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Post by szabla on Jul 18, 2016 18:10:14 GMT
What I wrote is not about avoiding sharing oppinion. It is about the way how opinion is expressed. Argue but not assult oponent. Each person have right to personal opinion on matter however attacking person with assigning unethical motives for example without having solid prove is not wholesome way. I'm not pointing on anybody what I write it is observation what is manifesting here in this threat without compering and judging. Edit. My above post disappeared so I wrote other, now older one suddenly appeared. (It happened before several times I permanently lost what I wrote on my old iphone with 3G data, first time though post reappeared well. "What day is it?", asked Winnie the Pooh "It's today," squeaked Piglet "My favorite day," said Pooh A.A. Milne
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Post by nddave on Jul 18, 2016 18:18:12 GMT
What I wrote is not about not to have own opinion and publish it. I point out the way how opinion is expressed. Argue but not assult person, don't take personally things. In clear way express your oppinion however avoid things like assign other person unethical motives for example if u don't have solid prove. This r some suggestions for all of us ( me-szabla (polska wz1968 included)). I don't really see how anyone has been personally insulting anyone here unless you also consider @mntgunr posting trolling johnwalter for making assements and recommendations. Reason why I went on the defense is because I saw a member with solid proof and experience on the topic get assalted for sharing. Again we are a buyers guide here at SBG, if we see a sword of similar construction and material being sold for a higher price than a sword we have had experience with, it is almost an obligation to share that information to the buyer and community in whole so potential buyers don't get scammed. $200 for that Hanbon tanto let alone the standard non-custom asking price of $175 is quite high compared to similar offerings that can be had for considerably less. Or better options for a similar price. Again if posters don't want our take on the subject, dont ask. Buy the sword and be happy with it.
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Post by szabla on Jul 18, 2016 18:27:25 GMT
I'm not a center of universe so how I see things is not important at all. U see things your way, I see things form diffrent angle. I see u r taking things personally nddave. That's my observation without judging. Edit Also my perception is that mntgunr is taking things personal. It is just my perception and because I'm human and only human i can be "wrong". I stress it: I would not buy plain, customized, any steel and any heat treatment katana form certain ebay sellers. I had and still have same blades to remind me: buy the sword but not promises and pictures. I learnd my lession hard way. I know how strong desire to "have" unique blade fueled with expectation and folse imagination works. I have compession for others who still suffer from such delusion. Sometimes hard way is the only way to learn.
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Post by Kiyoshi on Jul 18, 2016 18:50:09 GMT
I'm going to be straight with you and I hope you listen. Hanbon is not a sword maker. Hanbon is a reseller. They order from the same forge as the others. This was shown by Ronin katana who visited them. The steel from the forges, multiple that I and other members have bought, had poor heat treat. This is shown by how the blade behaves, ie rolling on what should be a hard edge that chips. One member took it to a jeweler and found it wasn't the posted steel as it didn't have enough carbon. The fittings, while most of the time what they claim, aren't really that special. Copper fittings are softer and we're more popular when there were fewer wars. I always look for iron and steel. Horn isn't necessary but is nice. My Japanese iaito didn't come with any but was higher quality everywhere else. These are all reasons, good ones, why you shouldn't buy into the sellers. They sell at a price point higher than what they should.
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Post by pellius on Jul 18, 2016 18:59:04 GMT
Wow.
This thread has become pretty toxic and hostile. The only thing missing from the condescending self-aggrandizing rants are curse words and all-caps shouting. I know I sometimes come across as a bit abrasive, and for that I apologize. I do not intend to.
But this thread. Just wow.
I am new around here. With a few more threads like this one, there won't be many new folks after me.
Feel free to disagree and believe you are just "being real" or something. Feel free to post a rant about my post. Whatever.
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Post by nddave on Jul 18, 2016 19:19:05 GMT
Wow. This thread has become pretty toxic and hostile. The only thing missing from the condescending self-aggrandizing rants are curse words and all-caps shouting. I know I sometimes come across as a bit abrasive, and for that I apologize. I do not intend to. But this thread. Just wow. I am new around here. With a few more threads like this one, there won't be many new folks after me. Feel free to disagree and believe you are just "being real" or something. Feel free to post a rant about my post. Whatever. Again if you're new and want advice and experience from buyers, enthusiasts and practitioners who have been buying swords for numerous years, done extensive research on these swords and their vendors and manufacturers, then absolutely SBG is the place for you. If all new folks want is support and a pat on the head when they buy something or want to spread unfounded claims and misinformation disputed by years of purchasing and research by members here, yea SBG isn't probably the place for you. Again being the friendly forum doesn't equate to encouraging or bypassing wrong information or unexperienced opinions that could possibly be hazardous to both a buyer and the sword market community as a whole. Especially just to avoid an argument. See when you say new folks like me what do you really mean? At one point and time we've all been new folks here. We've all discussed, argued and bought swords as a community and each of us that has chose to be open mined and humble enough to learn from our peers has benefited. As I'm sure have millions of viewers over the years. Thing is SBG has always been about sharing factual information about swords and the buyers market. If something is wrong or false we've always been the community to research, educate and correct such things. Even if some of those things are in fact internal of the community. That's why we are the Sword Buyers Guide. We guide buyers to the best available swords on the market and try to steer them clear from the worst on the market. Rather than attack us for pointing out the worst, perhaps you should ask us or look back among the threads as to why we have come to such conclusions.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jul 18, 2016 19:42:56 GMT
Locking the thread for 24hrs so that feathers may unruffle.
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Post by cody on Jul 24, 2016 13:02:32 GMT
Thank you JW for still coming to this forum, you have a lot of determination to deal with this kind of thing and come back. I also appreciate your recent review of the munetoshi lion dog daisho. I thought of this thread while watching it. We haven't spoke in a while so I just wanted to say thank you for all you do and all you have taught me personally.
To the op, the raptor tanto you own does not have real samegawa or buffalo horn kurikata and koiguchi(sp?) but what it does have is one of the most solid heat treatments in the industry that being Hanwei's through hardened 5160. For the type of abuse you plan on putting your blades thru it is the best choice actually (or one thereof). Personally if I was in your shoes, I would've either customized the raptor to your liking, or got a cold steel 1055 th tanto (I really like their dragonfly tanto, also any dynasty forge fred Chen 1060 th would serve well, their heat treatment being up their with Hanwei's 5160). Or for a bit more got a kris cutlery waki if you really wanted a dh blade. Their heat treats even from their Chinese produced blades are pretty solid. Jw's idea of using a practical plus tanto for customizing is also a solid idea, but I personally would've saved another 100-150$ and picked up a great wave tanto or better yet for $370 a bugei shobu tanto. I have maybe 15-20 katanas and Waks from different manufacturers, and my advice is to newer guys to the hobby is wait, research, save more wait save more and get something nicer that will last and make you a happier buyer in the end. Compared to KoA and SnA(munetoshi), eBay is the last place where "you get what you pay for" holds true. Anyways, I've rambled enough. Stay safe, Cody in Tx
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Post by Robert in California on Aug 3, 2016 19:01:48 GMT
I like comedians in general and Rodney Dangerfield in particular: (paraphrase...I forget the exact words) Rodney: Doctor, I want your opinion. Doctor: You're crazy. Rodney: I want a 2nd opinion. Doctor: You're also ugly.
Some of us have multiple swords because we approached swords like a beginning swimmer approaches water.... First we buy a cheap sword. Then we learn more and buy better (at least when we can afford it and the wives allow) :-) We learn what is more good and what is less good. A process of education by experience. Some of us find this site and by listening to those more experienced, we are able to buy better, sooner. There are a number of experienced sword fans here and I for one, appreciate their comments. My first sword taught me what I like and don't like in a sword, for instance. I doubt I am alone here. I caught the bug for a Hanwei Lion Dog katana, but happily learned enough here to come to realize that while a good sword, it would not be the right fit for me. I learned about the good value for the price with customization options Huawei offered the patient and tolerant (they try but for me at least, usually do not make the sword quite as I asked/specified...but still a decent sword). If I could have another katana, it would be one from He-Who-Is-Not-To-Be-Named here (a very good sword...perhaps John Walter's favorite...and John Walter is a sensei-level swordsman who also has serious bamboo cutting experience with multiple makes and models).
Actually my favorite beater is a $200 28.5" mono 1095 DH from Wang-katana2011. Not up to Huawei or better Hanwei standards, but in my hands, feels and handles the best of anything I have. After all, size 12 shoes don't feel right for everyone. Swords ARE subjective.
But Mr. Walters probably stress tests more than anyone else around here and extensive bamboo cutting is one way to gauge performance....how does a given sword not just cut but also feel, handle and hold up?
I have done my due diligence and learned enough about Mr. Walters that I listen closely to his views. I did not when I was a newbie. I do now. But still, welcome to SBG and best wishes and satisfaction to you, whatever you get. Swords are a fun and even addicting hobby. I would imagine this will not be your last sword purchase. Good luck and fortune! RinC
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Post by Croccifixio on Aug 4, 2016 1:43:15 GMT
Yeah for katana, he's the guy to listen to. Not the only voice, to be sure, but one of the most important ones. Thanks John for still putting up wih us.
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Post by manville on Apr 18, 2019 16:52:43 GMT
Anyone else out there ever purchase a custom made blade from HanBon Forge?
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Post by wrench567 on May 4, 2019 12:36:49 GMT
I have 2 custom Hanbon swords. I am a very satisfied customer of Mr. Yao. Pete
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Post by Darth Paunch on May 4, 2019 12:46:30 GMT
Anyone else out there ever purchase a custom made blade from HanBon Forge? Custom, no, but one very nice engraved katana with customized grip from cottontails; fantastic sword. And i even dont like katana all too much. Also have Jian from Hanbon which i am very satisfied with.
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Post by manville on May 9, 2019 19:26:37 GMT
I have 2 custom Hanbon swords. I am a very satisfied customer of Mr. Yao. Pete I hope all turns out well, but it's been a nightmare dealing with Yao. All was well with custom forging me a blade, then the bait and switch took place. Not once, but twice. Then Yao tells me that the swordsmith made a mistake and I needed to pay more money. Yao did refund my $126 USD. I told him what I thought about his shady scam and that I would be leaving honest feedback here in the sword buyers guide forums. Then he offered to complete my custom order to my specs for $100 USD if I would wait another week. I agreed, paid him and he sent me some photos of a nice looking blade that is very close to my specs. My order should arrive tomorrow, according to USPS tracking. In the meanwhile, I ordered another exact blade from a different eBay seller for twice the price in T10 steel. I'm still waiting to hear back from him, but it's not due yet. After reading more here in the SBG about Longquan and Hammer Town, I can only imagine. But I don't really care if my blades were made by a master or a bushido kindergarden class. You usually get what you pay for.
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Post by manville on May 11, 2019 19:13:38 GMT
So who the heck is Hanbon Forge? I believe they are an eBay seller named Yao Yilin selling swords forged at "Hammer Town" in Long Quan. I'm not sure, but it seemed I was dealing with two different people. When the scam went sour, another person stepped in and corrected the business transaction. Yao came through with my order. I don't think my blade is 1095, but some harder tool steel, which is fine. It seems to be of good quality and the polish is really smooth and it's sharp. The symetrics are good for a Unokubi Zukuri style wakizashi and the habaki is correct as I ordered it. Overall, it's a nice blade and I'm a happy customer. But my advice, use caution with this vendor.
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Post by Silent on May 11, 2019 19:20:06 GMT
Post photos of what you purpchased.
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Post by manville on May 11, 2019 23:41:50 GMT
Post photos of what you purpchased. Glad you asked.
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Post by Lancelot Chan on Jun 18, 2019 18:46:25 GMT
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Post by Lancelot Chan on Jun 18, 2019 19:31:27 GMT
Maybe I'll get by new custom from Hanbon. I'm going for an extra wide Hira Zukiri at least 1.5" to 1.75" width. Good luck. If they keep up with this quality, they're the winner.
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Post by RaylonTheDemented on Jun 18, 2019 20:51:57 GMT
Well, that's certainly interesting, can't wait to see how your no-dachi goes.
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