A first time buyer's quick guide to other first timers.
Aug 29, 2019 23:39:05 GMT
Post by misterurahara on Aug 29, 2019 23:39:05 GMT
I recently developed an interest in katana and wakizashi, and was completely overwhelmed at the amount of information surrounding them. Thanks to SBG forums, articles, and questions, I was able to educate myself and avoid getting completely scammed, but it definitely took a LOT of research, and not everything I bought was great. I wanted to outline what I think are the most important things to be aware of for a first time buyer, while keeping it short enough as to not overwhelm anyone. I myself did a minor amount of research, deemed myself qualified to at least find a starter sword, and realized I should of researched a little more.
I believe following these few steps will at the very least get you a functional sword that is more than a wall hanger, if not a bit faulty/cheap (but that really depends on your budget), without having to undergo days of research for your first purchase. (Although you should eventually do as much research as possible).
Essentially, I think this is the bare minimum knowledge needed to make a decent first purchase and begin training, but I would urge much further research before going beyond a first or second sword.
1.) Know the type of steel used for the blade, and the types of steel that suit your reason for getting a sword. Damascus is not a type of steel, rather a method used in forging. (Will briefly get into steel types below)
2.) Make sure the retailer (and ideally manufacturer/smith) is trusted. It does no good "knowing" what material the blade is made out of, if the merchant is willing to lie and not governed by false advertisement laws, is an outright scammer/thief, or if the steel was tempered incorrectly. (See SBG trusted retailers and SBG community horror stories)
3.) Once you've narrowed it down to a product, look for reviews on that individual product. Get as much information as you can on it, nothing beats a full on demonstration or destruction-test video, aside from getting and testing it first hand. A demonstration video from the retailer or manufacturer is a sales pitch, not a genuine demonstration. Burger King burgers do not look like their commercial counterparts.
Types of steel and which one suits your need. (The type of steel means NOTHING if not properly tempered.) (These are only the most common types of steel, there are other suitable types being used for swords as well.)
1045/1060: Sort of the entry levels of steel, these are considered to be the bare minimum for a 'functional' sword by most people. Should suffice for light-medium cutting. Budget Steel.
5160/9160: Steels used in vehicle springs, these are extremely durable and will have a respectable amount of flex before taking a full on bend (I've heard expertly tempered 9160 could flex as far as 90 degrees and bounce back to true form, but don't quote me on that). Ideal material for a starter with bad technique. Should easily suffice for medium cutting, and heavy if of good quality construction (although it will probably ware down your edge fast). Durable Training/Extended Use Steel.
1095: This is considered to be one of the best materials for katana, it is extremely hard and has almost unrivaled edge retention. This hardness also makes it more liable to break instead of bend. Would only recommend for someone who has their technique down or is only seeking katana to collect. Expert Steel.
T10: Another highly respected steel, I think it's fairly similar to 1095 in regards to edge retention while being (maybe?) a tiiiiiny bit more flexable and less hard. Expert Steel.
Tamahagane: The "authentic" samurai sword material, this is the most original, and expensive, material used for katana. Only for the serious collector without a budget. " The Authentic" Katana Steel.
To a beginner looking for a sword for use/training: 5160/9160 > T10 > 1045/1060
I would recommend a through hardened (no hamon/differential hardening) spring steel, or if on a budget whatever respectable steel you can get for your price; most likely 1045 or 1060. I have seen T10 swords go for just under 200$ however, and some were highly reviewed.
To a first time buyer who somehow already has decent technique: T10/1095 > 5160/9160
If you've somehow managed to get in some training without ever owning your own sword, and feel confident in your form, you may be best getting something that will hold it's edge longer and handle well against heavier targets.
Some budgeted recommendations:
Musashi (100-200 USD) - The Musashi brand has a wide variety of functional katanas ranging from 100-200 USD. Their 1060 DH line, and their Folded Elite (1045+1060 folded) lines are both tried and tested, with no shortage of videos of them being tested.
Sokojikara (200-300 USD) - I have seen Sokojikara swords using T10 steel with a clay tempered hamon go for as little as 200 USD, this is undoubtedly a good deal.
Ryumon (200+ USD) - I've seen Ryumon offer 1095 DH blades in the mid 200-300 USD range when on sale.
Hanwei (Paul Chen) (250+) - Hanwei has a wide variety of blades, spanning a variety of both steel types and price range.
Custom Katana ( X ) - Ranging from under 200 to over thousands, design a katana to fit your budget and intended functions. There are a LOT of custom katana sites out there however and you should use extreme caution choosing a vendor and your parts. If you go this route, further research into the other parts of a katana (best material for fittings, etc.) is highly urged. The three custom katana vendors I can vouch will at the very least deliver a product and are not a scam are; Ryujin, Swords of Northshire, and Hanbon Forge. The amount of information regarding the quality of SoN and Hanbon is limited (can't find many people who have actually USED it and reviewed it) but the general impression I have gotten from both is they will appear as desired aesthetically, and the functionality should be respectably comparable to what you paid for.
I believe following these few steps will at the very least get you a functional sword that is more than a wall hanger, if not a bit faulty/cheap (but that really depends on your budget), without having to undergo days of research for your first purchase. (Although you should eventually do as much research as possible).
Essentially, I think this is the bare minimum knowledge needed to make a decent first purchase and begin training, but I would urge much further research before going beyond a first or second sword.
1.) Know the type of steel used for the blade, and the types of steel that suit your reason for getting a sword. Damascus is not a type of steel, rather a method used in forging. (Will briefly get into steel types below)
2.) Make sure the retailer (and ideally manufacturer/smith) is trusted. It does no good "knowing" what material the blade is made out of, if the merchant is willing to lie and not governed by false advertisement laws, is an outright scammer/thief, or if the steel was tempered incorrectly. (See SBG trusted retailers and SBG community horror stories)
3.) Once you've narrowed it down to a product, look for reviews on that individual product. Get as much information as you can on it, nothing beats a full on demonstration or destruction-test video, aside from getting and testing it first hand. A demonstration video from the retailer or manufacturer is a sales pitch, not a genuine demonstration. Burger King burgers do not look like their commercial counterparts.
Types of steel and which one suits your need. (The type of steel means NOTHING if not properly tempered.) (These are only the most common types of steel, there are other suitable types being used for swords as well.)
1045/1060: Sort of the entry levels of steel, these are considered to be the bare minimum for a 'functional' sword by most people. Should suffice for light-medium cutting. Budget Steel.
5160/9160: Steels used in vehicle springs, these are extremely durable and will have a respectable amount of flex before taking a full on bend (I've heard expertly tempered 9160 could flex as far as 90 degrees and bounce back to true form, but don't quote me on that). Ideal material for a starter with bad technique. Should easily suffice for medium cutting, and heavy if of good quality construction (although it will probably ware down your edge fast). Durable Training/Extended Use Steel.
1095: This is considered to be one of the best materials for katana, it is extremely hard and has almost unrivaled edge retention. This hardness also makes it more liable to break instead of bend. Would only recommend for someone who has their technique down or is only seeking katana to collect. Expert Steel.
T10: Another highly respected steel, I think it's fairly similar to 1095 in regards to edge retention while being (maybe?) a tiiiiiny bit more flexable and less hard. Expert Steel.
Tamahagane: The "authentic" samurai sword material, this is the most original, and expensive, material used for katana. Only for the serious collector without a budget. " The Authentic" Katana Steel.
To a beginner looking for a sword for use/training: 5160/9160 > T10 > 1045/1060
I would recommend a through hardened (no hamon/differential hardening) spring steel, or if on a budget whatever respectable steel you can get for your price; most likely 1045 or 1060. I have seen T10 swords go for just under 200$ however, and some were highly reviewed.
To a first time buyer who somehow already has decent technique: T10/1095 > 5160/9160
If you've somehow managed to get in some training without ever owning your own sword, and feel confident in your form, you may be best getting something that will hold it's edge longer and handle well against heavier targets.
Some budgeted recommendations:
Musashi (100-200 USD) - The Musashi brand has a wide variety of functional katanas ranging from 100-200 USD. Their 1060 DH line, and their Folded Elite (1045+1060 folded) lines are both tried and tested, with no shortage of videos of them being tested.
Sokojikara (200-300 USD) - I have seen Sokojikara swords using T10 steel with a clay tempered hamon go for as little as 200 USD, this is undoubtedly a good deal.
Ryumon (200+ USD) - I've seen Ryumon offer 1095 DH blades in the mid 200-300 USD range when on sale.
Hanwei (Paul Chen) (250+) - Hanwei has a wide variety of blades, spanning a variety of both steel types and price range.
Custom Katana ( X ) - Ranging from under 200 to over thousands, design a katana to fit your budget and intended functions. There are a LOT of custom katana sites out there however and you should use extreme caution choosing a vendor and your parts. If you go this route, further research into the other parts of a katana (best material for fittings, etc.) is highly urged. The three custom katana vendors I can vouch will at the very least deliver a product and are not a scam are; Ryujin, Swords of Northshire, and Hanbon Forge. The amount of information regarding the quality of SoN and Hanbon is limited (can't find many people who have actually USED it and reviewed it) but the general impression I have gotten from both is they will appear as desired aesthetically, and the functionality should be respectably comparable to what you paid for.
