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Post by xiuxiu1313 on Nov 30, 2020 19:55:57 GMT
I just got my HanBon in and it has a geometric yokote, and this was done without request. I am actually very impressed with the sword I received, the quality and finish was above anything I have gotten in the 300 price range.
Here is the unboxing:
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Post by JH Lee on Nov 30, 2020 21:29:40 GMT
How pronounced the yokote line should be both visually and to the touch are determined by many different factors. Instead of deciding that your Chinese replica is "more authentic"(?) because it features a "geometric" yokote, you should first figure out whether the rest of the blade is shaped to actually need it/be in alignment with it. There were actually many different schools/styles of katana throughout history with numerous subtle and not so subtle differences, even if most shinogi-zukuri katana may appear the same at first glance.
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Klaver
Manufacturer/Vendor
“Do not seek for the truth, only stop having an opinion
Posts: 74
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Post by Klaver on Dec 3, 2020 16:55:18 GMT
The basic kissaki is of course the counterpolish (in China). In longquan, most forges are capable of some sort of geometric kissaki. Making a geometric kissaki requires a bit more in-house knowledge and skills.
Often in the workshops walk between the “workers”, the master blacksmiths and they usually know what a kissaki and yokote are and thats it. Not more and no less.
How exactly this should be placed authentically with the kissaki is of course a very different question. The kissaki is a very complex part of the sword poslists and often you can already read the quality of the entire blade.
When I started a very long time ago with karate (around 8 years) and some years later I had some interest in samurai swords I jumped in the world of swords and learnt a lot. Later on I trained iaido and begin with a sword shop I even learnt many more. Also when I went to China and visit some sword “factories”. I met Fred Chen from Huanuo and more and more I learnt. I even joined a genuine nihonto club in the Netherlands later on. What I mean it, its a complex subject wich you probably will not learn easily, it took me many years and still are learning, expeccialy with nihonto.
Placing the Mitsukado is quite a task, and also that the ko shinogi must be in proportion to the fukura.
The basic polishing and finish polishing are few forges from China that have any knowledge of this, no speaken about how to apply it. I have spoken to many managers and master smiths and many do not know what you are talking about.
This does not matter, or inferior, is my personally opinion, because they are production forges with a beautiful and often very functional sword for the fraction of an authentic Japanese sword.
Often you also come across a different culture, in which they say yes but do not actually know and simply say yes out of shame.
May we grumble, I personally don't think so, production swords and authentic Japanese swords cannot be compared. We can also use them for training and tameshigiri if you buy from a decent forge. I think we should be gratefull we can own chinese japanese styled swords for average joe.
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Post by vidar on Dec 3, 2020 23:45:41 GMT
I generally agree with Klaver. A geometric Kissaki is not a must-have. Just like a traditional bo-hi termination. In my opinion, these are acceptable shortcuts to lower the cost while still retaining overall functionality.
It’s also interesting to have a look at the customisation tool of Tozando, for Iaito. My people expect a correct Yokote or Bi-hi termination when ordering a relatively cheap Chinese sword. But looking at the tool of Tozando, you will quickly learn that each of these features increase the price of the iaito with more than 100$.
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Klaver
Manufacturer/Vendor
“Do not seek for the truth, only stop having an opinion
Posts: 74
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Post by Klaver on Dec 4, 2020 9:06:57 GMT
Of course I can also feel that it is annoying when the forge says A and B does. But that is inherent to ask for a custom katana in China. That is also the reason that I once stopped with customs, can sometimes go well for a long time, but eventually with a change of guard you get misses. However, as a company you are not waiting for a load of custom swords where small details are not quite 100%.
And can you charge their behaviour them for the final amount you pay? I doubt that.
When a customer orders direct in china, you will take a risk, mostly they are not at home at that time something goes wrong. You can now feel and probably have more respect for the vendors who are always in front this battle between the forge and the company. When you order from a company in your country, you can get back to him, but people want always the best for probably "nothing" and take a risk a doing direclty business with forges, thanks to alibaba/aliexpress and his circus.
The good thing about Hanwei, for example, is that the practical series all have a counterpolish and the handforged series have a “geometric” kissaki. Then you know what to expect.
As with many things in life, it has pros and cons.
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Post by MichaelRS on May 25, 2021 7:44:34 GMT
I've only seen true geometric yokote on swords in the $1,000+ range because of the incredible amount of work involved in making a proper one. Perhaps by saying "geometric" it was understood to mean "evenly ground". Don't know the details, but I will certainly give you $150 for the sword and pay for shipping 👍😁
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Post by MichaelRS on May 12, 2022 8:14:21 GMT
as an fyi, be wary of sellers asking for extra money for things that should be included anyway, such as using hishigami or decent samegawa or geometric kissaki, etc. When you say be wary of sellers that ask for extra money for the above items, would that really include those budget katana sellers like Hanbon or others with the same business models? And I'm not talking about the business model of cheating people and making excuses. I'm talking about those that, in order to get budget katanas into people's hands, they have to cut certain corners, and not using hishigami, or, while real, not using top grade same', or not taking the labor time to flesh out a real kissaki are part of the KNOWN corners that they cut. Then as a result those vendors are able to occupy a certain place in the market for people wanting to get into katanas without initially spending a lot of money. The katanas they get from those type of vendors being "good enough for government work" at least initially Although I do agree that if you ask for a specific thing and you have been assured you're going to get that thing then yes, you should get that thing.
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Post by kamagatsu on Jul 12, 2022 18:34:40 GMT
Putting aside your disappointment which your rightly entitled to, I have to say that is quite an impressive looking piece for $335 ? I’ve just purchased a Hanwei Bamboo mat as my first Katana and did consider Han-Bon however was put off by others opinions
Once your over your frustration I hope you enjoy that sword.
Rgds Lee.
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Post by MichaelRS on Sept 28, 2022 5:14:43 GMT
I think HandBon has just is just fine in the budget category. Do they do everything perfect all the time? No. But which one of the popular companies with a similar business model for the budget katanas does? After reading countless reviews reports on forums and seeing various YouTube reviews on the others, I can't think of any of one. Somebody always has a gripe about something. When you're talking budget Katana I think it's a matter of the one that averages out to being less wonky than the others. Probably not the best standard use, but I think that's the way you have to go with the budget Katanas Anyway, I have 7 swords from HBF and they're working on number 8. As functional art pieces I'm happy with each of them. imgur.com/a/ZPmFFjO
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Post by jckang on Sept 28, 2022 15:43:38 GMT
If we could just get "China’s market regulators" to clean house on the production sword business like this when the pandemic is over...........
methinks China's regulators don't care a whole lot about a (relatively) small niche market...
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