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Post by ambulocetus on Nov 7, 2022 4:59:21 GMT
That's a nice one, Drunk Merchant. I'd rather have that than a brand new Shinsakuto.
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Post by ambulocetus on Nov 7, 2022 4:52:22 GMT
Yea, it's probably not the smartest investment, but if you really want a Handachi, I say go for it. You'll probably never make back your money if you sell it, but if it makes you happy, that's what it's all about. I would shop around for decent fittings and then send it out to one of the other American Togishi. Lohman does great work, but he's definitely not the cheapest. There's a lot of crappy zinc alloy fittings on Ebay, but if you keep your eyes open you can run across some decent stuff at a good price. I lurked on Ebay for like 2 years and eventually I found some great Chinese made fittings that were difficult to tell apart from real Japanese fittings. You just have to be patient and careful.
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Post by ambulocetus on Nov 7, 2022 4:34:32 GMT
From what I know, they were amazing swords. I heard that they were having trouble with the regular Gunto cracking easily in the cold Manchurian winter, so they wanted to make a more durable blade that could handle extremes of temperature. I wish a modern smith would make a blade the same way they made them. It would be a good sword. I had a chance to buy one back when they were cheap, but I couldn't come up with the cash. Still kicking myself.
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Post by ambulocetus on Nov 6, 2022 20:27:39 GMT
One time I dragged a friend of mine down to Mazon Creek to look for fossils. We stopped in a diner and chatted with the waitress a bit. We told her we were going to Mazon Creek, and she said "it's pretty long drive from Chicago, isn't it." We were astonished how she knew where we came from, and asked her how she knew. She told us that if we were locals, we would have pronounced it mah-ZONE Creek, b ut since we pronounced it MAY-zon Creek, she knew we weren't from around there. So if I ever go back, I will try to remember to pronounce it correctly, but if I'm talking to a scientist or a museum curator or a librarian I will pronounce it the way I originally did, because that's the way they pronounce it, and I want them to know what I'm talking about. So it's great to know the correct way, but it's also good to be understood. The reason we talk is to communicate, and if the people you are communicating with don't know the words you are using, at best they might not understand you, and at worst they might think you're being pretentious.
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Post by ambulocetus on Nov 6, 2022 18:05:59 GMT
Thanks for this post. I spent quite a while on their website last night. They seem to have very reasonable prices. Unfortunately I'm broke at the moment, but I'm definitely keeping them in my favorites.
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Post by ambulocetus on Oct 20, 2022 12:32:43 GMT
Update: After a humid summer, the glue holding the vegan leather on the sheath appears to have failed. It's not a huge deal, but they could've kept the stitching going all the way around and it would have been more durable. Still, if this is the only complaint, that's not a deal breaker.
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Post by ambulocetus on Oct 18, 2022 3:19:06 GMT
A few years ago I got a really cheap sword from Arts Feng that has some kind of artificial same. You can stick your fingernail inbetween the ito and feel that it isn't organic. I have no idea if they still have that or even if Arts Feng is still around. I didn't really mind because it felt relatively strong and it's a full wrap. Personally, I'd rather have a full wrap of an artificial material than panels of real rayskin, as long as it's strong enough for the job. In fact I wrapped the handle of one of my swords in carbon fiber instead of same. I posted about it a while back- sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/53344/new-tsuka-hanwei-renshu
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Post by ambulocetus on Oct 14, 2022 2:56:27 GMT
I only occasionally watch Shogo, but I never miss Asayama Ichiden Kai's videos. Mr Seki is very knowledgeable, a good teacher, and seems like a really nice guy. They have an English channel too, but they rarely post anything. Maybe Shogo will help with that? There are 2 branches of Asayama Ryu, this one is mostly weapons, the other one is mostly Taijutsu. The Taijutsu branch has some connection with Ninjutsu, and Is sometimes taught as one of the Ninja Ryu's. I learned a couple of techniques from the Taijutsu branch, when my Hapkido teacher introduced me to his friend who is a Ninjutsu teacher.
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Post by ambulocetus on Oct 14, 2022 2:40:24 GMT
Mostly yes. My hypothesis was based on a real fight with standard "fairness" on both sides. Goes without saying that if the field was on sand, both fighters would immediately try to kick sand in the eyes. Fitness is indeed a must but not everything: I'm currently aged 41 and obviously I am at disadvantage in terms of speed and stamina when I duel people aged 20, but I have a lot more experience than them and thanks to that I often manage to win anyway. That's why I put experience at first spot: it's the only thing that can compensate any disadvantage. Old age and dirty tricks overcomes youth and skill. Fitness is required at any age. Naturally as you get older your body will stiffen and slow down- but you don't have to compromise your own abilities by neglecting to maintain your fitness at the age appropriate level. I know some 60 year olds that would wrap a 20 year old into a pretzel, but they can't jump spin and kick out a lightbulb. Next time you spar in a "real" simulated fight, try charging the opponent- go in fast and furious. Don't give them a chance- forget the "shared understanding of etiquette". Start the fight as soon as they put their hands on the sword- ram them with your shoulder, push them to the wall, if they fall- stab them- if they stay standing- stab them - if they manage to defend- punch them in the face with your free hand then stab them. See if that works. It's been my experience in the real world that when that happens, it's nearly impossible to defend. Then listen contentedly to their lamentations.... There's an old saying that goes something like "when boxing, beware of the young and fast. When fencing beware of the old and wise."
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Post by ambulocetus on Oct 13, 2022 12:05:51 GMT
What everybody else said, but also even the lower quality Japanese swords were still pretty good because of how they were made. Japan doesn't have any Iron ore, so all of their steel is made from Iron sand. The way the Iron sand is smelted results in steel of varying carbon content. The only way they had to make this material uniform was to fold it over and over, and this had the side effect of making a more resiliant steel. Even the lower quality blades were made from this steel, and so had a lot of work go into them. The mainland had Iron ore and used a different process to make steel, so part of the reputation of Nihonto is a quirk of geography.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 18, 2022 23:16:11 GMT
You didn't say all that in your post. I've never been to a gun show, but a sword show is a great place to network and learn. If you can make a friend out of an old collector to go to a sword show with, you will significantly increase your knowledge. Also, I always wear a suit and tie. It makes you look serious and professional.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 18, 2022 23:01:15 GMT
Has anybody ever cold blued a differentially hardened blade? I'm wondering if the hamon is still visible through the blueing.It might be a cool expiriment to see if it would create sort of a "tactical" look that doesn't reflect so much.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 18, 2022 3:03:42 GMT
If you mean, were there antique swords from the old days built like a mat cutter, I think it might be difficult to find one. Tameshigiri means test cutting, but it was a test of the sword, not the swordsman. At my old school, the only time we would do tameshigiri was when a student got a new sword, and only the sword buyer and the Sensei, (and maybe the senior student) were allowed to do the actual cutting. Yes, one should cut with their sword occasionally so that they know how it handles, just like how you should occasionally shoot at a target if you learning how to use a gun. But you need to practice a lot more than target shooting to be a gun fighter, and you need to practice a lot more than mat cutting to be a sword fighter. It seems to me that a lot of cutting competitors forget this fact.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 18, 2022 1:44:28 GMT
Didn't know that Gunto can be papered now. All I can say is, it's about time. Sure a lot of them weren't the best, but some Gunto were simply fabulous blades. I passed up the oppurtunity to buy a mint Mantetsu Koa Isshin To for a grand about 20 years ago, and I'm still kicking myself in the ass. It's probably worth 5 times that now.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 18, 2022 1:13:29 GMT
I've been drooling over their website for years. I don't own one, but I can tell that it is phenominal craftsmanship. I think that once you hold it in your hands, picking up a Chinese katana will be like getting out of a Maseratti and getting into a Kia
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 18, 2022 0:51:00 GMT
In general, sword shows are a pretty safe place to not get burned by a fake. Most of the people know each other or knows somebody who knows somebody. Any con artist would very quickly be discovered and banned. That's not to say you can't get ripped off, just that you won't get ripped off by buying a fake. Most people who regularly go to sword shows already know this, so when you told the vendor that you wanted to check on the authenticity, it marked you as a newb. He may have thought you weren't serious or he may have felt insulted. I will tell you what an old timer told me. You don't go to your first few shows with the intent to buy; you go to meet people, ask questions, and learn. The antique sword community is similar to the martial arts community, if you don't know the rules you can't play the game. I hope I don't sound too harsh, but I'm giving it to you straight.
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Post by ambulocetus on Jun 23, 2022 3:35:09 GMT
This sword is an accurate reproduction of those used by some Chinese militia units against Japanese invaders in the Second Sino-Japanese War. While not a particularly sophisticated sword, the weight and balance of the dadao gave it considerable slashing and chopping power, making it an effective close combat weapon for untrained troops. They were designed to be cheap to make, easy to learn, and powerful enough to stop the infamous Japanese bayonet charge. Lately I have been focussing my personal training on the martial arts that were used during the Second World War, as a way to consolidate my training in both the Chinese and Japanese Martial Arts, and one can't claim to study those arts without at least a little knowledge of the sword that was made famous at The Marco Polo Bridge Incident, where it was vital in defeating a superior Japanese force. I was looking at the Hanwei version, but they changed their design and it didn't appeal to me. Fortunately L K Chen came out with a superior version right when I was shopping around. His website is informative and easy to navigate, ordering was easy and the sword arrived without a prolonged waiting period. Not only is L K Chen a skilled sword maker, he also has it together on the business end. Some say the Da Dao was largely symbolic, and of little use during modern warfare, but the weapon was used on the battlefield against a more prosperous and modern army, and China had to use every tool in the toolbox. I ordered the sword on the first and it arrived on the 22nd. The entire process from start to finsh was free of problems, and the item came in perfect condition. The sword comes with a vegan leather sheath and a broadsword tassel tied on the ring pommel.The simple woodem handle is wrapped with cotton cord. I usually practice with a Jian or a Katana, so with a cutting edge of 60 cm and a weight of 1200 grams, it's a bit heftier than I am used to, but it's not unmanageable. It is a beast. After trying a few swings, I must say that this weapon actually makes me a little nervous. I've cut some tatami in my day, but this thing seems like over-kill for tatami. A wound from one of these would be a messy thing. It is sharp. Not crazy sharp, but sharp enough. I haven't cut with it yet, but I can tell that it will take whatever you throw at it. It's a heavy sword, but with a POB 4 inches from the guard and an 11 inch handle, it's got a good balance.The blade has distal taper; it goes from really thick at the base down to pretty thick at the tip. It's a beefy mother. The fullers on the blade are shallow, but they terminate nicely. The handguard fits well and is not loose at all. The ring pommel is solid and I like the way the wrap is tied off. The Hanwei version has the wrap going all the way around the ring, and that doesn't seem practical to me. This way is better. Another shot of the handle. Conclusion: I was shopping for a Da Dao for a while, and I looked a several models. There are a few out there from various companies, but this one is the one that I finally chose, and I couldn't be happier. This is my first peice from L K Chen, and now I see why the whole internet is talking about him. When you want a peice of history, LK is your man.
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Post by ambulocetus on Jun 21, 2022 0:07:35 GMT
That just says "Longquan, China" in old style script. It's not a makers mark, or if it is it's pretty generic.
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Post by ambulocetus on Jun 20, 2022 23:55:32 GMT
Wikipedia says that are some texts on unarmed combat from the Han Dynasty, but as for weapons, the oldest manual of which I am aware is the Jixiao Xinshu written by the Ming dynasty general Qi Jiguang in the Ming Dynasty over 1000 years after steel was invented. So I doubt that any type of combat techniques were preserved for that long, assuming they were even codified at such an early period. In those days, the military was mostly conscripts who only got taught the bare minimum. I speculate that the soldiers in those days would have training very similar to what the Greeks had at the time. Basic cuts and thrusts with a sword and sheild. Even the very oldest styles such as Xin Yi or Chang Family Boxing wouldn't have been around long enough for any bronze age techniques to come down through the ages. Once steel was invented, there was simply no need to preserve them.
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Post by ambulocetus on Jun 20, 2022 21:25:11 GMT
Back when I started, I couldn't afford a Japanese made Iaito, so I used a remounted Gunto. That combined with my job at the time, gave me Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Luckily I found a better job and finally got an Iaito. At first I thought was getting a better workout by using a heavy sword, but really I was just hurting myself.
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