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Post by Arlequin on Jan 29, 2021 5:01:29 GMT
Hi all, looking to get my first custom kat, but I can't decide if which vender to go with. Based on your experiences, who gives the best blade for the buck, Northshire or Jkoo? Personally I like Northshires layout more but Jkoo has a few more custom options i like, but I know that just because something is offered doesnt mean the end result is good... PS, heres an ordered sheet I got back from Jkoo, what do yall think? Personally I was happy with the price until I saw that real silk will cost me an extra 50 lol, but I dont like the look of there standard green wrap in the pictures.
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Post by haon on Jan 29, 2021 9:04:43 GMT
Hi all, looking to get my first custom kat, but I can't decide if which vender to go with. Based on your experiences, who gives the best blade for the buck, Northshire or Jkoo? Personally I like Northshires layout more but Jkoo has a few more custom options i like, but I know that just because something is offered doesnt mean the end result is good... PS, heres an ordered sheet I got back from Jkoo, what do yall think? Personally I was happy with the price until I saw that real silk will cost me an extra 50 lol, but I dont like the look of there standard green wrap in the pictures.
I wouldn't recommend JKOO. You can find my reasons for this in my last thread, furthermore, don't take an JKOO O-kissaki. I have ordered one from them, and when I got it the kissaki wasn't polished, just rough marks from a fine grinder. They told me they never polish an O-Kissaki, I think they didn't do it because that way it is harder to see that the hamon runs off the kissaki, ~5cm of the entire tip are unhardend. Also, I think their horn koiguchi is a scam... No experience with SoN... Edit: link to the mentioned thread: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/62946/opinion-on-jkoo-avoid
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Post by Stef on Jan 29, 2021 11:29:49 GMT
Northshire or Jkoo? avoid both like std
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Post by shepherd214 on Jan 29, 2021 22:30:40 GMT
Hi all, looking to get my first custom kat, but I can't decide if which vender to go with. Based on your experiences, who gives the best blade for the buck, Northshire or Jkoo? Personally I like Northshires layout more but Jkoo has a few more custom options i like, but I know that just because something is offered doesnt mean the end result is good... PS, heres an ordered sheet I got back from Jkoo, what do yall think? Personally I was happy with the price until I saw that real silk will cost me an extra 50 lol, but I dont like the look of there standard green wrap in the pictures.
I wouldn't recommend JKOO. You can find my reasons for this in my last thread, furthermore, don't take an JKOO O-kissaki. I have ordered one from them, and when I got it the kissaki wasn't polished, just rough marks from a fine grinder. They told me they never polish an O-Kissaki, I think they didn't do it because that way it is harder to see that the hamon runs off the kissaki, ~5cm of the entire tip are unhardend. Also, I think their horn koiguchi is a scam... No experience with SoN... Edit: link to the mentioned thread: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/62946/opinion-on-jkoo-avoidYour koiguchi was real horn. Its obvious in the pictures you provided. The "splintering" was just lacquer coating that was coming off. I told you this in the original thread, you must have missed it.
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Post by Robert in California on Jan 30, 2021 15:40:35 GMT
Jkoo's service for sword defects is good. I had a waki with the boshi that ran out about 1/4" prior to the end of the kissaki. It was hard to see, but I am picky. So I polished the kissaki until I could see the defect well enough to make so photos that showed the problem. Took me a few hours with fingerstones and acid etching. Emailed Van Yang of Jkoo and he offered me a full refund. I guess one could say the refund offer was not "free" because I had to put in some time and effort so my camera's pics would clearly show the problem. RinC
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Post by Robert in California on Jan 30, 2021 15:50:08 GMT
p.s. Personally, I like the looks of that $400usd Huawei katana with the sughua hamon. Huawei cost more than Jkoo but have a better reputation for "getting it right the first time". But the $400usd Huawei, though I really like the blade and the nice nakago finishing, has dyed-black rayskin and a 10.5" tsuka. I would want natural/white rayskin for the tsuka and an 11 inch tsuka. That would change the order into a "custom" order and significantly increase the price and the wait time. Jkoo is cheaper and the wait time on a custom is less, but gets say, 8 or 9 out of 10 specs correct. So is more of a gamble. Of course, you could get a less expensive Jkoo...gambling the q.c. was done well. And order a more expensive Huawei and have the Jkoo to have while waiting on the Huawei. RinC btw, I can't comment on Northshire since I've no experience with them. Sorry about that.
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Post by haon on Jan 30, 2021 15:57:34 GMT
I wouldn't recommend JKOO. You can find my reasons for this in my last thread, furthermore, don't take an JKOO O-kissaki. I have ordered one from them, and when I got it the kissaki wasn't polished, just rough marks from a fine grinder. They told me they never polish an O-Kissaki, I think they didn't do it because that way it is harder to see that the hamon runs off the kissaki, ~5cm of the entire tip are unhardend. Also, I think their horn koiguchi is a scam... No experience with SoN... Edit: link to the mentioned thread: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/62946/opinion-on-jkoo-avoidYour koiguchi was real horn. Its obvious in the pictures you provided. The "splintering" was just lacquer coating that was coming off. I told you this in the original thread, you must have missed it. Youre right, I missed your post, Im sorry. I didnt test it with a needle as I dont want to ruin the look of it. However, I can clearly see the rayskin under the chip and feel the structure where definitely no raykin should be. Or the Horn is extremely thin, less than 1mm
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karl j
Manufacturer/Vendor
Posts: 178
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Post by karl j on Jan 30, 2021 17:35:20 GMT
In my not so humble opinion. Neither, save up and buy a sword from a Smith. Its going to be vastly superior to anything out of China.
Plenty of smiths out there doing good work.
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Post by Robert in California on Jan 30, 2021 21:05:30 GMT
I really, really like Karl J's suggestion. Hey Karl, a link to some of your work? The guy is good...NICE work. Not cheap, but hey! Go Amazon and maybe "You Can Be Samurai" for only $49.95.... Quality has to be paid for in time and money. Suggestion...buy something "ok" in the $250usd plus or minus range. Use it...and you will learn what specification differences would make the sword right for you. Now knowing what personally suits you better, you save the money and get something like Karl's stuff.
Case in point...I ordered a custom Jkoo/Sino "pig iron tamahagane" katana for about $500usd. Nice sword....not knowing what I preferred for a working sword, I got the 10.5" tsuka and found out that being tall and with large hands, I needed at least an 11 inch tsuka (with 10 1/2" my "rear" hand's little finger was gripping the metal of the kashira...which was not as comfortable as gripping the silk of the tsuka.
If I had bought a cheapie first, then when I got the pricey-er custom sword, I'd have asked for the longer tsuka and been happier with the sword.
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karl j
Manufacturer/Vendor
Posts: 178
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Post by karl j on Jan 31, 2021 0:44:58 GMT
I really, really like Karl J's suggestion. Hey Karl, a link to some of your work? The guy is good...NICE work. Not cheap, but hey! Go Amazon and maybe "You Can Be Samurai" for only $49.95.... Quality has to be paid for in time and money. Suggestion...buy something "ok" in the $250usd plus or minus range. Use it...and you will learn what specification differences would make the sword right for you. Now knowing what personally suits you better, you save the money and get something like Karl's stuff. Case in point...I ordered a custom Jkoo/Sino "pig iron tamahagane" katana for about $500usd. Nice sword....not knowing what I preferred for a working sword, I got the 10.5" tsuka and found out that being tall and with large hands, I needed at least an 11 inch tsuka (with 10 1/2" my "rear" hand's little finger was gripping the metal of the kashira...which was not as comfortable as gripping the silk of the tsuka. If I had bought a cheapie first, then when I got the pricey-er custom sword, I'd have asked for the longer tsuka and been happier with the sword. Hey RiC, Not a Smith, just a polisher, and I do lacquer work. I'm very remiss in getting my site together. But I do have a lot of work up on my Instagram im onigiriswords on Instagram Thanks Karl
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Post by Robert in California on Jan 31, 2021 2:28:22 GMT
Well, your work is impressive. RinC
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Post by shepherd214 on Jan 31, 2021 3:37:21 GMT
Youre right, I missed your post, Im sorry. I didnt test it with a needle as I dont want to ruin the look of it. However, I can clearly see the rayskin under the chip and feel the structure where definitely no raykin should be. Or the Horn is extremely thin, less than 1mm No problem. I'm not saying the horn is well executed, I just wanted to clear up that they didnt scam you, as that would mean far more than just getting the horn subpar.
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