Noob needs advice ~ First Katana?
Oct 27, 2012 16:19:06 GMT
Post by OttoVonFaart on Oct 27, 2012 16:19:06 GMT
By way of introduction, I am a complete noob at the sword thing and katana specifically. I have been doing as much online research as possible without getting "interactive" until I joined the SBG Forum a few days ago. I more or less started this post by replying to a post titled Katana? by Kingrikoraru in the Chinese Swords part of the general forum... under the mistaken belief that "Chinese Swords" also included Japanese type swords manufactured in the PRC. Duh I told you I was a noob.
Kingrikoraru has been giving me what I believe to be sound advice. So I'd like to thank him for that. But if I may impose again.
In his reply posts to me, he said the following;
So, taking you advice, I went to True Swords web page and saw they sell the Musashi Bamboo Warrior for $79.99 and the swords are in stock and ship from their facility in Marietta, Georgia. So it's not like I'd have to wait weeks for something to be shipped from the PRC. The other thing, from my point of view, is that #1. you said that these are good swords, ie., they will cut stuff up. #2. They're sorta plain. and #3. The Musashi Bamboo Warrior is cheap enough that it falls within my discretionary cash in hand budget so I wouldn't even think about the money.
Here's the hype from the TrueSwords web site.
Musashi - 1060 Carbon Steel - Bamboo Warrior Sword - Black Saya [TS-FTMUSK37] Only $79.99 I'll be calling these guys tomorrow.
The ultimate bamboo handmade by Musashi!
Part of a new 1060 high carbon series from Musashi, the focus of this production was to forge the best blade possible for under $100. With the result being well within that goal, this blade is nothing short of an excellent value.
Handmade, the blade hamon is formed by the clay temper process during production. The blade is differentially hardened and comes extremely sharp! Like the more expensive models, this blade can even be bent 45 degrees and will return to the straight and true form. Art of bamboo, the tsuba, fuchi, both menuki, and kashira are all made up of bamboo artwork. This sword is well balanced and the tight handle wrap feels great. Comes complete with a black cotton storage bag and Musashi retail box.
Materials and Way of Forge:
Traditional hand forge Muku-kitae method.
1060 High Carbon Steel with clay temper process.
55 HRC blade hardness.
Hamon and hardness created with temper process.
Real hamon, not wire brushed or printed.
Real ray skin wrapped grip with black cotton cord wrap.
Extremely sharp hand honed edge.
Steel tsuba, fuchi, and kashira; Brass habaki.
Can be disassembled for care or display.
Dual bamboo mekugi (peg), hardwood handle.
Hardwood scabbard with high quality piano paint finish.
39 3/4 in. overall, 27 1/2 in. blade, 10 3/4 in. handle.
Includes black cotton sword storage/carry bag.
Anyone have one of these? Any first hand knowledge before I make a fool out of myself? I can always change out the tsuba & habaki, in fact that's something I'll do straight away. I'd like to change out the tsukamaki, maybe have Josh at Cottontail redo the tsuka. So what can you tell me about these Musashi swords? Do you think this is the way to go for a first Kat?
Since it's a decent blade but a plain Jane sword, I'm pretty sure I could make it more eye pleasing with not a lot of expense. I've found enough online resources (many of them here in the SBG Forum) that I feel confident that I could replace the tsuba & habaki (and perhaps other fittings) without much trouble or without much expense. That leaves the tsukamaki, which is something I'd like to try but... I'd probably screw it up. Maybe but a cheap replacement tsuka and practice a lot.
I've been exchanging PMs & FB Msg with Josh at Cottontail Customs and I know he's doing his best to get me to buy one of his special deal Musashi swords. Thing is, he doesn't keep anything in stock and would get one from TrueSwords, fix it up and then send it to me (and make about $95 in the process. I'm beginning to think I'd rather have him work on something really worthwhile (second sword) while I can play around with a beater.
So I guess what I'd like to hear from you is if you think that the Musashi Bamboo Warrior would make a good first sword for me.
Here's an example of the sort of tsuba & habaki I've been thinking of using.
This tsuba is $28 brass & copper
Habaki $5.99 Brass base(75% copper,with stone grain surface)
I'm thinking a little elbow grease on the habaki and I should be able to change out both the tsuba & habaki about as easily as I can change socks. Or... am I completely FOS ? I'd probably want to swap out the kuchi & kashira but then I'd have to do the tsukamaki for sure.
You guys have a lot more knowledge & experience. I'd appreciate the benefit of your advice in reply to my post.
Otto
Kingrikoraru has been giving me what I believe to be sound advice. So I'd like to thank him for that. But if I may impose again.
In his reply posts to me, he said the following;
I believe True Swords got better price on musashi, which is a good beat on its own right. They only thing is that they'll most likely not be very eye pleasing.
These blades are one of the best budget katana that came out recently. Real hamon, differentially hardened. It's one of the best you can get with a tight budget.
So, taking you advice, I went to True Swords web page and saw they sell the Musashi Bamboo Warrior for $79.99 and the swords are in stock and ship from their facility in Marietta, Georgia. So it's not like I'd have to wait weeks for something to be shipped from the PRC. The other thing, from my point of view, is that #1. you said that these are good swords, ie., they will cut stuff up. #2. They're sorta plain. and #3. The Musashi Bamboo Warrior is cheap enough that it falls within my discretionary cash in hand budget so I wouldn't even think about the money.
Here's the hype from the TrueSwords web site.
Musashi - 1060 Carbon Steel - Bamboo Warrior Sword - Black Saya [TS-FTMUSK37] Only $79.99 I'll be calling these guys tomorrow.
The ultimate bamboo handmade by Musashi!
Part of a new 1060 high carbon series from Musashi, the focus of this production was to forge the best blade possible for under $100. With the result being well within that goal, this blade is nothing short of an excellent value.
Handmade, the blade hamon is formed by the clay temper process during production. The blade is differentially hardened and comes extremely sharp! Like the more expensive models, this blade can even be bent 45 degrees and will return to the straight and true form. Art of bamboo, the tsuba, fuchi, both menuki, and kashira are all made up of bamboo artwork. This sword is well balanced and the tight handle wrap feels great. Comes complete with a black cotton storage bag and Musashi retail box.
Materials and Way of Forge:
Traditional hand forge Muku-kitae method.
1060 High Carbon Steel with clay temper process.
55 HRC blade hardness.
Hamon and hardness created with temper process.
Real hamon, not wire brushed or printed.
Real ray skin wrapped grip with black cotton cord wrap.
Extremely sharp hand honed edge.
Steel tsuba, fuchi, and kashira; Brass habaki.
Can be disassembled for care or display.
Dual bamboo mekugi (peg), hardwood handle.
Hardwood scabbard with high quality piano paint finish.
39 3/4 in. overall, 27 1/2 in. blade, 10 3/4 in. handle.
Includes black cotton sword storage/carry bag.
Anyone have one of these? Any first hand knowledge before I make a fool out of myself? I can always change out the tsuba & habaki, in fact that's something I'll do straight away. I'd like to change out the tsukamaki, maybe have Josh at Cottontail redo the tsuka. So what can you tell me about these Musashi swords? Do you think this is the way to go for a first Kat?
Since it's a decent blade but a plain Jane sword, I'm pretty sure I could make it more eye pleasing with not a lot of expense. I've found enough online resources (many of them here in the SBG Forum) that I feel confident that I could replace the tsuba & habaki (and perhaps other fittings) without much trouble or without much expense. That leaves the tsukamaki, which is something I'd like to try but... I'd probably screw it up. Maybe but a cheap replacement tsuka and practice a lot.
I've been exchanging PMs & FB Msg with Josh at Cottontail Customs and I know he's doing his best to get me to buy one of his special deal Musashi swords. Thing is, he doesn't keep anything in stock and would get one from TrueSwords, fix it up and then send it to me (and make about $95 in the process. I'm beginning to think I'd rather have him work on something really worthwhile (second sword) while I can play around with a beater.
So I guess what I'd like to hear from you is if you think that the Musashi Bamboo Warrior would make a good first sword for me.
Here's an example of the sort of tsuba & habaki I've been thinking of using.
This tsuba is $28 brass & copper
Habaki $5.99 Brass base(75% copper,with stone grain surface)
I'm thinking a little elbow grease on the habaki and I should be able to change out both the tsuba & habaki about as easily as I can change socks. Or... am I completely FOS ? I'd probably want to swap out the kuchi & kashira but then I'd have to do the tsukamaki for sure.
You guys have a lot more knowledge & experience. I'd appreciate the benefit of your advice in reply to my post.
Otto