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Post by daze on Jul 22, 2015 9:12:59 GMT
As the title said i'm searching for a Katana with a maximum budget of 300$. What do you think it is the best choice for this price? My only main concert is that it should cut very well but also don't lose edge easily. Thanks in advance
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asanatheist
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AKA: Crimsoned (Old SBG forums)
Posts: 1,682
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Post by asanatheist on Jul 22, 2015 10:56:15 GMT
What will you be cutting? I am tempted to recommend a hanwei practical plus line up. I wouldn't recommend ronin katana, the wrap is usually something that needs to be fixed, also they're not terribly great for cutting tatami omote, or soft/medium targets.
You could also go for a Chinese for such as Huawei, ST-Nihonto, Shinken-Katana, Swordmaker668, etc. This would likely give you best bang for the buck.
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Post by Croccifixio on Jul 22, 2015 11:19:23 GMT
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Post by daze on Jul 22, 2015 14:00:08 GMT
So by your answers i'm oriented to Hanwei Raptor or the Huawei, now i've seen that exist a great variety of different models, can you please tell me the major difference as well as design? For example i literally fallen in love with the design of Huawei Shinogi-Zukuri: what is the difference with other Katana like the Hanwei ones? Thanks About the things that i will cut i'm oriented to tatami or newspapers roll or some thin branch
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Post by Croccifixio on Jul 22, 2015 15:22:23 GMT
So by your answers i'm oriented to Hanwei Raptor or the Huawei, now i've seen that exist a great variety of different models, can you please tell me the major difference as well as design? For example i literally fallen in love with the design of Huawei Shinogi-Zukuri: what is the difference with other Katana like the Hanwei ones? Thanks :) About the things that i will cut i'm oriented to tatami or newspapers roll or some thin branch The Raptors are made of through hardened 5160 steel. At 0.6 carbon, it will hold a decent sword edge, and since 5160 is a spring steel, it will be very flexible (meaning it returns to true very easily even when bent). This normally means that they are very tough and forgiving of misaligned cuts. Unfortunately, they don't have a Hamon (a change of shade that indicates differently-hardened steel, which is a key feature of actual katanas). The Huaweis linked are differentially hardened T10 steel. Chinese T10 is alleged to be similar to 1095, which is a higher carbon steel than 5160 and would thus hold a harder edge. This simply means the edge will stay sharp longer. The downside is that a very hard edge can be brittle and will chip on a bad/misaligned cut. The Japanese figured that softening the spine alleviates that, to some extent, acting as a bit of a shock absorber or spring (since less hard steel will bend instead of break. So this is more traditional, but less tough. Shinogi zukuri denotes blade geometry and is the most common form of katana. Others would be shobu zukuri (post-Mongol invasion), unokubi zukuri (a bit like a naganita), and hira zukuri (mostly tanto, since it has a "zero" bevel and is thinner than normal blades).
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Post by daze on Jul 22, 2015 15:53:44 GMT
By your information i'm oriented to the Huawei. But there's an high risk of chips with "" soft materials""?
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Post by Robert in California on Jul 22, 2015 16:34:20 GMT
Hard edges can chip. Soft edges can dull/flatten ("roll"?) Nihonto usually had the same issues to deal with. Koto nihonto (older swords made in times of common warfare) had to deal with battlefield armor. So the old Japanese blades were made softer so they would more likely bend rather than break. A bent blade could be more or less straightened over one's knee, etc in the battlefield. But a broken blade left the owner defenseless barring having reserve weapons. Then, later (Shinto times) when Japan was in times of relative peace, Japanese blades were made harder. Armor not being commonly worn, blades could be made harder as harder dulled slower. And targets (civilian clothed opponents) were soft to medium. As opposed to medium to hard targets (times of open warfare...battle armor). So, the problem of hardness of temper is nothing new. In the old sword years, warriors would have probably been happy to have 5160 or 9260 spring steel blades would be my guess. RinC
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Post by Robert in California on Jul 22, 2015 16:38:35 GMT
Also...there is the little issue of niku...of edge geometry...does one make the edge more like an axe, so less likely to chip if the temper is hard? Or less likely to roll if the temper is soft? No free lunch in swords, alas...as a thin, narrow edge (like a straight razor) can be made into a hair-shaving razor sharp edge. But at the cost of fragility.
But for cutting contests, such edged swords cut better than a niku-heavy, axe-edge shape....on soft targets anyway. The Hanwei Lion Dog...is that not an example of a heavy, higher niku edge blade...better for soft targets? (have never handled one...but heard thus). RinC
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Post by MOK on Jul 22, 2015 21:56:53 GMT
My Shobu Zukuri Raptor is one of my favorite cutting swords. It's relatively large for a katana and rock solid, comes with a sharp edge with no perceptible niku (which is great for recreational cutting of "soft" targets, but would probably prove somewhat fragile against armoured opponents) and retains it perfectly well, and feels very authoritative yet responsive in the cut.
My only real complaint is the somewhat simplistic "ax handle" shape of the grip, which could be made a lot more pleasing with some very small changes, although in practice it doesn't seem to get in the way of performance even as is. Maybe if you have small hands it might be more of an issue.
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Post by daze on Jul 22, 2015 22:44:33 GMT
So from what i've understand, the main choice are either Hanwei or Huawei. The only thing that i have to check (over the aesthetic) is the difference is the kind of steel, which basically if i want a durable one but ""fragile"" i have to pick the T10, if i want a one that lose edge more "easily" but it's more flexible i have to pick 5160 right?
Anyway beyond this difference they are basically the best swords for that price range?
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Post by skane on Jul 22, 2015 23:35:43 GMT
Take a look at Munetoshi and Dynasty Forge Musha series too. DF Musha series starts at $325 though. Across Hanwei, Huawei, Munetoshi, Dynasty Forge Musha, any choice you make should be decent for the price point.
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Post by Croccifixio on Jul 23, 2015 3:33:55 GMT
So from what i've understand, the main choice are either Hanwei or Huawei. The only thing that i have to check (over the aesthetic) is the difference is the kind of steel, which basically if i want a durable one but ""fragile"" i have to pick the T10, if i want a one that lose edge more "easily" but it's more flexible i have to pick 5160 right? Anyway beyond this difference they are basically the best swords for that price range? At a certain point, "best" becomes subjective. If by best you would mean most similar to traditional katana, then the Raptors are out. If by best you would mean most agile in the hand, then maybe the DF are out. As for the steel, it's always a trade-off. Heat treat being equal, the rule of thumb is: The higher your carbon, the better the edge, the worse the durability (not to mention it's harder to sharpen). You can't really go wrong with what Skane said. I imagine there might be fans of Ronin Katana or Ryanswords or Hanbon or St Nihonto... You can look up those brands too. But they have less of a stellar reputation than those mentioned, so there's more risk to your purchase. Your safest bet is probably Hanwei because their production is the biggest, so at least if you get a lemon it would be easier to replace.
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Post by blackchapel on Jul 23, 2015 13:18:09 GMT
I've looked at both of these before. I have to ask. Besides the saya, what's the difference between the two?
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Post by Croccifixio on Jul 23, 2015 14:36:39 GMT
Mainly the hamon style I would say. I actually prefer the overall shape of the cheaper one.
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Post by johnwalter on Jul 23, 2015 21:17:01 GMT
Best is really tough to say since there are so many different factors to consider. Sounds like you want a DH blade like others have said.In that price range Id say first check out the Hanwei Practical series. Munetoshi(Swordnarmory.com) also has some pretty good DH blades available you may want to check out.
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