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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2008 21:15:25 GMT
price range? want something under $300? $200? $100.00?
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Post by YlliwCir on Aug 9, 2008 21:16:48 GMT
Jack, you didn't say what your budget but here are some swords I consider light and handy. Albion Poitiers over $600,
VA practical arming sword $200 and a piece,
Kris Cutlery Celtics $250 or so,
Cheness Mokko not excactly light but sharp and handy, around $200,
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Post by waltznjack on Aug 9, 2008 21:48:12 GMT
I watched your video on the VA $200 sword. Wow! It looks very sharp indeed but what about the handling properties and weight? Did you sharpen this sword? Also, I have wonderd about Kris Cultery Celtics...I have read various assessments of his work. some are good and some not so good. While we are speaking of Celtic swords, how sharp should my PV Celtic be? I have left it just as it was sent from the factory. My thinking is that too sharp and the edge is ruined and as is it is historically accurate (sharpened wise) and should cut through chainmail without blunting the edge too much. Hats Off to you and SBG ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by YlliwCir on Aug 9, 2008 22:01:55 GMT
Jack, the VA practical came paper cutting sharp, here's a review; /index.cgi?board=swordreviews&action=display&thread=4752
The KC Celtic came really sharp also. The only draw back it has is that it is differentially hardened which makes it a bit soft in the middle and subject to bend on a bad cut. Still a nice little sword in my opinion.
I don't know anything about the sword you mentioned. I have no experience with cutting chainmail.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2008 4:20:58 GMT
The valiant practical line makes a great plain practical sword .
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Post by waltznjack on Aug 10, 2008 5:54:37 GMT
I have been looking at a plain one handed Scottish Sword by Valiant which handles great and is light enough in my hand with the edge as sharp as I could get it. (Note: I received my Windlass Spanish Sword unsharpened and thanks to Website instruction by Paul Southern I sharpened it very nicely thank you!) I plunked down 20% to hold it. Price is $179.00 but I am getting a little better deal on it, I have seen it advertised for $173.00 at a dealers website.Anyone think I made a mistake this time?
Thanks Napalm, Ric hats off to y'all as they say in Texas
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Post by YlliwCir on Aug 10, 2008 6:40:26 GMT
Your welcome, Jack. As to the VA scottish sword, I haven't handled that one. I do have one of the old style VA viking swords and it's a bulky beastie. I did get it to cut some after I sharpened it some more, tho it's not easy to control.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Aug 10, 2008 14:42:42 GMT
I think the ATrim practical swords are a grea suggestion. if you want a katana that fits the bill of super sharp super fast and lively and cuts well you might want to look at the Ryumon or Roninswords Deshi depending on your price range.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2008 15:18:24 GMT
Let me preface this with "I am a novice awaiting my first sword." And also with the idea that your ideal sword sounds amazing. My question, if I may be permitted, is whether your expectations can be met by any sword, or whether you might be chasing a legend. This is not an insult, and it definitely sounds like you know a ton more about swords than I do. It is just the case that any tool or weapon has tradeoffs. Can it cut chainmail with no damage to the edge? If so, you're most certainly going to have to give up a paper cutting edge. I have read reviews of swords that could perfectly slice through EMPTY 2-liter bottles, but when the edge hit the lid of one bottle, it got a nasty chip. The review of the CS great sword, which can cut heavy targets without damage, revealed that it had problems cutting light, tough targets with the factory edge. If you give up too much weight, you lose cutting power, and if you make it too heavy it will handle like the new CS "fighting brick." I really do not mean to be a wet blanket or that I am coming off like I know ANYTHING about swords, but it seems that laws of physics will always be applicable. That said, if you do find a sword that performs to your above mentioned standards, please let me know, it sounds amazing!
RicWilly, I just watched the vids, and the VA Arming Sword is amazing, esp. for the price!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2008 15:26:08 GMT
"HANDLES LIKE A FEATHER, CUTS LIKE A SCAPEL, AND FINALLY LOOKS LIKE A DREAM!"
Sounds like a Chinese Jian to me.
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Post by YlliwCir on Aug 10, 2008 16:30:51 GMT
You summed it up well, Stizz. I haven't found any perfect swords yet, tho Albion comes close, LOL. I like the VA arming a lot for the price. It has it's issues, I know of one case where the threaded rod broke, but even in that case the owner was able to cut it down and peen it. It now appears better than before. So a good buy in my opinion.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2008 18:15:31 GMT
"HANDLES LIKE A FEATHER, CUTS LIKE A SCAPEL, AND FINALLY LOOKS LIKE A DREAM!" Sounds like a Chinese Jian to me. Only if you know how to handle one. Jians in the hands of somebody who knows how to use one is a wonderful weapon. In the hands of a novice, it's a clunky hunk o steel. Jians are kinda funky.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2008 0:25:24 GMT
You're after a katana, eh? What's your price range? Does a traditional style matter to you? If not, then I'll throw out Angus Trim's Tactical range for consideration, specifically the 'Little Tigress' and the 'Tactical Katana II' www.christianfletcher.com/Christian_Fletcher/Atrim_Tactical_Swords.htmlThere's also a bunch of other blade styles, if you don't want to limit yourself. I can only speak to the Little Tigress, but that particular blade feels more responsive to me than any of my others (all Cheness). I love the way it looks, but that's quite personal of course. If performance is the most important thing to you, though, the word seems to be that you can't go wrong with Gus. If the traditional style does matter, there's always a Ronin Swords Deshi. www.roninswords.com/
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Post by waltznjack on Aug 12, 2008 0:20:41 GMT
Psycho, I have seen a Ronin sword review somewhere on this site but wonder about the price. Jerry Ahearn in an article about swords as self defense mentions the Angus Trim's tactical range swords but I just can not get excited about a nontraditional sword. Any knowledge about the KILL BILL katanas?
Stizz, I know and you are right that each sword serves a different purpose. Most clunky swords are clunky because they are used for smashing through chainmail and leather which delivers a percussive effect. Light and sweet handling katanas are more like scapels in that they are meant for precision cuts...zipppp...and that's it folks, the deed is done. Other swords are heavy and meant to stab though chainmail and burst the links apart or stab through plated armor and need the weight i.e. chunky is the game.
What I like about katanas is that they slice naturally if held correctly (not smashing) because of the natural body pull through. I once had a Sensei who went toe to toe with me using a bokan and I just pushed his wooden katana aside and stabbed him in his chest with my bokan which would have killed had it been a real katana. Swords can be used in different ways...if you learn how to handle them with practice.
For instance...say you hear an intruder in your home. All you have is a medeival one handed sword...the door to the room you are in opens inward from left to right...just hold the sword in your right hand with your body turned sideways to the right and sword pulled back with the point protruding just past your torso. When the intruder pushes the door open you can block him, hold the door with your left hand and stab him through the opening and under his strernum and upwards...the intruder is dogfood!
There are a number of ways to approach this situation...just practice with a wooden mockup of your sword and devise your own techiques. This is originally why I bought a sword in the first place. I didn't want to wake up the neighbors, have stray bullets going though thin walls, and making dogfood causes a real mess to clean up if you don't have a dog. Having to use a firearm in a similar situation makes for a messy legal quagmire and unpalpable consequences.
Oh, yes, now a word for the political correctees...never use a lethal weapon such as sword, knife, rollingpin or ashtray, or pool noodle if your life or a family member is not in fear of his or her life. Have I satisfied BIG BROTHER now?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2008 0:43:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2008 21:11:51 GMT
"Handles like a feather, cuts like a scalpel and looks like a dream" Sound like your describing a Hanwei Golden Oriole to me I own one and I can say that its fast and its sharp, and looks absolutely stunning!
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Post by salvatore on Aug 12, 2008 21:21:00 GMT
I hear the PPK is a light sword, and handy, pretty plain(Certainly different, but pretty plain).
Though, you have to have good edge alignment or else you're in for trouble! They are wicked sharp and pretty thin blades from what I hear, and you can get one from Paul here for a good price.
Just my 2 cents.
Sal
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2008 21:23:55 GMT
If you're on a tight budget you might also want to look at the PK XL light, sure the fittings aren't great, but you're holding one of the biggest scalpels ever made Just make sure about that edge alignment, scalpels don't like to be twisted...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2008 22:36:18 GMT
Well if your looking for a regular shallow geometry with standard blade dimensions there are numerous options. But it depends on what style of katana you want... Shinogi-zukuri is pretty much the standard so i will assume thats what your looking for. I would say the cheness tenchi would be a good try, but sometimes they are not very sharp at all and seem dull as an iaito. The hanwei practical line offers very sharp swords but they are not very good looking in a traditional sense. (neither are cheness for that matter) I would say Ronin Swords would be a great pick, but don't want to seem like i'm plugging this company as the owner is a friend of mine. The only real advice i can give is for you to comb through the review section on this forum and check out the pictures and testimonials to see what catches your eye. Think of it like a catalog that you can order from....
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2008 23:29:09 GMT
The ronin deshi is $400 for now.
As for thinking a katana is some sort of super finesse weapon...not really. A katana is a MUCH more of a hacking and slicing weapon then my gen 2 black prince ever will be. Course, my black prince can't cut worth jack compared to a katana...but boy is it a fast a nimble blade in my hands.
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