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Post by LG Martial Arts on Jan 30, 2015 18:30:59 GMT
So, has anyone else received and looked at the new SBG newsletter featuring their Project X katana, one with no bohi, the other with bohi. You can check it out here: sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-guide.com/x1.html What do you all think?
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Post by DigsFossils-n-Knives on Jan 30, 2015 18:46:28 GMT
Too expensive for me to do a destructive test and verify lamination. LOL. Unless they guaranteed it (I keep the blade and they return my money).
But I would love to own a Soshu Kitae seven panel steel blade "just because". For what it is or what they offer I think the cost is very fair; but I don't have the cash right now.
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 30, 2015 19:15:10 GMT
Eh, not really doing it for me. I guess it's cool for those who are into what it offers, which seems a little try-hard, but not my taste. Not even for half that.
Neat, though.
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Post by envisiontj on Jan 30, 2015 19:26:03 GMT
Looks good to me. Hmm, something to look at when funds are back where they should be - I just spend like $8000 on swords this last month or less.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Jan 30, 2015 19:35:46 GMT
I think it looks pretty awesome, personally. I do agree with Random, though. It's a little "try-hard" for a modern sword. They generally aren't going to see battle use, so I don't see the point in having "hard" steel on the blade flats to resist being cut in to, but it's still a cool factor. If my knife making/selling does a little better, I might have to get one of these. Looks better than the Bugei I had and costs less, too.
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Post by envisiontj on Jan 30, 2015 19:41:52 GMT
Yes, I love the Bugei Dragonfly I got from you, but this looks really good too. I picked up a Hanwei Ronin the other day, and should get it next Tuesday. Will be working on this soon. Yeah, the likelihood that the hardness will be needed is really minimal, but it is still really cool!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 20:25:33 GMT
Lets see an experienced member reviewer disassemble it first and see how it compares to the rk elite before we judge.
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Jan 30, 2015 20:38:40 GMT
"At the end of the day, there really is nothing else that comes close anywhere near this price point..
If you want the best - THIS is it.."
Statements such as this do appeal to me but I have to wonder, there is a bit of choice at this price + - $300
I have a 2012 Ronin Elite which as far as I can workout is essentially the same sword.
I'd be tempted to add an extra $250 and order a bugei Old Pine.....
Still these project x swords do appeal
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Jan 30, 2015 21:10:59 GMT
Lets see an experienced member reviewer disassemble it first and see how it compares to the rk elite before we judge. I would but: 1. I've never handled the RK Elite 2. I don't have that kind of money right now. Well, I do, I just need to spend it on other things. 3. If I were going to thouroughly test it, it probably wouldn't be sword, anymore. I'd wanna see a cross section of it.
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 30, 2015 21:57:34 GMT
"At the end of the day, there really is nothing else that comes close anywhere near this price point.. If you want the best - THIS is it.." Statements such as this do appeal to me but I have to wonder, there is a bit of choice at this price + - $300 I have a 2012 Ronin Elite which as far as I can workout is essentially the same sword. I'd be tempted to add an extra $250 and order a bugei Old Pine..... Still these project x swords do appeal This is pretty much my take. A lot of hype over what seems like yet another decent Chinatana that can be had for as much (or less, ssshh, don't tell) almost anywhere else. For $1,000. Which can open up an awfully large selection of well-made swords from reputable outfits with a lot more...character than this one. It just feels so... generic to me...
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Post by Cottontail Customs on Jan 30, 2015 22:24:05 GMT
"At the end of the day, there really is nothing else that comes close anywhere near this price point.. If you want the best - THIS is it.." Statements such as this do appeal to me but I have to wonder, there is a bit of choice at this price + - $300 I have a 2012 Ronin Elite which as far as I can workout is essentially the same sword. I'd be tempted to add an extra $250 and order a bugei Old Pine..... Still these project x swords do appeal This is pretty much my take. A lot of hype over what seems like yet another decent Chinatana that can be had for as much (or less, ssshh, don't tell) almost anywhere else. For $1,000. Which can open up an awfully large selection of well-made swords from reputable outfits with a lot more...character than this one. It just feels so... generic to me... Additionally, I think this product would maybe appeal more toward those not as well informed about what else is available. I find a couple of the descriptions a bit hard to believe personally such as the samegawa shown being "premium", these are from very small skins of low quality imho and "working together to create the absolute best quality Katana ever made outside of Japan", well, I guess they are entitled to their own opinion. The blade is probably well made but I personally don't see a need for this type of lamination, though I can understand that the "cool factor" is important for many, in which case, it would probably satisfy. I would like it better if it didn't have the reverse hamon polish/etching that is popular with many Chinese forges. In the end, $1,000 is pretty reasonable for a well forged soshu kitae katana as long as the customer is also happy with the rest of the package and won't be looking to put more money into customizing it. If not, there are similar blades for about a third of the price available to build on. You would also get the unbeatable cs and security of purchasing through the sbg store, which does add value imo. All in all, it's not for me but I don't think it's that bad of a deal for someone looking for this kind of sword. -Josh
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Post by nddave on Jan 30, 2015 22:45:13 GMT
This is pretty much my take. A lot of hype over what seems like yet another decent Chinatana that can be had for as much (or less, ssshh, don't tell) almost anywhere else. For $1,000. Which can open up an awfully large selection of well-made swords from reputable outfits with a lot more...character than this one. It just feels so... generic to me... Additionally, I think this product would maybe appeal more toward those not as well informed about what else is available. I find a couple of the descriptions a bit hard to believe personally such as the samegawa shown being "premium", these are from very small skins of low quality imho and "working together to create the absolute best quality Katana ever made outside of Japan", well, I guess they are entitled to their own opinion. The blade is probably well made but I personally don't see a need for this type of lamination, though I can understand that the "cool factor" is important for many, in which case, it would probably satisfy. I would like it better if it didn't have the reverse hamon polish/etching that is popular with many Chinese forges. In the end, $1,000 is pretty reasonable for a well forged soshu kitae katana as long as the customer is also happy with the rest of the package and won't be looking to put more money into customizing it. If not, there are similar blades for about a third of the price available to build on. You would also get the unbeatable cs and security of purchasing through the sbg store, which does add value imo. All in all, it's not for me but I don't think it's that bad of a deal for someone looking for this kind of sword. -Josh I agree, Not to open a old can of worms but this is the kind of stuff that always has bugged me since Paul and Chris partnered up. The jive in the pitches, what happened to the original honest no frills SBG store from the beginning? Regarding the sword itself it may be worth the price due to the blade lamination but the rest of the package does appear no different than the rest of mid to higher end Ronin offerings aside from the full wrap. Compared to the $800 Elites I guess with the addition of the full wrap and the finer details to the blade forging $200 extra doesn't seem like too much of a stretch price wise. Personally they don't really do it for me aesthetically, those tsuba are just plain ugly and the rest of the package looks more similar to the Pro Line than the Elites.
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Jan 30, 2015 23:26:49 GMT
First of all, I've never handled a Ronin Elite either, so can't compare anything I own it to one. I remember the first batch of Project X katanas that were sold through SBG, but only saw 1 or 2 members do minimal reviews on them - I wonder how they've held up and why we haven't seen more of them (or other Project X swords) reviewed...
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Jan 30, 2015 23:47:39 GMT
They are exactly the same blades as the ronin elites right just different fittings? I'm sure I was told that when the last batch was selling.
The ronin elite bare blades sell for $575, I'm not sure what it would cost to have one coustom mounted though?
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Post by william m on Jan 31, 2015 0:13:25 GMT
The blade looks nice but wow that price tag. I don't see anything to justify that at all, especially when being made in a typical chinatana workshop with blades being stacked up like timber.
I would had thought that for the price you could have used silk or a decent set of menuki, that synthetic ito is just the worst... :/
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Jan 31, 2015 0:17:52 GMT
It's pretty easy to pick up a $100 Musashi and do a destructive review. Not really on a 1K+ sword that has questionable price/value to begin with.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2015 0:26:12 GMT
It's pretty easy to pick up a $100 Musashi and do a destructive review. Not really on a 1K+ sword that has questionable price/value to begin with. At least have just ONE donated for the benefit of us consumers for a test. Even if that one sword was well constructed then we would have proof. Otherwise, may as well stick to any eBay forge that sells complicated laminations apparantly.
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Jan 31, 2015 0:28:46 GMT
I don't think I would trust a run-of-the-mill eBay store to do this kind of lamination. It would most likely be of super-poor quality or just a flat out lie.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2015 0:34:05 GMT
I don't think I would trust a run-of-the-mill eBay store to do this kind of lamination. It would most likely be of super-poor quality or just a flat out lie. Exactly my point though. We know these are chinatana's. I think we deserve to be shown something more than words of promise.
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Post by uchiha998 on Jan 31, 2015 0:45:57 GMT
I agree with the rest who say that this sword seems to obviously just a Ronin Elite, with slightly more appealing fittings(but that is just my opinion). I'm not sure if the Ronin Elite has a full samegawa. I'm thinking that it didn't so that is one upgrade, if it can even be called that since it is probably tanned rayskin and therefore adding nothing to the functional aspect of the sword. Honestly, there is something to be said for using rayskin panels because you sacrifice less wood material on the tsuka than you do with a full wrap. Now a full that uses rayskin has not been tanned is supposed to add a good bit of support to a tsuka. I admit this all just things I have heard/read in the past. A lot of it from other forum members. So if someone could confirm or deny this notion I have about full wraps using tanned rayskin vs. a full wrap using raw rayskin. I'd appreciate that. But overall, I agree the project X katana looks nice. But is worth the price when you consider the other katana out there in this price range? Does the soshu kitae lamination justify the extra cost that it obviously would add? I know that it is likely much more difficult to forge a sword this way. However, we have had many discussions on the this forum about the functional advantages of many of the diffferent laminations and it seems that most people are in agreement that a good DH monosteel, or Maru, blade has no significant disadvantage to a blade of complex lamination. Yet there is no doubt you will pay extra for the complex laminations because they require more time and effort on the smith making the sword. Some people will of course mention the aesthetic value of these complex laminations, saying they add activity to the hada or hamon or even the steel itself. While I can see the some nice lamination lines on well made blades with these complex laminations, I personally don't find it worth the extra money they usually cost. Sorry I rambling but I do wonder how many people would rather have this Project X blade over say a Hanwei Tori Elite for example? Or over that Budo made by that awesome company we sometimes refer to as "voldermort"?
Don't get me wrong I'm certainly not bashing the Project X blade or the Ronin Elite. I would love to own either of these swords if they were given to me or I could get them at an exceptional deal from the classifieds or ebay. Still, I find some of the things that drive the prices up on these swords not really worth the extra money they cost. Do the others here agree with me? Or I am I in the minority here?
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