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Post by hussar on Mar 22, 2013 12:51:49 GMT
hello I'm thinking of getting a jkoo custom katana and would like some advice on weather to go through with it or get a competitors custom or something off the shelf like a Chessness or hanwei here is a list of my requirements:
less than $500 (neg. on this one I can pay more but would REALLY prefer not to)
easily available in australia
29" from tsuba unfolded DH blade With bohi (I only like folded DH blades with ridiculous amounts of folds i.e a nihonto and that's way too expensive)
durable enough to accidentally hit steel and survive (I would never do it on purpose but if I mistakenly hit a screw a couple of times in my cutting stand it would be nice to know the blade wont snap)
11"+ tsuka with tight ito-maki (any smaller and my hands don't fit prefer this size but larger is fine, silk or synth-silk preferred)
real ray skin
able to preform competition level tameshigiri (I wish to learn iado or shinkendo and would like to be able to use this sword for my whole life if possible however I'll probably buy a better one latter but still in case I can't get a better blade it should handle med to heavy targets)
able to survive frequent back yard use on water bottles and such (I've seen blades that can cut tatami but just hit bottles like a baseball bat can't remember the make though)
attractive. the main reason I'm leaning towards jkoo(this is purely subjective I'll probably display this on top of my piano so it shouldn't be ugly or gaudy)
and a matching iaito (the cost of the iaito dose not factor in to the cost of the sword)
also should I go for 1095 or t10 if I go jkoo
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Post by WAAAA_CHAAAA on Mar 22, 2013 13:01:56 GMT
Firstly, always learn from a qualified instructor before attempting any dangerous cutting.
Secondly, I think you really want 3 swords: A nice sword for competition and admiration, a through hardened beater sword that will take most abuse you put it through and a steel iaito.
For a through hardened beater sword the price from sinosword would be fairly cheap, under $250 easily. The wrap and handle length would be done to your request.
For a DH blade you're looking at about the same price range. T10 is cheaper and when competently heat treated is strong. 1095 is good as well, it's really a matter of preference and price.
As for the iaito there are many options available.
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Post by hussar on Mar 22, 2013 13:28:23 GMT
I do want 3 swords but can't afford 3 right now and may never be able to so I want one that can do good all round and am willing to comprise also I am trained in European swordsmanship to the point where the people I was training with would let me cut and currently use a machete on a daily basis though I'll never do a Iai cut with a live blade until I'm a 4thdan though I personaly think for most cutting training isn't needed if you have common sense
EDIT: part of the Can't afford 3 is cost of oil and paper to clean them with as I'm already straining my maintenance buget
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Post by WAAAA_CHAAAA on Mar 22, 2013 15:46:34 GMT
Ok, well in that case I would really suggest you get a through hardened blade. I can't honestly attest to the quality of sinoswords blades (currently having one made now), but from what I've seen and heard could be a really good option for you.
Oil and paper costs are very small, any gun oil or even 3in1 oil will do the job for a sword like that. Quality tissues are fine for cleaning as well, in my experience.
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Post by uchiha998 on Mar 22, 2013 18:01:52 GMT
It sounds like your taste are very much like mine. Also I firmly believe you can find a sword that both looks great and can not only handle cutting heavy and/or hard targets but also excel at it. I don't know much about having custom katana made or what companies do the best job for a given amount of dollars. So I can give you a few suggestions regarding ready made katana. I should let you know I am fairly new to the katana market and to cutting. However I've been training with bokken for 17 years now and doing katas with live blades for many years. I just got into cutting and learning about japanese-style swords themselves for about a year now. So I am no expert, but I've learned a lot in the past year and I've been cutting frequently(almost every other day) with friends who own many different swords. So I've tried out a lot of different katana lately. is one of the most popular companies right now & they no doubt put out some of the best swords on the market. They may be the sharpest production katana available also. They have: -1095 DH budget beater which is listed at $265. It has a very beautiful hamon. It can take on hard targets and take accidental punishment as they show in one of the videos. This sword can take punishment just like many of the TH blades can. -RK-2. This is a TH blade but it is made to have a very nice look to it and not simply be a tough, overbuilt chopper the way most other TH blades are like the Cold Steel Warrior or Cheness Tenchi are. -Budo Katana. This is argueably best blade. It is DH and absolutely beautiful IMO. It probably is the sharpest production katana on the market now. Its listed at $668 which is a little more than you wanted to spend but it would be money well spent. Ronin Katana is another very popular company right now making great swords. However they don't have anything in the $500 range. The closest thing would be the Ronin Dojo Pro series which are listed for $275. These are TH blades but Ronin goes above & beyond with their fittings at this price range. The Dojo Pros all have Iron Tsuba, Fuchi, and Kashira. They also have buffalo horn Kurikata, Kojiri, and Koiguchi. They also have Ronin Elite models which are DH and laminated blades but they run about $825 www.roninkatana.com/My last suggestion would be the Bamboo Mat Katana from Hanwei. It has gotten good reviews from the people who own it. I have personally used my friends Bamboo Mat Katana many many times and I can tell you it is well above the Practical/Performance Blades Hanwei makes(which are not bad don't get me wrong). The Bamboo Mat Katana has a nice Choji Hamon that looks really cool. Hanwei makes other blades around your price range but I've used more Hanwei katana than anything else. My main cutting blade right now is a Practical Plus Katana and its nothing special IMO. I should also say from what I have heard from people who have owned this Katana and a Budo most if not all will tell you the Budo is the better cutter by a good margin. The Bamboo Mat Katana is about $600, so its only slightly cheaper than the Budo as well. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=SH2438&name=Hanwei+Bamboo+Mat+KatanaThere are other Katana around your $500 mark but these are some of the most notable. Also I should point out that I've noticed that when your dealing with Katana from about $250-$600, the price can be very misleading. Just because a sword is $500 doesn't mean it will be better than a $300 sword from a different company. I would buy a Ronin Dojo Pro over any other TH blade, except an RK-2. The Ronin is $275 but even if the Cold Steel Imperial($479) was dropped down to $275, I still would take the Ronin Dojo Pro. So don't be fooled into thinking that the higher the price the better the sword. Especially when dealing with this price range. Also as for your question about 1095 or T10 steel. Everyone seems to have their opinions though we will all agree that the smith that forges the blade and the temper job on the steel is more important than the type of steel itself. I personally don't like T10 blades they feel cheap to me. 1095 takes on a really nice hamon when DH. This is just my opinion and I'm sure their are plenty of people who really like T10 blades.
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Post by hussar on Mar 22, 2013 23:19:32 GMT
I have a problem with all those swords no bo-hi they are good swords but a hi is kinda immportant
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Post by uchiha998 on Mar 23, 2013 14:43:19 GMT
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Post by hussar on Mar 23, 2013 22:48:08 GMT
bo-hi is a must as it can help with my form if I never get an iaito I'm approaching this as if this is the last sword I'll ever get so I want this sword to do every thing I could reasonably ask of it I'm not expecting total perfection but total capability and a bo-hi is needed for that if this was for nothing but mat cutting I would go for one with no-hi
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Post by uchiha998 on Mar 25, 2013 16:50:37 GMT
Yes I suppose a bo-hi would help with Iaido. You are right. well I tried to put some bo-hi swords up there for you. However, being that your needs are very specific a custom probably is the way to go. Some of the other members can probably recommend a good place to have custom katana made. I don't know much about who does the best job making the blade and if its a good idea to have the whole sword done at once from one company or if it would be better for you to have one company forge you a blade then send the bare blade to a place that does custom koshirae. I'm sure there are plenty of forum members who have had multiple custom katana made.
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Post by Elheru Aran on Mar 25, 2013 21:28:32 GMT
Bohi/no-hi is often something to ask your sensei about... they might prefer you do it one way over another, and in the dojo they're the boss. If you don't have a sensei but are interested in some form of iaido/kenjutsu, do the research and see what's recommended for that form. Just a bit of common-sense thinking...
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Post by Bluntsword on Mar 25, 2013 23:24:54 GMT
Hi Hussar,
Little advice don't buy any swords from an Australian dealer (very expensive compared to overseas) and normally a katana shipping to oz is $90.00. Even with shipping it's still a lot cheaper.
Regarding learning JSA Elheru is correct all dojo's have their own rules and what's exceptable or not. Just remember in a dojo all iaito and shinken must be double pegged.
I study JSA so honestly you don't need a sword with bo-hi to hear how good your edge alignment is. A bo-hi is only for looks and to lighten the sword (in my opinion). Swords with out bo-hi makes the sound as well. In JSA you will learn that if your holding the sword correctly your edge alignment will automatically be correct. Two conditions must be met to be able to hear tachi kaze = edge alignment & tip speed.
But I do admit some swords the bo-hi does look cool.
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Post by hussar on Mar 30, 2013 11:13:01 GMT
Unfortunately I live in a very windy valley and on a windy day I need a bo-hi for the tachikaze to be loud enough for me to hear and I know it's more expensive to buy from australian dealers but some times customs takes your sword for no reason (only happend to me once almost never happens any more last I heard of it happening was 3 years ago) so buying in Australia has it's advantages
BTW I've made a decision and am going with a G-series from global gear I almost always hear good things about them (when bought from their web site not from eBay which from what I hear is where they dump seconds) they are in Australia and I've handled the one I'm eyeing off before
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