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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2008 1:04:47 GMT
Hiya Guys. Let me just start by saying I'm new to this forum and this is my first post ever - on ANY forum!! Let me also say that you guys really do ROCK!! Your knowledge, Enthusiasm and Generosity (by sharing that knowledge) is fantastic. To have found like minded people like yourselves is a godsend. So I think a great big Thanx to Paul Southren is in order-- THANX PAUL!! ;D Now guys I'm looking at buying a katana and i can stretch my budget to about $350. (I'm from the UK). the one I'm going for at the moment is the Ryumon Dragon Katana with hand crafted saya- please follow the link below: www.kultofathena.com/product~item~RY3200~name~Ryumon+Hand+Painted+Dragon+Katana.htm I want something mainly to take pride of place on my mantelpiece. Something that looks beautiful, is well put together, and has a genuine Hamon!! but i also want to know i can cut with it should i get the urge! (odd water bottle here or there!!) Ive also seen BADTRACK on EBAY and was wondering if any of you have dealt with him, and what his swords are like - they sound almost too good to be true!! I am trying to make my mind up between the Ryumon Dragon (to which Ive read the very promising review by Paul) - Or this Musashi Below. I cant seem to tell if its got a real Hamon though, but i think its a lovely looking sword. And as far as i know, Musashi has a pretty decent reputation. (Please follow the link below): cgi.ebay.com/Hand-Forged-Katana-Sword-W-Mother-of-Pearl-Sakura-Red_W0QQitemZ220288338413QQihZ012QQcategoryZ43338QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem I reckon Ive gone on long enough now!! So please fellas any help, advice or pointers you could give me would be really, really VERY HIGHLY APPRECIATED !! THANX in Advance guys and i really do look forward to reading what you have to say. ps. This is going to be the first sword in my collection. Thanx.. pps. If the links are not working hold down left key acroos lenghth of link, untill its highlighted, then if you right click then click on go to this address you will get to the page. Cheers. (the bottom one seems ok, but i couldnt get the top one to work properly. Its at Kultofathena.com. priced $ 309 Jazz...
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Oct 9, 2008 1:17:18 GMT
Hello Jazz,
Is that just a name , or are you a jazz fan? I like Stanely Clark, Jaco Pastorious and Weather Report, and lots of other Jazz.
Anyway on to your post.
Ryumon isn't something I'd normally reccomend for that price, but for what you require of a katana it might be just the thing.
It will certainly cut bottles fine, and it will make a beautiful display sword. I do believe that might be an excellent first sword for you.
I implore you not to explore this avenue... badtrack has many ids on ebay... badtrack,katana 1980. djspirit, makhala warrior, and others... Some have reported getting decent swords from them, but I got three myself, all unacceptable.
Welcome to the forum, and good luck embarking on your new addiction... er.... avocation.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2008 1:26:34 GMT
Ha! Ha! Thankyou for that Marc, great to hear from you. That was my gut feeling about badtrack too! What do you think of the Musashi? its being sold on ebay by Topicool, who's based in the USA, and it is $100 dollars cheaper than the Ryumon, but i've got a niggling feeling its not got a genuine Hamon. ps. Yeah, that is my Name! And it was my dad who was a Jazz fan!! pps. I get the feeling a lot of people dont like Ryumon but judging from Pauls review it doesnt seem too bad!?
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Oct 9, 2008 1:41:45 GMT
Ha! Ha! Thankyou for that Marc, great to hear from you. That was my gut feeling about badtrack too! What do you think of the Musashi? its being sold on ebay by Topicool, who's based in the USA, and it is $100 dollars cheaper than the Ryumon, but i've got a niggling feeling its not got a genuine Hamon. ps. Yeah, that is my Name! And it was my dad who was a Jazz fan!! pps. I get the feeling a lot of people dont like Ryumon but judging from Pauls review it doesnt seem too bad!? Alot of folks , me included, don't think that much of Ryumon because their is really no forge behind them... they are a brand copyrighted by Master Cutlery, along with Masahiro. They are kind of a higher end Masahiro. They seem to be mostly made for looks, and performance as an afterthought... Myself, I am not an avid supporter of Ryumon because I buy my swords as Martial Art tools first... but I think the Ryumon might be a great fit for you. It is certainly a beautiful sword, and will make a great occasional cutter. Musashi I can't really comment on... never owned one, and they're just not my cup of tea... likely because they came along after I had put $200 katana behind me. I do know the brand is associated with Chris Zhou, or Zheng Zhou Wu, not that he forges them, but theyare made at his facility or whatever. Chris is a swordmaker of note.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2008 2:03:29 GMT
While the Musashi is a good sword the Ryumon might be a better option simply because of the retailer you're getting it from. Between the ebayer and KoA, I'd trust KoA rather than chance the quality of my sword with ebay shops. That being said, Musashi brand swords aren't bad for the money. Try looking into their actual website for their swords. At least then you'll know you're getting the real thing.
Sam
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Post by shadowhowler on Oct 9, 2008 4:19:17 GMT
I would agree with Sam... no matter what katana you settle on, the retailer of the sword you buy matters... as thats who your going to deal with if you have any trouble. Topicool sells mostly SLO (Sword-like-objects) some of them are very nice looking and decently priced... I've even bought a display only sword from them for taking to Ren Faire's. However... I would *NOT* but any functional sword from them... it's just not their bag.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2008 4:33:34 GMT
Hey jazz,
I just noticed in the classifieds area that DBK Swords is having a "rummage/garage" sale. He's got two swords from Musashi Swords for sale, both pretty well used but they're still good and functional. Make him an offer. I'm sure it'll be less expensive than buying brand new and I'm pretty sure you won't get the same crap like you might get from Topicool. Besides at least you know his swords have been tested...
Btw if you're thinking of spending upwards of $350 for a katana then consider also a Hanwei, Kris Cutlery or Ronin Swords katana. The Hanwei practical series are well priced and very good (I have 4 of them) and I've heard very good things about Kris Cutlery as well as Ronin Swords. Especially at Ronin, he's got a sale on his Heinjo swords and his Hana Kage swords. Check them out too.
-Sam
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Post by shadowhowler on Oct 9, 2008 6:04:22 GMT
I just noticed in the classifieds area that DBK Swords is having a "rummage/garage" sale. He's got two swords from Musashi Swords for sale, both pretty well used but they're still good and functional. Make him an offer. I'm sure it'll be less expensive than buying brand new and I'm pretty sure you won't get the same crap like you might get from Topicool. Besides at least you know his swords have been tested... Indeed. Many of the swords he is selling have been reviwed here on SBG, and have pictures and video of them being 'tested'... hard to beat direct evidence of the swords function neh?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2008 7:18:45 GMT
Hey Jazz, I just purchased a brand new $70 Musashi from their site and I am more than satisfied with it. I don't think you'll be disapointed. It came razor sharp and well oiled, it cuts very well and looks great too. I wonder if the same(rayskin) is real? I can't tell.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2008 17:25:03 GMT
i think if your looking at spending 350 you might as well get somethign like the hanwei practical plus elite or something from the musha class of dynasty forge you also might wanna look at www.samurai-sword-shop.com/they're based int eh uk i think and they have a few things exclusive to them that might fit what your looking for and your budget
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2008 18:37:03 GMT
Well,... there are so many options at the $350 mark that it will make your head spin! And i agree with most of the recommendations that others have given. The Hanwei lines are pretty nice,... i own a PPEK and i really love it! Its nice. Musashi is a good choice in terms of variety and affordability, but i have never owned one of their $300 range swords. I have however tested a $4500 prototype from them (which will be reviewed here shortly). It is really cool! Cheness offers some good quality swords with outstanding toughness, the detail on them is not the greatest but they are workhorse katana nonetheless. You may want to explore the Ronin Sword possibility as they are pretty special indeed... For right now the first thing that comes to mind is one of Paul's SBG katana. They are in the range you are looking for and you can choose you options to make it personalized to your liking too. You may want to have a look at the product page for them... Here it is: SBG Official Katana
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slav
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Post by slav on Oct 9, 2008 18:49:02 GMT
I second Jim's sentiments on the Hanwei Practical Plus Elite Katana. I owned one and can say that it is an excellent cutter, with a beefy blade and nice fittings.
It can be found on Amazon.com for a mere $260.
But then again, the hamon is not completely real and it may be too subtle and simple for your display purposes. In which case, any of the above suggestions could work too.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2008 3:03:05 GMT
slavia what exactly do you mean that the PPEK doesnt have a real hamon... unless you are just talkinga bout the acid etch they add to it but all the hanwei stuff do have a real hamon they just "enhance" them with an acid etch was my understanding
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2008 3:07:09 GMT
Hi guys. Thanx for all the feedback. I think the point about paying more attention to the retailer is a very good one, something i would have glossed over left to my own devices! I will, i think, be placing an order with Kult of Athena for the hand painted Ryumon Dragon: www.cultofathena.com/product~item~RY3200~name~Ryumon+Hand+Painted+Dragon+Katana.htm I just think, from the pics ive seen, that it is a beautiful sword, mainly due to the hand painted saya. (And with a genuine Hamon too, as Paul Southren assures us in his 1st class review of this sword.- Though it is the plain black saya one he uses) Well fellas, THANX again, greatly appreciate all the feedback. I will post back, when i get my hands on it, with some pictures aswell. Though it might be a while cuz its being shipped from the USA to England, and then theres all the rigmarole with customs etc..
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2008 14:35:04 GMT
Get the SBG custom.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2009 1:15:58 GMT
Hi there Marc, i noticed you mentioned the swords you got from bad.track were unsatisfactory. Can you explain in more detail please... was it the steel, tangs, fittings you were unhappy with. I have been looking into this company and am thinking of getting one of their folded clay tempered katana purley as a wall hanger, but it would be nice to know it could safley cut bottles of water if i wanted to (i have a musashi for that already!) Cheers!
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jan 14, 2009 1:29:33 GMT
Hi there Marc, i noticed you mentioned the swords you got from bad.track were unsatisfactory. Can you explain in more detail please... was it the steel, tangs, fittings you were unhappy with. Yes. There was no heat treat. The blade bent on my first cut, think it was a rolled up newspaper... the blade now looks like an S... or maybe a lightning bolt. Fittings were pot metal, and painted black, tsuka-ho was cracked, ito loose, kashira loose on tsuka, tsuba rattled, the sword fell out of the saya if tipped at all, and the blade was rather dull with a poorly done secondary bevel... I'm sure more was wrong that I can't recall.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 14, 2009 3:31:46 GMT
yikes Marc! having seen all that right away why'd you even swing it? was it just to put proof to the lie? so to speak. sounds like a dangerous toy. sad, just sad.
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jan 14, 2009 3:34:21 GMT
yikes Marc! having seen all that right away why'd you even swing it? was it just to put proof to the lie? so to speak. sounds like a dangerous toy. sad, just sad. Absolute morbid curiousity... just had to see if anything else could possible be wrong with it....
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 14, 2009 3:38:28 GMT
LOL, yup that sounds about right. I understand the desire.
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