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Post by 8GatesTaiji on Dec 27, 2012 15:29:33 GMT
Hey Everybody, I was wondering if anybody here knows about, or has had direct experience with, Enlightenment Sword out of NZ. I really like the looks of one of there swords (the Kun Wu), and they claim to have a superior handling sword that is customizable in length. Anything anybody can tell me this company would be much appreciated, as they are halfway around the globe from me, making customer service a problem.
The other question I have pertains to the choice of steels that they have. One option they have is a 1095 differently hardened steel, and I'm unsure about the toughness of a blade done that way. Does differential hardening make the core soft enough to give 1095 steel a reasonable amount of toughness and flex to make breakage and cracking not a problem? My preference is for T10 steel, but they don't offer it.
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Taran
Member
Posts: 2,621
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Post by Taran on Dec 27, 2012 15:54:35 GMT
1095 is a popular steel choice for some of th better quality blades in the $500 and under market. It's a good steel. DH is mostly for looks on something like that. It may allow the edges to be harder than a proper TH would allow as the softer core would keep the sword from being brittle all the way through. But the benefits are likely to be less than with a lower quality steel.
In short: a well done DH is not going to be a bad thing for 1095 steel. A poorly done DH will be bad (as it would on any steel, a bad tempering job is a bad tempering job). A well done DH is unlikely to significantly impact performance in any way. But it Does look pretty.
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Post by etiennehamel on Dec 27, 2012 20:36:53 GMT
i saw a nice dao on that site and even though there is few to none decoration i kind of like it so i asked about the price... waiting for the answer  also i asked if it was possible to have it TH rather than DH. |
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Post by 8GatesTaiji on Dec 28, 2012 9:45:20 GMT
Etiennehamel, how long ago did you ask? I've done the same thing and I'm also waiting for an answer. I actually prefer less decoration.
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Post by etiennehamel on Dec 28, 2012 16:36:03 GMT
i asked two days ago but since we are in holiday times i guess i'll probably have an answer in january (at least it's my prediction) Edit: by the way i thought i could share the ones i would like to have all are dao since my elder brother made a remark that all my swords exept one are all single edged so maybe it's the kind of sword i like the most (never realized until now :lol: ) anyways here are my choices if the prices are reasonable...i really like them  Zhan ma dao  Zhao dan dao  Chin quan dao  lui ye dan dao  |
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Post by 8GatesTaiji on Dec 28, 2012 21:57:22 GMT
Those are definitely some nice looking daos. I just wish somebody made a really good Yang style dao (the Hanwei one is just sort of OK IMO). What I'd love to find out I'd if the swords at Enlightenment Swords perform as good as they look on there website.
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Post by etiennehamel on Dec 28, 2012 23:02:23 GMT
nice looking indeed, the Chin quan dao is supposed to have a ''T'' blade geometry to add to the strenght of the blade while the lui ye dan dao has a diamond cross section. what i like about the other two is that they have forge scales on the blade and only the edge is polished so it mkaes for an authentic hand made feeling (doesn't have one yet but it's in my plans  ) well according to the test cutting section they test it as a quality control on three criteria: branches, soaked bamboo and paper slicing. the three test is supposed to test the blade's durability against impacts, the toughness of the edge and the blade's sharpness. here's the link: www.enlightenmentswords.com/forge/cutting.html i've pretty much covered what they talk about in the link but i thought i could share it anyways. |
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Post by 8GatesTaiji on Dec 29, 2012 0:56:34 GMT
I see what you mean about the forge scales, very nice looking. I rather like the T- blade geometry personally, the Hanwei Yang style dao has the same thing. It's very nice when you are using your hand or arm on the back of the blade. I know what they say about their swords on the website, and I want to believe that everything they say is correct. What I'm hoping for is hearing from somebody who owns a sword from them, and can verify it with their own experience. The sword I'm looking at is the Kun Wu with a slightly shorter blade and 1095 steel. To be honest I'm also looking at other swords, Arms & Armor has a jian I like (and they are in the city as I am), and I really want a blade from Jin Shi Swords, but I have no idea when they are going to have their Qing era swords ready for production. Attachments:
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Post by etiennehamel on Dec 29, 2012 15:57:40 GMT
just took a look at their website again and saw that their last update was in 2008 and i'm a little worried that they won't answer back... maybe they are out of business? i now were are in holidays so i'll let them a chance to answer back but i doubt they will ever answer me...
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Post by Vue on Dec 29, 2012 16:24:53 GMT
I don't think they're out of business, I purchased two of their dao's a few months back. Sifu Chen does travel around a bit to teach so you might have to wait a while for a reply.
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Post by 8GatesTaiji on Dec 29, 2012 16:32:32 GMT
Actually, I first contacted them through their Facebook page. Vue what daos did you get from them? How do you like them? Anything you can tell me about your experience with Enlightenment swords would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by etiennehamel on Dec 29, 2012 16:36:36 GMT
ah thanks i hope i will be lucky enough to have the reply soon! i'm kind of impatient when i see a beautiful sword i want :lol: but i'm pretty sure it will worth the wait. |
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Post by Vue on Dec 29, 2012 17:08:44 GMT
I got the Zhan Ma Dao and the Zhan Dan Dao. Overall communication was great, product is as described. Pros: Solid beefy blade, good heat treat. Cons: welded ring pommels, structurally sound but ugly as hell LOL. Oh and scabbard does not have a very good fit, usable but that's about it. I'm not too sure about their other more refined pieces but from the pictures they do look pretty decent. If you guys are planning to buy from Enlightenment sword then always check their trademe.co.nz listings first for a better deal www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listin ... ber=606572 |
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Post by 8GatesTaiji on Dec 29, 2012 17:19:02 GMT
Thanks for the info Vue. May I ask how much you paid for you swords? we're all the fittings nice tight? Any rattling?
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Post by Vue on Dec 29, 2012 17:44:41 GMT
I paid 350 NZ for the Zhan Dan Dao and 180 NZ for the Zhan Ma Dao 'old version as seen on their trademe listing', shipping was expensive for me since I'm from Australia and our PO has parcel size restrictions and so I had to use couriers which was around 170 AUS. I think NZ P.O might have the same size restrictions so please double check postage rates before you guys commit to buy FWIW.
Fittings is fairly tight on both swords, most of the important parts don't move at all. Scabbard has only a very little rattle, much less than most production Japanese swords saya's. FYI these dao's are not suitable for forms, these are pure cleavers and they're quite heavy; these blades will have no issue with hard targets....full stop.
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Post by 8GatesTaiji on Dec 29, 2012 18:03:43 GMT
170 AUS to ship from NZ to Australia! I'm a little afraid to find out what the shipping is from NZ to the US is.
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Post by Vue on Dec 29, 2012 18:26:20 GMT
Well to be fair it was with private couriers and not standard P.O services, I don't think it's anywhere near that bad from NZ to the US.
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Post by Jayhawk on Dec 29, 2012 18:51:49 GMT
I just sent a flute (less than 2 pounds weight in a box 8"x8"x8") and it was $38 USD from the US to NZ. I've been told return postage is usually $47 NZD. That's using the post office on both ends. Shipping to/from NZ is NEVER cheap unless you're willing to send it without any insurance. The rate for my same box, without insurance, was only $25 USD. The cost difference isn't only because of the insurance, but mainly because the USPS won't insure any post overseas unless it's sent at an upgraded rate (some form or express/priority).
Eric
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Post by etiennehamel on Dec 29, 2012 19:34:02 GMT
doesn't seem to be that expensive when i convert the price to canadian dollars. 38$ for the shipping isn't what i call expensive (and i'm pretty poor) but the custom is killing it, because it costs almost the same so 76$ just to get it now thats expensive ^^' at least the price in canadian dollars is making things a bit easier and makes the sword less expensive than a huanuo and the rough looking style is very appealing (tired of fancy stuff, need something rougher).
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Post by Jayhawk on Dec 29, 2012 20:58:54 GMT
Customs is expensive. However, you'll likely need to double the price for shipping as the weight for most swords in packaging is double my flute. Depending on the length, the price may go up for an unusual/over-sized package.
Eric
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also i asked if it was possible to have it TH rather than DH.
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