SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jan 4, 2009 19:59:48 GMT
I guess you guys are right about the whole experience thing, lol . Sorry! I don't know about cheness' handling, so you seem to be the most knowledgeable of the two of us (yeah, like THAT was ever a question! lol). carry on, mate, I won't impede your opinions any further...I guess I've still got a bt to learn... ;D (though I DID say that it was just my $.02...)
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jan 4, 2009 20:01:52 GMT
As far as the SGC not being tough as the Kaze, don't differentially hardened swords bend much more easily???
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 4, 2009 20:07:28 GMT
As far as the SGC not being tough as the Kaze, don't differentially hardened swords bend much more easily??? normally, but there's more to it than the DH vs. TH issue. it's an issue of geometry. bending is not the main problem with the SGC it is pretty resistant to that. I'm talking more about rolling edges, chips and dings, and dulling. also it handles like a crowbar.
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jan 4, 2009 20:10:21 GMT
Oh...thanks for the info, I'll knock it back a few notches on my 'swords to get' list.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 20:56:36 GMT
The Kaze IS differentially hardened, though. I'd never trust my life to a Hanwei Katana, I've just heard too much about their weakness. Cheness' SGC (specialized Goza cutter) swords are actually BETTER than the tenchi. they are every bit as tough (some argue that they're even tougher), but cut better, and look cooler. IMO, their the way to go. I usually agree with Marc, but it seems to me that he has an underlying dislike for cheness...So, if you want a traditional katana, go with the Kaze, if not, the SGC is the BEST choice out there. I hope this helps! What's wrong with Hanwei? I'm curious particularly about their weaknesses... honestly I haven't heard much about weaknesses Hanwei. Really I believe that Hanwei continues to provide some very nice products. In the sub-$400 range their practical line is one of the few that are not only DH and very strong but also have some nice furniture on them. Their more expensive products are really quite nice when it comes to production swords.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 21:19:46 GMT
I do not have much of a problem with a heavy blade (I'd almost prefer it), considering I've been using western two-handers (claymores and such) for a long time and built up enough muscle from them to make everything else seem lighter. The sword from handemadesword.com was pretty thick, and I was okay with it. In fact, it's kinda how I exercise my arms and such (with two-handers).
~"Cheness has a good enough blade...but even at the best of times, their fitting were just barely acceptable. And it seems they have been getting worse lately...and at a time when there is so much better out there, I find it hard to recommend cheness unless your REALLY need a tough blade. "~
Well that would be a big plus to me at least (tough blades). But how bad are the fittings? Bad as in it would fall apart? Like if it is too thin? I won't get it if the tsuka is an issue...
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jan 4, 2009 21:20:25 GMT
I've just heard that they are brittle, no personal experience though, I'm afriad ...
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jan 4, 2009 21:21:26 GMT
The Kaze IS differentially hardened, though. I'd never trust my life to a Hanwei Katana, I've just heard too much about their weakness. Cheness' SGC (specialized Goza cutter) swords are actually BETTER than the tenchi. they are every bit as tough (some argue that they're even tougher), but cut better, and look cooler. IMO, their the way to go. I usually agree with Marc, but it seems to me that he has an underlying dislike for cheness...So, if you want a traditional katana, go with the Kaze, if not, the SGC is the BEST choice out there. I hope this helps! Your enthusiam is noted... but your info is suspect... I believe Hanwei remains the very best choice in the reproduction katana market... and you'll be hard pressed to find a more durable sword than a wind and thunder....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 21:26:54 GMT
To Stormchaser. Loose ito, badly done same, cracked cores, loose tsuba, sayas that bends blades...umm yeah pretty unacceptable level of bad.
As for heavy blades...please PLEASE do not think that because your are strong, heavy is okay. It is NOT. It makes you do bad form. And heavy also come along with it's pal, badly balanced...which also makes things worse. Your new, you want something that has the right weight and balance to learn things right the first time. Then you can play around with personal taste.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 21:43:26 GMT
To Stormchaser. Loose ito, badly done same, cracked cores, loose tsuba, sayas that bends blades...umm yeah pretty unacceptable level of bad. As for heavy blades...please PLEASE do not think that because your are strong, heavy is okay. It is NOT. It makes you do bad form. And heavy also come along with it's pal, badly balanced...which also makes things worse. Your new, you want something that has the right weight and balance to learn things right the first time. Then you can play around with personal taste. Ah, I see. So it's narrowing down to Hanwei from where I stand. The Practical Plus would be a better choice than Tenchi from Cheness? I was a bit enamored with Cheness using springsteel, I admit, since I've had good experience with a claymore made from it...but then again, it's still (10,92,51)60 steel. Hmmm. I need to check that roninswords.com I suppose.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2009 21:54:35 GMT
Hanwei katana are not brittle. I've put a Hanwei Practical Pro through a couple of small trees with absolutely no damage to the blade at all. I've also been hard pressed to chip the edge of a Hanwei blade. l've made bad cuts and cut through nails without chipping the edge. Dulled it but no chip.
From personal experience I'd say Hanwei katana have some strong blades.
For the money I'd take Marc's advice and buy Hanwei.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 4, 2009 22:21:51 GMT
I like the cheness Kaze. it's the perfect weight for me, has a really nice thick blade with good geometry, its tsuba is pretty nice in design but has noticeable mold lines and ridges (I still like it), the habaki fits tightly but only because it is made slightly too small and jamed up to the machi, it also gaps a little between the habaki and the ji, the fuchi and kashira both have very large ugly mold lines, the tsuka is a tad too narrow to grip comfortably, the wrap (on mine) is pretty tight, no real problems there, the same is ok, the saya fits ok but the koiguchi is ugly as hell, the sageo is actually quite nice, the rest of the saya is ok. I used to be a rabid defender of Cheness's quality but recently I got a hanwei Practical Light and when I looked at the bottom of hanwei's barrel and compared it to Cheness's best I had to change my tune. the facts were staring me in the face and I could not denigh them any longer. Hanwei is doing it right.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2009 0:10:26 GMT
I like the cheness Kaze. it's the perfect weight for me, has a really nice thick blade with good geometry, its tsuba is pretty nice in design but has noticeable mold lines and ridges (I still like it), the habaki fits tightly but only because it is made slightly too small and jamed up to the machi, it also gaps a little between the habaki and the ji, the fuchi and kashira both have very large ugly mold lines, the tsuka is a tad too narrow to grip comfortably, the wrap (on mine) is pretty tight, no real problems there, the same is ok, the saya fits ok but the koiguchi is ugly as hell, the sageo is actually quite nice, the rest of the saya is ok. I used to be a rabid defender of Cheness's quality but recently I got a hanwei Practical Light and when I looked at the bottom of hanwei's barrel and compared it to Cheness's best I had to change my tune. the facts were staring me in the face and I could not denigh them any longer. Hanwei is doing it right. Hmmm. Would that 30" blade katana of theirs be of any worth? I thought it looked pretty good, and they would want crit and such on it if I got it, apparently (emailed them) since the blade is on "trial run". But for what I do, I guess it can simply go under "backyard cutting"...but for that type of cutting-use (bamboo, pool noodles, boxes) I suppose a Hanwei sword is better for that rather than any of the Cheness?
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 5, 2009 1:59:49 GMT
as long as you get a good one, yeah. usuallly not too much of a problem and if you get it from a good place like the SBG store you can always get it fixed or traded in for a good one. if that's the sword that does it for you then go for it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2009 2:05:57 GMT
as long as you get a good one, yeah. usuallly not too much of a problem and if you get it from a good place like the SBG store you can always get it fixed or traded in for a good one. if that's the sword that does it for you then go for it. A Hanwei PK or the aforementioned Cheness?
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 5, 2009 2:14:06 GMT
I would go for the PK but you need to pick what will make you happy.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2009 2:15:30 GMT
Ah, true. I do believe I'll be getting something from Hanwei!
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jan 5, 2009 2:18:26 GMT
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheness is the way....it is....(gasp......wheez...)....the....way....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2009 2:23:50 GMT
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheness is the way....it is....(gasp......wheez...)....the....way.... Heh, this will not be the last sword I'll ever buy XD I'm looking to see if I can get both soon enough.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 5, 2009 2:33:49 GMT
cheness is ok and if it's what floats your boat then that's what you should get. I just have moved to a place where I'm not really looking at cheness as meeting my needs.
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