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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 3:12:33 GMT
So my birthday is coming up in april. Wanted to get a decent sword beyond the few wallhangers and masahiros I have. Something in the $200 ballpark, no higher. I want something of true quality. One absolutly good Katana to own before I move on to other types of swords. As right now I just have alot of pretty shiny metal things that caught my attention, and a few decent light cutters. So after talking to some pople I've decided to go with the 9260 Spring Steel Katana in Shirasaya from Cheness.
Now this "bare fittings" type blade will be the gift. While the fittings will be from myself to myself. I see the website for Cheness has fittings for sale, which with very little work should fit easily onto this blade. Now my question is what am I getting myself into going this route.
The spring steel doesn't look like it has mekugi pegs, and is wedged into the handle, so I would assume there are no holes drilled. Right? Which I might like that idea becuase the custom tsukas (handle right?) have no holes drilled and I can't imagine how I would line those holes up if the blade was already drilled. But than those handles also do not come with mekugi pegs, and the website does not sell those either. So now I have to track those down and figure out how to fit them correctly. Not to mention than actually finding the right tools to do the drilling and make sure its the right size for the pegs.
The last is the saya, obviously theres a good chance it won't be a perfect fit. So how does one go about fixing the mouth of the saya for a better fit? I assume with a simple file?
So basically this handle is going to give me the most grief it seems. So does anyone have any tips, solutions, advice for those potential problems? I have zero experience here and I would like something that is a bit mine. I put it together myself, somewhat. Its its style and look is a bit unique. Not something that you can just browse off of true swords and order it. Also I understand that the total cost of all of that is in the same ballpark as the $300 make your own katana this site offers. But frankly, I don't think I have the patience to wait for it to be forged and such. Especially if its a birthday gift ordered not to long before the actual day.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 3:17:57 GMT
Wel, you won't get "Absolutely Good" for $200 or less. But there are lots of decent Katanas out there in that range...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 3:23:37 GMT
Well yeah I guess im not going to get amazing, but people have found diamonds in the rough, for far far far less money. Does anyone even own one of these blades? I am looking in the wrong place for what I want. 200 bucks i the limit, and thats really pushing it, for the gift. Seeing as how the blade is listed normally for about $380, on sale for 199 (available here for 190), and with fitting I guess would bump that another 100 or so, aren't we really talking about something closer to four, five hundred, maybe more? If it had been ready to go with all the fittings that is. Or is that just good marketing?
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Marc Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jan 19, 2009 3:26:26 GMT
Well yeah I guess im not going to get amazing, but people have found diamonds in the rough, for far far far less money. Does anyone even own one of these blades? I am looking in the wrong place for what I want. 200 bucks i the limit, and thats really pushing it, for the gift. Seeing as how the blade is listed normally for about $380, on sale for 199 (available here for 190), and with fitting I guess would bump that another 100 or so, aren't we really talking about something closer to four, five hundred, maybe more? If it had been ready to go with all the fittings that is. Or is that just good marketing? Good Marketing
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 3:26:32 GMT
Check out the Japanese Blades forum and the Sword Reviews forums Lots of stuff in your range that I think you'd be happy with...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 3:36:38 GMT
A little hard to look through those when Im not exactly sure what it is im looking for. Maybe some recommendations? I guess my idea is not worth it than? I couldn't find any reviews from anyone who bought it.
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Post by genocideseth on Jan 19, 2009 4:38:57 GMT
Well, the katana you originally planned would be "Very decent" in my opinion, but I myself have never handled one. But as far as functioning goes, my little sister almost chopped off her friends finger with a stainless steel wallhanger. I am pretty sure the katana you were looking at would do much, much more. I also planned to do something similar with the exact same katana blade.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 7:32:40 GMT
But as far as functioning goes, my little sister almost chopped off her friends finger with a stainless steel wallhanger. I am pretty sure the katana you were looking at would do much, much more. I also planned to do something similar with the exact same katana blade. What? Cut off your sister's friends finger?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 7:49:30 GMT
Okay if your new to swords, DO NOT get a shirasaya. If you think a 100 bucks is gonna cover the fittings, you off by a good margin there...assuming you have the skill and time to actually do the work yourself. If it's your first time, expect to waste a lot of same and ito at the very least as you learn. And same ain't cheap.
As for good sub 200 katana...the one I like best is the DH 1045 musashi katanas. They are under 100 bucks and are REALLY good swords. You can also get a hanwei practical elite for under 200 at KoA.
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Post by Dave(utilityslave) on Jan 19, 2009 11:38:57 GMT
It sounds like his budget is actually around $300.......$200 for blade and $100 for furniture. Dynasty Forge Musha class from Wiwingtiswordsupply.com.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 12:17:18 GMT
Well originally I thought you simply buy the sword, and get the fittings from the site, and with a little work everything falls into place. Has the handle is fully wrapped and all that. But I see im wrong right? Becuase buying all of those fittings comes to $108, without tax or shipping. So the budget is still about 200 really, the other 100 would be from me, I have wanted to add it. If I found something worth it. So lets put it at from 180-300, what is worth it? Im looking for a sword with proper fittings (obviously won't get everything great at this price, but of course I want real same and a tight wrap), good functionality (I have yet to cut anything but when I do I want something that I shouldn't be afraid to cut with for fear of easy damage) and some eye candy. Its going to be on my shelf a bit and I want something to stands out. Not just some absolute plain looking thing.
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Post by Dave(utilityslave) on Jan 19, 2009 12:36:41 GMT
I still recommend the DF brand and the Musha class is in your price range and exceeds your requirements. Marc at Wiwingti Sword Supply has good prices and excellent customer service and accessibility and is a member of this forum.
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jan 19, 2009 16:50:12 GMT
I know where to get a Hanwei Practical Elite for only $158. Would that work?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 18:24:59 GMT
Well originally I thought you simply buy the sword, and get the fittings from the site, and with a little work everything falls into place. Has the handle is fully wrapped and all that. But I see im wrong right? Becuase buying all of those fittings comes to $108, without tax or shipping. So the budget is still about 200 really, the other 100 would be from me, I have wanted to add it. If I found something worth it. So lets put it at from 180-300, what is worth it? Im looking for a sword with proper fittings (obviously won't get everything great at this price, but of course I want real same and a tight wrap), good functionality (I have yet to cut anything but when I do I want something that I shouldn't be afraid to cut with for fear of easy damage) and some eye candy. Its going to be on my shelf a bit and I want something to stands out. Not just some absolute plain looking thing. Okay don't get a tsuka from cheness. They aren't made well and aren't worth the money. Not only that, but a tsuka needs to be matched to the blade...if it's assembles already without you having to send in your blade, it just won't fit right...at all. Basically to have one done right, you looking at over 100 bucks on just the tsuka alone. Much less the rest of the furniture. As for around 300 bucks...if you can wait, the roninsword's Heianjo for 300 bucks which is very nice. And since this is a semi-custom piece with silk ito it'll fill the eye candy portion very nicely. The hanwei and DF kinda don't IMHO. But once again the downside is a REALLY long wait time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2009 22:22:03 GMT
Yeah those practicals are to plain for my taste. They are there for dojo cutting. That it. Period. Im not a dojo cutting, I like some eye candy on my deadly weapons lol. What about those $200 Musashi swords?
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Post by genocideseth on Jan 20, 2009 0:39:20 GMT
But as far as functioning goes, my little sister almost chopped off her friends finger with a stainless steel wallhanger. I am pretty sure the katana you were looking at would do much, much more. I also planned to do something similar with the exact same katana blade. What? Cut off your sister's friends finger? Well, she almost did. Lie I do not. It was quite gruesome.
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jan 20, 2009 1:21:41 GMT
What did your parents do to your little sister? I'm guessing she has a semi-permanent 'anti-swords' ban, lol.
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Post by genocideseth on Jan 20, 2009 1:26:39 GMT
Well, she did get an old fashioned form of discipline (Good old fashion spanking). Her friend was rushed to the hospital with my mom. After that, she was never allowed to sneak in my room again...
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Jan 20, 2009 1:32:04 GMT
Oh, owch...now YOUR sword has a blood-stain. Horrible for the steel, doncha know.
Lucky me hasn't had to ever experience that particular punishment, lol.
Nice wallhanger though, if it could do that.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2009 1:36:14 GMT
YOUR SWORD HAS TASTED BLOOD! NOW IT WILL BEG FOR MORE!
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