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Post by Eric Bergeron on Oct 3, 2023 18:48:09 GMT
Hello sword friends, I am looking for some recommendations for a TH sword in a couple different price ranges, they are under $500, under $1k and up to $1.5k. Looking for steel recommendations as well. Sword will be used for cutting and SHTF scenario as a backup. Not looking for any traditionally made DH as I have those. Thanks
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Post by larason2 on Oct 3, 2023 19:00:07 GMT
Well, in the under $500 there's the Ronin Dojo Pro. Mine came with a lot of cosmetic issues, but it's a really solid cutter, if heavy. In the under $1000 There's the Ronin elite. I got the bare blade, which is just as heavy if not more heavy, but I suspect it's also a good cutter, and it was quite well forged.
For a through hardened blade, you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a good cutter. From the $500 to $1500 range, you're really just paying for better koshirae and (maybe) attention to detail. If Ronin are too heavy, you can go with something like Jkoo or Wang Katana 2011. I'm waiting on my custom Jkoo blade, but the custom Wang katana came out pretty nice. A long time before I cut with either of them, and neither of them are through hardened though. However, since they're both sort of direct custom makers, I would say their attention to detail is a bit better, and they were both nice to deal with.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Oct 4, 2023 2:53:35 GMT
For SHTF I have my Hanwei Raptor Shinogi Zukuri. 5160 steel isn't a supersteel but solid and no trouble for the smiths, so probably less heat treatment failures.
My choice for a lighter and more agile kat (but less indestructible) would be the Hanwei Tactical katana, 5160 too, thinner, lighter, bohi, no tsuka problems, extremely well balanced. It's the little sister of the Raptors and my favorite sword
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Post by Lord Newport on Oct 4, 2023 3:57:06 GMT
Please forgive my ignorance but what is a "TH" sword? What is a "DH" sword?
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tera
Moderator
Posts: 1,666
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Post by tera on Oct 4, 2023 4:36:45 GMT
TH = through hardened, or monotempered.
DH = dual hardened, or clay tempered.
(I think)
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Oct 4, 2023 5:23:31 GMT
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Post by vegah on Oct 4, 2023 13:27:42 GMT
The Musha 1060 from Dynasty Forge is marked down to $200, and is a decent TH blade. I posted a review with some pictures in the Reviews board.
I haven't cut with mine yet, but everything is still tight after months of regular (a few times a week) happo-giri.
V.
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on Oct 4, 2023 15:36:53 GMT
For sub $500 check out Musashi. They often lack the frills & bells but the basics are there, well put together, and hold up. Mine are more the 15 years and are tight as a drum, and slice copy paper like a razor. Of course, I’ve had to maintain them over the years. Musha, I believe, is part of that company. I’ve no experience with them but have heard nothing bad. I don’t believe that you could go wrong with either, though my preference is with Musashi.
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Post by treeslicer on Oct 4, 2023 17:41:59 GMT
Hello sword friends, I am looking for some recommendations for a TH sword................... Avoid them, and find a superb water-quenched DH katana instead (preferably with a choji hamon, and nicely folded).
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Post by Eric Bergeron on Oct 4, 2023 18:51:07 GMT
TH = through hardened, or monotempered. DH = dual hardened, or clay tempered. (I think) Yes that is correct.
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Post by Eric Bergeron on Oct 4, 2023 18:52:36 GMT
Please forgive my ignorance but what is a "TH" sword? What is a "DH" sword? TH= Through hardened, mono tempered, ie no hamon. DH= Differentially hardened, ie typical japanese katana with a hamon.
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Post by Eric Bergeron on Oct 4, 2023 18:54:34 GMT
Hello sword friends, I am looking for some recommendations for a TH sword................... Avoid them, and find a superb water-quenched DH katana instead (preferably with a choji hamon, and nicely folded). :D (rofl) Why avoid them? Or were you just being funny?
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Post by Eric Bergeron on Oct 4, 2023 18:55:55 GMT
For SHTF I have my Hanwei Raptor Shinogi Zukuri. 5160 steel isn't a supersteel but solid and no trouble for the smiths, so probably less heat treatment failures. My choice for a lighter and more agile kat (but less indestructible) would be the Hanwei Tactical katana, 5160 too, thinner, lighter, bohi, no tsuka problems, extremely well balanced. It's the little sister of the Raptors and my favorite sword Thanks Andi for the recommendations, what are your thoughts on the dragon king seasonal katanas? Specifically the autumn one?
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Post by Eric Bergeron on Oct 4, 2023 18:57:10 GMT
For sub $500 check out Musashi. They often lack the frills & bells but the basics are there, well put together, and hold up. Mine are more the 15 years and are tight as a drum, and slice copy paper like a razor. Of course, I’ve had to maintain them over the years. Musha, I believe, is part of that company. I’ve no experience with them but have heard nothing bad. I don’t believe that you could go wrong with either, though my preference is with Musashi. Thank you my friend for the recommendations, I will check them out and add it to the list to look at.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Oct 4, 2023 20:50:21 GMT
I don't own any Dragon King kats and can't say anything about them, sorry.
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Post by miraculix101 on Oct 4, 2023 21:24:40 GMT
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Post by Eric Bergeron on Oct 4, 2023 23:47:45 GMT
Funny you mention cloudhammer as I was looking at their katana's last night, was going to ask about them. I'll take a look at your review.
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Post by treeslicer on Oct 5, 2023 13:56:47 GMT
Avoid them, and find a superb water-quenched DH katana instead (preferably with a choji hamon, and nicely folded). Why avoid them? Or were you just being funny? Partially humor, but I prefer a good, active hamon, both for aesthetics, and also as visible proof that the some care was taken in the heat-treat,
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Post by blairbob on Oct 9, 2023 3:47:07 GMT
The Ronin elite is a forged/folded differentially hardened blade. They seem very pretty though.
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Post by blairbob on Oct 9, 2023 3:58:07 GMT
musashiswords.com/collections/musha-swordsbasically the econo line with 1045 through hardened steel. i can see imitation rayskin on some of the offerings around $149.99 but a few expensive models might have real same. A model that is $199.99 looks like it has real rayskin. The $179.99 offering doesn't state it, but I think it may use the imitation rayskin as well. There are some Highlander clones in there too 45-52 HRC is on the borderline of being softer. the silver line uses 1060 while is stated to be 55 HRC, gold uses 1090/95/T10 so higher carbon and some models state 55HRC, and the platinum is folded or or sanmai.
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