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Post by nickthegreek26 on Jan 8, 2024 16:53:15 GMT
Hey there, A quite common topic apparently, however it seems information regarding active tsukamakishi is either outdated (For example the most recent topics I could find here were from 2022), focused mainly in the U.S. or just all over the place. I thought it might be a good idea to have an actively maintained list, maybe stickied too, with the artists, their location and means to contact them, maybe some feedback too from those who have first hand experience. Starting with those I have managed to dig up: - cottontailcustoms.com/ US. Appears to longer accepting commissions, but still great source of information for students/diyers. - www.schwert-couture.de/ EU, Couple from Germany, prices starting at around 250E. (For a typical ~26cm tsuka hineri maki for reference) - KatanaCustoms EU, 2 guys from Sweden, also around 250-300E. - rewrapstudio.com/ US, I think I found that one from the sbg here, appears very affordable. - www.shadrik.co.uk/2018/04/shadleyhax-tsukamaki-services.html UK guy, not sure if still active, has not responded to my mail for some time now. - shiningmoon13.com/ Also US, starting from $145.00 - Josiah Boomershine US- VietNam- Tsukamaki Vietnam - Maybe inactive? Has not responded to any of the social media handles. - (Randy Black - US, Could not dig up much info) Feel free to expand the list, provide feedback/personal experiences, corrections and stuff!
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Post by Arlequin on Jan 9, 2024 0:13:43 GMT
Shiningmoon13 is active but selective of the jobs he takes, only accepts high end peices, no production tsuka lol
I think Shadrik is on hiatus, he really only works people local to him as import laws have made it very difficult to send to stuff to him.
Randy black same as Shiningmoon lol.
I think Rewrap is the best option right now, he needs the practice.
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Post by nickthegreek26 on Jan 9, 2024 14:47:12 GMT
That would be my go-to option especially if I wanted something more affordable, plus helping a new guy out of course. But shipping stuff to the US from non US countries is even worse than uk, cost and time-wise...
Would there be issues (With say, the UK) even with just tsukas? Blades, that d be understandable.
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Post by jester on Jan 9, 2024 17:59:52 GMT
I'm friend with Shad, we are both in London UK and I can confirm he doesn't longer take commissions.
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Post by nickthegreek26 on Jan 9, 2024 22:46:39 GMT
I'm friend with Shad, we are both in London UK and I can confirm he doesn't longer take commissions. Ah great, thanks for confirming it. Shame the whole EU has now only 2 options, at least from what I have managed to dig up. Def there is room for more. I contacted the german couple some time ago for example and they were booked for almost a year ahead...
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Post by metinemre on Jan 10, 2024 1:36:02 GMT
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Post by JH Lee on Jan 10, 2024 5:31:34 GMT
As far as I know, Randy Black is either not taking orders or is functionally MIA. I wish him well and hope he has not retired from the craft.
Rewrap. We shall see.
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Post by blairbob on Jan 10, 2024 9:19:58 GMT
Rewrap got a 9-5 so I think he's not trying to do as much work. I haven't heard if he has stopped but just that his time is limited. I don't see him on the RVA Discord of late.
off the top of my head in the US you are missing John D Mesa and Ted Tenold besides Lohman's (who just sources it out to somewhere in Asia. Phillipines I had heard).
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RE:Wrap Studio
Manufacturer/Vendor
A wise man learns from his mistakes, a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others.
Posts: 89
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Post by RE:Wrap Studio on Jan 11, 2024 18:44:42 GMT
I still indeed take on work, although I have slowed my intake rate because of needing to also get myself a regular job. You can count me as active on this list. Thank you for putting it together! There are a ton of wonderful and talented tsukamaki-shi around the world. I hope to reach a higher level myself one day
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Post by wildv on Jan 14, 2024 4:44:58 GMT
I still indeed take on work, although I have slowed my intake rate because of needing to also get myself a regular job. You can count me as active on this list. Thank you for putting it together! There are a ton of wonderful and talented tsukamaki-shi around the world. I hope to reach a higher level myself one day That's odd because the tsuka I sent you 8 months ago still has not arrived, you stopped responding to messages through Gmail and Facebook and now I have lost all the expensive fittings and tsuka I sent you. I had to go through Paypal to get my money back because the 180 days buyer protection was about to expire and at the very least I could recover some cost. I didn't know what else to do?
Want to know has anyone else used this guy and got their finished tsuka? I believe this to be a scam as unlike other craftsmen I never received finished photos, any kind of tracking info or anything even though I was informed it was finished back in June 2023.
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Post by wildv on Jan 14, 2024 4:45:22 GMT
He scammed me and I lost my expensive fittings.
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RE:Wrap Studio
Manufacturer/Vendor
A wise man learns from his mistakes, a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others.
Posts: 89
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Post by RE:Wrap Studio on Jan 14, 2024 17:57:50 GMT
He scammed me and I lost my expensive fittings. Scamming anyone is the last thing I would do. I had many complications with shipping this overseas as we had discussed. I got the handle back in my possession and am reshipping to you George. Please check your Facebook messenger or your email for details. You will have them shortly. While I made mistakes the past year and was not the best with communication, (life beat my ass 2023) I don't use them as an excuse. Please understand, this kind of thing would ruin a person. I would never do it to anyone because I would be crushed if it happened to me.
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Post by wildv on Jan 15, 2024 1:46:13 GMT
He scammed me and I lost my expensive fittings. Scamming anyone is the last thing I would do. I had many complications with shipping this overseas as we had discussed. I got the handle back in my possession and am reshipping to you George. Please check your Facebook messenger or your email for details. You will have them shortly. While I made mistakes the past year and was not the best with communication, (life beat my ass 2023) I don't use them as an excuse. Please understand, this kind of thing would ruin a person. I would never do it to anyone because I would be crushed if it happened to me. I mean, to be fair this will be the 3rd time you've shipped it back to me (apparently). Understand that life happens and we get busy but all we ever need as consumers is contact, a yes or a no. This is why HuaWei Swords are so unpopular now and rightfully so.
Even with the Paypal claim, surely you would have seen that and got in contact with me?
I don't feel that anything I've said or done is unreasonable?
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RE:Wrap Studio
Manufacturer/Vendor
A wise man learns from his mistakes, a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others.
Posts: 89
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Post by RE:Wrap Studio on Jan 15, 2024 1:58:29 GMT
You said nothing unreasonable at all. I am not upset by the words, but upset with how I let things slip the way that they did. I take full responsibility for my poor communication near the end part of the year. The customs thing was a debacle id rather not go into. It was my mistakes with labeling and declarations that causes the hold-up. Strangely enough, my email filter put the dispute in my junk email bin even though I get every other email from PayPal. I did not know there was anything amiss until I saw a negative balance and investigated. Regardless, I was already going to insist on giving you a refund for the trouble. Thank you for letting me do the work and I am happy that it is finally on its way to you George. Cheers
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Post by wildv on Jan 15, 2024 6:27:54 GMT
I will update here as needed, just for anyone else wondering. Thanks Rob!
EDIT: Update in comments below.
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Post by blairbob on Jan 15, 2024 7:22:17 GMT
i am glad this seems to be settling out
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Post by JH Lee on Jan 26, 2024 5:37:01 GMT
I will update here as needed, just for anyone else wondering. Thanks Rob! Asking for update.
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Post by nickthegreek26 on Jan 31, 2024 14:12:55 GMT
So basically out of all these people only a couple are active and accepting commissions? damn...
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Post by wildv on Feb 1, 2024 5:28:49 GMT
I will update here as needed, just for anyone else wondering. Thanks Rob! Asking for update. I got the tsuka back! The tsukamaki is better than your normal Chinese forges like Hanbon, Ryansword, Musashi etc. But it's not at the level of Zsey, Motohara, Citadel or higher end stuff. Just needs more practice is my guess and it's still a great option for having your handle re-done as the wrap will hold up fine I'm sure.
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Post by Arlequin on Feb 1, 2024 8:11:56 GMT
So basically out of all these people only a couple are active and accepting commissions? damn... Yup,right now I think Rewrap, Student of war and katanacustoms(euro based) are the only viable options for regular folk, everyone else is either semi retired or only does high end pieces. Unfortunately it's a gig that doesn't pay well, most of these dudes are doing this as a hobby to begin with,managing random strangers expensive personal property on top of having a day job is a special kind of stress that doesn't attract allot of new people to the art. As you can see in this thread things get heated very fast when time gets away from you lol.
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