Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2009 18:40:46 GMT
Did a search on Masahiro and Musashi showed up.
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Jan 12, 2009 18:50:35 GMT
masahiro and musashi are both famous names in sword history and there are both companies and sword models etc. named after them. BUT Musashi and Masahiro the sword manufacturers are certainly NOT the same. I own a masahiro sword and all I can say is I'm glad I didn't buy it because I would have been dissapointed. but I've turned it into a decent iaito.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2009 21:40:15 GMT
Like Tom said - Masahiro and Musashi are not the same sword manufacturers.
To my knowledge Masahiro is a re-brander. That means they get swords from many different manufacturers and brand them as their own. They are affiliated with Ryumon Swords in that Ryumon Swords are the high end version of Masahiro.
Both Masahiro and Ryumon are plagued with inconsistent quality though and from model to model - even blade to blade - quality is suspect.
Musashi on the other hand - to my knowledge - forges their own swords (which are designed for the most part by company owner/president Sam Sung). Because they forge their own swords they are very consistent in quality and are generally considered a safe and reliable purchase in the area of inexpensive and entry level katana. Best known for their sub $100 katana, Musashi has made a foray into the $200-$400 level of katana too but they haven't caught on yet. My guess is that if their level of quality and value for the money is carried over into their $200-$400 katana then they may become a strong competitor in that market. As of right now in my opinion Hanwei holds the edge in that market and even in the market up to a couple (or few) thousand dollars per katana.
That said some really good katana can be had from Masahiro - but I'd say those are few and far in between. Musashi puts out reliable and consistent products that have continued to be some of the best value for the money on the market.
Just so you know though - I sell Musashi so my point of view may be a bit biased. I do not however sell Hanwei and I absolutely love their katana, more than I do Musashi.
|
|
|
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Jan 12, 2009 22:20:26 GMT
I own a masahiro model called the Masahiro Musashi katana. It is actually a masahiro named after that swordsman chap. Its a very good sword. Masahiro sub out a lot of their production. Some of their models are actually quite fine. Others are cheap and not too cheerful. Don't be put off purely as its a masahiro. SOME of their models are quite acceptable.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 13:16:56 GMT
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I was hoping Masahiro was a sleeper, and I guess it can be, but it appears to be a bit of a crap shoot.
After reading about a Masahiro bending after a flubbed cut somewhere on this board, I've pretty much decided I'm not going to gamble my money. Hanwei looks very attractive, but I'm also very interested in Musashi. Don't need the differential temper, but the blade must be well made. A long tang is a definite plus as well.
|
|
Marc Ridgeway
Member
Retired Global Moderator
"The best cost less when you buy it the first time." - Papabear
Posts: 3,122
|
Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jan 13, 2009 13:45:00 GMT
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I was hoping Masahiro was a sleeper, and I guess it can be, but it appears to be a bit of a crap shoot. After reading about a Masahiro bending after a flubbed cut somewhere on this board, I've pretty much decided I'm not going to gamble my money. Hanwei looks very attractive, but I'm also very interested in Musashi. Don't need the differential temper, but the blade must be well made. A long tang is a definite plus as well. The thing is , Masahiro , like Musashi , is a rebranding company. ... I've seen some good swords from Musashi, but I've seen plenty of bad ones too.... fake same, wire-brushed hamon, that horrible company logo stamped in the habaki... Musashi is no different from Masahiro, they source their swords from many different companies... some are good, some not so much... Masahiro sourced a series of swords from JianLong Sword Company a few years back... the "ancient warriors" set I think . the "Bamboo" was one... these are damn fine swords , as good or better than any Musashi I've seen... Heres a link to a review I did for my old Masahiro.. these are impossible to find now... but if you sort through the offerings for one with a blade that resembles this one , you'll get a fine sword... swordnation.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=swordreviews&thread=131&page=1 Of course I reccomend Hanwei over either... and if not Hanwei, then Dynasty Forge....or even *gasp* Cheness... Musashi *may* forge their own swords now.. but it certainly was not the case not to long ago... and I doubt it is now..
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 16:14:12 GMT
Obviously you are looking to buy, so how much are you wanting to spend?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 16:52:44 GMT
Obviously you are looking to buy, so how much are you wanting to spend? I just bought. The goal was to purchase a beater upon which to learn, so the price was negotiable per the trade of quality vs $$$. I DO have my eye on several Hanwei models, but I don't want to lay out a lot of cash and then screw something up out of ignorance.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 17:37:12 GMT
So what did you get then?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 17:50:36 GMT
So what did you get then? Musashi Kenjin. It'll give me an opportunity to change out the tsuba.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 18:10:11 GMT
Marc: you seem to really like hanwei, are they actually that good do you think?
|
|
Marc Ridgeway
Member
Retired Global Moderator
"The best cost less when you buy it the first time." - Papabear
Posts: 3,122
|
Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jan 13, 2009 19:23:48 GMT
BW, I think so . I think they lead the game in production kats. I've had a few, and to me they are tip top... I'm an Oni Forge fan too... but Hanwei is more refined... IMHO of course... Of all the kats I've owned.. and I've owned at least one of most any brand you can think of , I like Hanwei and Oni the best...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 20:43:17 GMT
I haven't owned as many different katana as Marc but of all the katana that have passed through my hands I have to say that Hanwei has the edge when it comes to production katana. Many people have said a lot of good things about Dynasty Forge but I still think that Hanwei is better. Yes there have been some QC but if you buy from a good vendor those QC issues can either negated completely or quickly fixed. Honestly though of the Hanwei products I've owned I've not encountered any QC issues with them aside from one katana having shitidome that were loose - not really a fatal flaw there.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2009 21:08:00 GMT
I am waiting to get in touch with Eric lee of Musashi, they just sent me 2 swords for review and both are pretty impressive... The one is about your average $300 range cutter with hi... The other one, blew me away! Everything about it reminds me of the mid-range offerings of hanwei. Really surprised the heck out of me. I don't know who made them, how much they cost, or even what the names of them are? But IMHO Musashi seems to be moving up the totem pole as a distributor if maybe just a little. I will try to get some snaps up in the next 24hours in the newly acquired thread in the review section, i'll edit this post with a link when its done.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2009 16:24:29 GMT
Its probably a little late to put in my 2 cents...but I own 2 masahiros and would not recommend them to anyone. I purchased the Kill Bill "Budds' Sword" not for cutting but because it was the most accurate looking one made. The other is the masahiro elite musashi katana. Though pretty looking....its very disappointing. Both of my Musashi katanas cut way better than the Masahiro hunk of crap. And to think i got 2 for the price of the one. Oh well.....live and learn.
|
|