post thoroughly enough. I'm not familiar with the Italian import laws so I can't be of much help there, I believe as other's have said one of our member 'Kittenslayer' has imported lot's of swords to Italy so it might be wise to ask him for a few tips. Back on topic, I think the only other tough budget sword that I could think of is Kris cutlery and yes they're very tough as well.
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Oct 6, 2012 14:26:13 GMT
I love the fittings on that guy's Black Wave Katana and Higo Katana. I remember wanting that Higo Katana for the double bo-hi, but the price and shipping to the USA was death for me.
Looks like the OP can get the Raptor there for less than the 400 Euros he or she quoted too.
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Post by Metallus on Oct 6, 2012 14:47:48 GMT
I've already sent a PM to Kittenslayer. Btw, i'm a "he" .
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Oct 6, 2012 15:20:09 GMT
Do businesses get some kind of discount or waiver from that crazy import tax swords from outside of Italy get? Or do those businesses have to pay that extra 200 or so Euros that you do, and just end up charging it onto the customer as well?
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