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Post by dhall on Feb 4, 2021 13:13:24 GMT
We got some new imagery of the Shikoto Hidden Samurai today. This sword was reviewed twice recently when I sent swords I pulled from stock to two very talented sword enthusiasts on SBG. They offered their honest opinions on it. One of their opinions was our photography wasn't that great, so I hope the new imagery will help display the details that went into this item. You guys like to take photos of your own swords, so if you have suggestions on your favorite lighting techniques, I'm all ears. Link below if you're interested: www.budk.com/Shikoto-Hidden-Samurai-Katana-And-Scabbard-T10-Car-47345Attachments:
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Feb 23, 2021 4:24:48 GMT
The new photography hilights the hilt pieces and temper line very well. Low exposure. Personally, I think swords always look better on video so that when you see the blade move, you get a better idea of how the polish looks. Good thing there's a video!
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Post by dhall on Feb 23, 2021 15:22:09 GMT
A great video indeed. But this sword has been slow for us. I can't figure out what's not to like on it. Especially after the video showed its abilities.
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Feb 23, 2021 15:29:31 GMT
Does it come with the box in the picture?
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Feb 24, 2021 5:58:39 GMT
Does it come with the box in the picture? Yes. It's unlined but it's a nice enough wood box. Had a sword bag too.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Feb 24, 2021 6:07:02 GMT
A great video indeed. But this sword has been slow for us. I can't figure out what's not to like on it. Especially after the video showed its abilities. Honestly, I think the market for the budget katana is super saturated and a lot of people looking for one around $300 are drawn in by "custom fittings" or some personalization by overseas sellers. Unfortunately it seems some people get burned and quality is inconsistent. Not to mention the wait times. I'll stand by this one as a good value and I pointed out the benefit of buying from a U.S.-based distributor with more accessible/helpful customer service. I'm guessing Honshu swords move faster. They're unique. Nobody else has got swords that look like Honshu swords. There are better performers, sure, but when you want a Honshu-looking sword that's what you buy. Hopefully the video just gets more views over time and generates more interest so that the Shikoto can justify its own continued existence.
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AJGBlack
Member
"This world will stress you like Orson Wells on the radio." -RTJ
Posts: 393
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Post by AJGBlack on Feb 24, 2021 14:02:11 GMT
A great video indeed. But this sword has been slow for us. I can't figure out what's not to like on it. Especially after the video showed its abilities. This may seem really minor, but because of the saturated market that Adventurer'sBlade mentioned, not having any statistics other than length can be a turn off. If I'm looking for a specific weight range and point of balance I'm not likely to take a chance no matter how good it looks. (And it looks really good!) Also, the write up is a little odd IMO. "Burned blade" is an unusual term and the body of the write up is a bit repetitive without expanding the details. It is a great looking sword and the video helps, these are just my thoughts.
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Post by dhall on Mar 1, 2021 19:30:36 GMT
A great video indeed. But this sword has been slow for us. I can't figure out what's not to like on it. Especially after the video showed its abilities. This may seem really minor, but because of the saturated market that Adventurer'sBlade mentioned, not having any statistics other than length can be a turn off. If I'm looking for a specific weight range and point of balance I'm not likely to take a chance no matter how good it looks. (And it looks really good!) Also, the write up is a little odd IMO. "Burned blade" is an unusual term and the body of the write up is a bit repetitive without expanding the details. It is a great looking sword and the video helps, these are just my thoughts. I don't think it's minor, I'm going to try to get some of this info added in our swords. The burned blade thing is definitely a translation error. I'll get that removed. It's just clay tempered.
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Post by Kane Shen on Mar 2, 2021 0:37:29 GMT
A great video indeed. But this sword has been slow for us. I can't figure out what's not to like on it. Especially after the video showed its abilities. Since I've reviewed this sword and the Sokojikara katana (polar opposite of this one, suitable for heavy cutting), here is my 2-cent: the usual customers of BudK and UC are not the niche audience of this kind of swords. They couldn't care less about traditionally forged, clay-tempered, differentially hardened blades with a natural and crips hamon line. These are characteristics sought after by members of this forum, and they already have plenty of sources to buy katanas (and other historical swords) from. What you need to emphasize, is the availability, when you market to the potential buyers, who for the most part are not even aware that BudK offers swords of this caliber. It's often understated the advantage of order a sword online, and have it delivered into your hand in 2 or 3 days time, and start swinging (or drawing, if they wanna practice iaido with it). Yeah, for 300 bucks, you can get swords of similar quality and similar blade steel elsewhere, but typically you need to wait for a few weeks for the production (in the current economic reality, very likely months on end), and wait for several more weeks to have it delivered (usually from China). Lots of these models are available to order from resellers in the US, but most of them are out of stock. Market to the right audience, and hammer the image of good quality and availability of your swords into their brains.
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Post by pvsampson on Mar 2, 2021 1:20:06 GMT
Why is the samurai upside down on the tsuba?
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Mar 2, 2021 1:26:50 GMT
Why is the samurai upside down on the tsuba? I figured it was so the art would be displayed outwards while the sword is sheathed and worn. The samurai image faces the grip.
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Post by pvsampson on Mar 2, 2021 4:10:10 GMT
Why is the samurai upside down on the tsuba? I figured it was so the art would be displayed outwards while the sword is sheathed and worn. The samurai image faces the grip. Katana are worn and displayed edge up and any images on tsuba are oriented to be viewed from those perspectives as when the blade is drawn one is not looking at the tsuba. So it is upside down. I notice there are others available on that site that are like this including in the Shinwa range. Not really my issue but seems to be a major oversight when making tsuba to put the image or entire design upside down and I was curious as to why they were this way.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Mar 2, 2021 4:12:26 GMT
I figured it was so the art would be displayed outwards while the sword is sheathed and worn. The samurai image faces the grip. Katana are worn and displayed edge up and any images on tsuba are oriented to be viewed from those perspectives as when the blade is drawn one is not looking at the tsuba. So it is upside down. I notice there are others available on that site that are like this including in the Shinwa range. Not really my issue but seems to be a major oversight when making tsuba to put the image or entire design upside down and I was curious as to why they were this way. Yes, I see what you mean now. It would be upside down from the perspective of anyone looking at your tsuba as you wear the sword. Probably the same guy who put the ring on the left side of the grosse messer guard. Which didn't bother me either, but a bunch of people seemed downright apoplectic over it on my YouTube video comments.
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Post by El Chingon on Mar 2, 2021 20:33:11 GMT
A great video indeed. But this sword has been slow for us. I can't figure out what's not to like on it. Especially after the video showed its abilities. I would say the product would benefit from a better bo-hi termination. The current one makes it look cheap, same as any ebay forge. Maybe change the menuki to something that fit the tsuba better. Something with a warrior or a weapon, dragons do not have to be the only way to go.
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Post by Turok on Mar 5, 2021 11:30:18 GMT
I really like this tsuba but the design needs to be flipped! Looks original and I prefer tsuba without kanji or mei like this one.
Also it would be cool if the tsuba had a ninja blackened finish!
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