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Post by ambulocetus on Jun 20, 2022 21:02:47 GMT
I noticed you said you are in California. There should be multiple Dojos to choose from out there. You are a beginner, so any legitimate Dojo will get you started on the path. Kendo has Kata that are taken from Kenjutsu, and even Aikido teaches the basics of sword use. In fact, some branches of Aikido have really good sword techniques, but at your stage, anything will help. No offense, but you can't really learn anything from a movie. Don't waste time looking for the perfect style, just train in something. Don't worry about what you might find along the way until you've actually stepped on the path.
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Post by ambulocetus on Jun 20, 2022 18:17:12 GMT
Back in the old days, before anybody ever heard of Paul Chen, when all Chinese swords were pure junk, Marto was the only stainless sword that was at least a little reliable. Yes, they are stainless, but they come from a long tradition of sword making in Toledo, Spain. Still no where near as reliable as a modern tool steel or spring steel sword, but there is definitely a lot worse out there. If it's remounted in a real handle and real fittings, it would work for an Iaito and maybe to cut pool noodles. But the thing is, nobody wants to put the money for new fittings and a wrapped handle into such a cheap blade. Not even close to worth it when you can get a real steel sword for under 300.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 29, 2021 23:12:09 GMT
Yea. I'd like to get a Nihonto, but polishing costs so much, and Komonjo doesn't have anything right now anyway. It's probably going to take a while for the handachi set to get here, so I got some time to figure out what I want to do. I've found a couple of used Waks, but I think I want to go with a brand new one. It's turning into a real project, but them again it always does.Thanks.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 27, 2021 23:39:14 GMT
Oh yea, I forgot about that guy. Thanks I'll go check it out.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 27, 2021 20:39:29 GMT
I thought about JKoo, but the last one I got from I wasn't too happy with. The first one was a good deal, but I don't want to be disappointed again.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 27, 2021 1:48:43 GMT
I finally found a set of fittings that go with this wakizashi sized tsuba I have, and I just need a blade to tie it all together. Ideally. I'd like to find one in shirasaya if it means saving a bit of money, but there isn't too much to choose from, so I'll probably need to find something with cheap fittings so that more of the price will be spent on the blade. I might do some light cutting, but it will mostly be a looker, so I'd like something in 1095 or T10 that has a pretty Hamon. Right now I'm looking real hard at the Dynasty Forge Bushi Class Silver Dragon, but is that going to give me the best bang for the buck? The Hanwei Practical Plus is also a contender, but the Hamon is kind of bland. I'd like to keep it around $300, but I can go a little higher if it's really special. Any recommendations?
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Post by ambulocetus on Aug 9, 2021 17:37:21 GMT
I don't want anybody to divulge any secrets. I just wondered if it exists.
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Post by ambulocetus on Aug 9, 2021 14:25:30 GMT
I noticed that many Masons have what they call a Masonic sword. I always assumed this is just ceremonial or something, but I got to wondering, is there a style of fencing used by the Masons, and do they ever practice using their swords?
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Post by ambulocetus on Jun 10, 2021 12:51:59 GMT
My condolences on the loss of your headmaster Risuke Otake.
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Post by ambulocetus on Feb 7, 2021 12:39:25 GMT
If anybody has handled both of these swords, how do they compare to each other? They have similar stats, and I know I want to get one of them. Is there a factor that will help me decide?
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Post by ambulocetus on Nov 3, 2020 2:45:23 GMT
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Post by ambulocetus on Nov 3, 2020 0:28:38 GMT
Don't use olive oil. It has too much moisture in it. You want clove oil. I recommend finding a Dojo and taking some classes. You will learn weapon safety and sword maintenance and get answers to questions you didn't even think of yet.
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Post by ambulocetus on Nov 3, 2020 0:21:23 GMT
I would say to keep the fittings and get a new blade and send it off to be mounted. I have a sword with what looks like the same fittings, and they are decent reproductions. But the blade and the scabbard and handle don't look very good IMO.
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Post by ambulocetus on Oct 26, 2020 22:32:29 GMT
I recently purchased one of these. I agree with everything in the review, it is a very good deal. Very close to a real Type 98, and cuts better than my favorite Hanwei.
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Post by ambulocetus on Sept 22, 2020 11:54:19 GMT
I've been contemplating putting together something like this. It shouldn't be too hard. There are bare blades and DIY Jian fittings on Ebay. Just switch the hand guard for a Tsuba and boom, you've got a disc guard Jian. Many professionals emmigrated from China to Japan circa Tang Dynasty, including smiths. Consequently, in those days, there was less distinction between Japanese and Chinese blades (for example, compare a Shiro Tachi to a Tang Sword) and you will see an occasional Japanese sword called a Tsurugi with a straight double edge blade and Tsuba type hand guard.
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Post by ambulocetus on Apr 1, 2020 2:49:50 GMT
Does anybody know if this sword can be disassembled? I think it would look good with a Nanban tsuba on it.
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Post by ambulocetus on Apr 1, 2020 2:32:37 GMT
Robert, you wouldn't by chance still have that copy of "Kenjutsu Shoden" would you? That book is seriously hard to find, although I hear they are thinking about a reprint. My teacher was a student of Lovret Sensei, and while many consider his style to be...let's say controversial, I feel like what I learned had value. Are there any kata you still remember?
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Post by ambulocetus on Apr 1, 2020 2:17:31 GMT
OP, before you make an investment, you should look at many pictures of the real thing, and maybe go to a sword show to see them up close. Once you have a handle on what a good sword looks like, a fake will stick out like a sore thumb. I only looked at the first picture and that was enough to tell, and I'm far from an expert.
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Post by ambulocetus on Apr 1, 2020 1:30:08 GMT
The sword collector who introduced me to the subject said that the choji hamon was created so that if you got a chip during battle, it would be limited to the surrounding area and not propagate up the length of the blade. I don't know for certain if he was right, but he claimed to have seen severely battle damaged blades that had a saw-tooth appearance where the chips followed the pattern of the hamon. On a related note, the Hamon is three dimensional through the blade, and repeated polishing can change the appearance. Have a look here www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/effectofyakiire.html
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Post by ambulocetus on Mar 31, 2020 19:50:49 GMT
It looks like it might be an arsenal stamp. I don't know enough to say much more than that. If nobody here answers your question, you could try the Nihonto Message Board. Lots of knowledgeable Gunto enthusiasts there.
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