Best Sword for under $300? - Page 4

Samurai · December 7, 2006, 11:36 AM

Amen on everything Paradoxbox had to say!

Firstfreedom, you've purchased a decent, well-made sword that should last you a long time if you take care of it. DON'T MESS WITH IT! Don't coat it in laquer, don't add extra pins, and don't change the materials used on ANY of the components.

The only thing you should do with it is polish it with dry polishing dust, oil it with a good penetrating oil, and try not to chip the edge by making a crooked cut or cutting anything harder than human meat and bone.

If you'd like to practice cutting, take some corrugated cardboard and roll it up into a bundle. Soak it in water and stand it up on-end. You've got yourself a make-shift tatami mat.

Enjoy!

Jim Watson · December 7, 2006, 01:01 PM

All I know about swords is what I hear from my martial arts instructor friend, don't do it myself. But with that, it looks like you made a good choice, when I described the thread to him he said "Oh, what he needs is a waki with a katana handle."

Analysis of 9260 steel is:
Component Wt. %
C 0.56 - 0.64
Fe 96
Mn 0.88
P Max 0.035
S Max 0.04
Si 2

That is a lot of silicon, probably why they call it spring steel, though it doesn't have the chromium used in, say, ISMI gun springs. Like any steel, the real key is the heat treatment. If they did it right you are in good shape.

FirstFreedom · December 8, 2006, 09:14 AM

OK, thanks Jim, Samarai, and paradoxbox!

GeorgeF · December 8, 2006, 01:33 PM

Well, it would cost more for the plane ticket, but you'd be shocked at what you find in 'junk' stores in England. Buddy went over there with family in 90's and picked up a rusty longsword (blade little over 36") for under $100. After he got it home and polished it with very fine steel wool it looks quite presentable. Markings on it put it somewhere in late 1600's. Nice amount of dings give it character.

Stuff like that is all over the place over in Europe.

FirstFreedom · December 10, 2006, 11:40 PM

Although I couldn't be more pleased with the Cheness Inc. sword, in the interest of making this as much of a good, complete thread on the subject as as possible, I want to post some links to some companies which look pretty good, that I found late in the game, after my purchase:

J-Armory Trading Co.:
http://www.j-armory.com/FYKuro.html

n-i-n:
http://www.n-i-n.com/Tools.html

Both have ninjato or chisa katana style swords. The J-Armory "ninpo" has a 23" blade like the Paul Chen or Cold Steel - more of a chisa katana. But the n-i-n ninjato has a 20" blade, more like the Kris or Cheness swords.

TACHop&Pop · January 13, 2007, 04:56 PM

For anyone who is really interested in Real Swords(Not Wallhangers from QVC) Check out this site.

http://www.myarmoury.com/home.html

TACHop&Pop · January 13, 2007, 04:59 PM

Another great site is http://www.thearma.org/

FirstFreedom · November 15, 2007, 11:39 PM

I have been very pleased with my sword, so I have recently decided to get a long katana to go with my short katana (ko katana) as described above.

Just a quick lesson, on katana style sword blade lengths, here is some terminology:

1. O-Katana - very long bladed katana, about 33" blade
2. Katana (standard katana), 27-28" blade,
3. Shinobi Ninjato or Oniyuri Katana (true ninja sword), about 23" curved blade
4. Ko-Katana or Chisa Katana (short katana), about 21" blade
5. Hollywood-style "ninja sword", 19-21" straight blade.

After reading up some more at http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/ and elsewhere, I have decided to *definitely* get another Cheness, and in particular, a 9260 spring steel (silicon steel) Cheness, as these are about the toughest blades going. I'm going to get another through-hardened sword, not a differentially-tempered one.

So the main question here is blade length. Which one complements my 21" the best - the 30 or the 28"? I have essentially narrowed it down to two basic swords (with some variants in fittings/accessories):

Either a standard 28" blade Katana, or the slighter longer than standard limited run version called the "Nagasa" katana, which has a 30" blade, so it is in between #1 and #2 above, but a little closer to #2, a standard katana. It is advertised as being for the slightly taller person, which I am not at 5'8". However I would think the extra 2" would allow for a faster blade and better cut (just like swinging a longer #1 wood driver in golf results in more club head speed). And since my jeans are 32" inseam, I would think that the sword and sheath would not drag the ground when worn, since the 30" blade starts essentially at the belt line.

1. Here is the 30" Nagasa Katana, at $249.99:
http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-...om/Nagasa.html
http://www.chenessinc.com/30inch.htm
It has a blue colored ito (handle wrap), and a crane bird tsuba (hand guard), neither of which I'm overly crazy about. It also comes only in the bo-hi version (WITH blood groove), whereas the standard katanas can be had with or without blood groove, and with either black or brown ito. I'd prefer no blood groove, since this is a slicer, not a stabber - supposedly having no blood groove allows your swing to be faster and cut better due to aerodynamics.

If I get a standard katana, it would be one of these 4 versions:

2. The basic "Shura" at $239.99. I don't really want this one, since the tsuba is exactly like my Ko-Katana, but it's a little lower price:
http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-...com/Shura.html
http://www.chenessinc.com/shura.htm

3. The slightly fancier sister of the Shura called the "Tenchi", at $249.99:
http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-...om/Tenchi.html
http://www.chenessinc.com/tenchi.htm The Tenchi has a small decorative brass piece behind the tsuba,which is nice.

4. The thinner, broader specialty (SGC) sword for cutting, called the "SGC Tsukikage", at $279.99
http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-...tsukikage.html
http://www.chenessinc.com/tsukikage.htm which has black ito, and a rabbit "moon shadow" tsuba

5. The sister sword to the Tsukikage, with different adornment, called the "SGC Yamakami", also at $279.99:
http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-.../yamakami.html
http://www.chenessinc.com/yamakami.htm which has a brown ito, and Mt. Fuji tsuba.

I'm leaning towards either #1 (the longer Nagasa), or #3, the Tenchi, in the no-blood-groove version. But possibly one of the SGCs instead, probably the Yamakami (#5).

All of the SGCs are withOUT blood groove, as they are cutting specialists.

Here's a video of one of the 9260 SGCs in action:

http://www.chenessinc.com/videos/sgc_vid.wmv

Which one would you get? Basically I want the 30" if it will result in better cuts for the lower price there, but if not, I'll get a standard or an SGC. Anyone know if the SGC's extra cutting ability is worth the tradeoff in strength and durability?

The SGCs are 2 lbs, 15 oz @ 28"
The standard katanas (without blood groove) are 2 lbs, 9 oz @ 28", and
The Nagasa katana is 3 lbs, 0 oz @ 30"

Which one is would you want in a sword fight for your life?

December 7, 2006, 11:36 AM	#76
Samurai Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2001 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 901	Amen on everything Paradoxbox had to say! Firstfreedom, you've purchased a decent, well-made sword that should last you a long time if you take care of it. DON'T MESS WITH IT! Don't coat it in laquer, don't add extra pins, and don't change the materials used on ANY of the components. The only thing you should do with it is polish it with dry polishing dust, oil it with a good penetrating oil, and try not to chip the edge by making a crooked cut or cutting anything harder than human meat and bone. If you'd like to practice cutting, take some corrugated cardboard and roll it up into a bundle. Soak it in water and stand it up on-end. You've got yourself a make-shift tatami mat. Enjoy! __________________ - Honor is a wonderful and glorious thing... until it gets you killed! - Why is it that we fire 1,000 rounds and know that we need more practice, but yet we punch a bag 10 times and think we know how to fight? - When in doubt, train, train, train... Last edited by Samurai; December 7, 2006 at 04:32 PM.

January 13, 2007, 04:56 PM	#81
TACHop&Pop Member Join Date: January 10, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 45	For anyone who is really interested in Real Swords(Not Wallhangers from QVC) Check out this site. http://www.myarmoury.com/home.html __________________ Don't pick a fight with a country boy; if hes too lazy or drunk to fight, he'll just kill you.

January 13, 2007, 04:59 PM	#82
TACHop&Pop Member Join Date: January 10, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 45	Another great site is http://www.thearma.org/ __________________ Don't pick a fight with a country boy; if hes too lazy or drunk to fight, he'll just kill you.

November 15, 2007, 11:39 PM	#83
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Which complementary Katana now? I have been very pleased with my sword, so I have recently decided to get a long katana to go with my short katana (ko katana) as described above. Just a quick lesson, on katana style sword blade lengths, here is some terminology: 1. O-Katana - very long bladed katana, about 33" blade 2. Katana (standard katana), 27-28" blade, 3. Shinobi Ninjato or Oniyuri Katana (true ninja sword), about 23" curved blade 4. Ko-Katana or Chisa Katana (short katana), about 21" blade 5. Hollywood-style "ninja sword", 19-21" straight blade. After reading up some more at http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/ and elsewhere, I have decided to definitely get another Cheness, and in particular, a 9260 spring steel (silicon steel) Cheness, as these are about the toughest blades going. I'm going to get another through-hardened sword, not a differentially-tempered one. So the main question here is blade length. Which one complements my 21" the best - the 30 or the 28"? I have essentially narrowed it down to two basic swords (with some variants in fittings/accessories): Either a standard 28" blade Katana, or the slighter longer than standard limited run version called the "Nagasa" katana, which has a 30" blade, so it is in between #1 and #2 above, but a little closer to #2, a standard katana. It is advertised as being for the slightly taller person, which I am not at 5'8". However I would think the extra 2" would allow for a faster blade and better cut (just like swinging a longer #1 wood driver in golf results in more club head speed). And since my jeans are 32" inseam, I would think that the sword and sheath would not drag the ground when worn, since the 30" blade starts essentially at the belt line. 1. Here is the 30" Nagasa Katana, at $249.99: http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-...om/Nagasa.html http://www.chenessinc.com/30inch.htm It has a blue colored ito (handle wrap), and a crane bird tsuba (hand guard), neither of which I'm overly crazy about. It also comes only in the bo-hi version (WITH blood groove), whereas the standard katanas can be had with or without blood groove, and with either black or brown ito. I'd prefer no blood groove, since this is a slicer, not a stabber - supposedly having no blood groove allows your swing to be faster and cut better due to aerodynamics. If I get a standard katana, it would be one of these 4 versions: 2. The basic "Shura" at $239.99. I don't really want this one, since the tsuba is exactly like my Ko-Katana, but it's a little lower price: http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-...com/Shura.html http://www.chenessinc.com/shura.htm 3. The slightly fancier sister of the Shura called the "Tenchi", at $249.99: http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-...om/Tenchi.html http://www.chenessinc.com/tenchi.htm The Tenchi has a small decorative brass piece behind the tsuba,which is nice. 4. The thinner, broader specialty (SGC) sword for cutting, called the "SGC Tsukikage", at $279.99 http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-...tsukikage.html http://www.chenessinc.com/tsukikage.htm which has black ito, and a rabbit "moon shadow" tsuba 5. The sister sword to the Tsukikage, with different adornment, called the "SGC Yamakami", also at $279.99: http://sbg-sword-store.sword-buyers-.../yamakami.html http://www.chenessinc.com/yamakami.htm which has a brown ito, and Mt. Fuji tsuba. I'm leaning towards either #1 (the longer Nagasa), or #3, the Tenchi, in the no-blood-groove version. But possibly one of the SGCs instead, probably the Yamakami (#5). All of the SGCs are withOUT blood groove, as they are cutting specialists. Here's a video of one of the 9260 SGCs in action: http://www.chenessinc.com/videos/sgc_vid.wmv Which one would you get? Basically I want the 30" if it will result in better cuts for the lower price there, but if not, I'll get a standard or an SGC. Anyone know if the SGC's extra cutting ability is worth the tradeoff in strength and durability? The SGCs are 2 lbs, 15 oz @ 28" The standard katanas (without blood groove) are 2 lbs, 9 oz @ 28", and The Nagasa katana is 3 lbs, 0 oz @ 30" Which one is would you want in a sword fight for your life?

December 7, 2006, 01:01 PM	#77
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,544	All I know about swords is what I hear from my martial arts instructor friend, don't do it myself. But with that, it looks like you made a good choice, when I described the thread to him he said "Oh, what he needs is a waki with a katana handle." Analysis of 9260 steel is: Component Wt. % C 0.56 - 0.64 Fe 96 Mn 0.88 P Max 0.035 S Max 0.04 Si 2 That is a lot of silicon, probably why they call it spring steel, though it doesn't have the chromium used in, say, ISMI gun springs. Like any steel, the real key is the heat treatment. If they did it right you are in good shape.

December 8, 2006, 09:14 AM	#78
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	OK, thanks Jim, Samarai, and paradoxbox!

December 8, 2006, 01:33 PM	#79
GeorgeF Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2004 Posts: 572	Well, it would cost more for the plane ticket, but you'd be shocked at what you find in 'junk' stores in England. Buddy went over there with family in 90's and picked up a rusty longsword (blade little over 36") for under $100. After he got it home and polished it with very fine steel wool it looks quite presentable. Markings on it put it somewhere in late 1600's. Nice amount of dings give it character. Stuff like that is all over the place over in Europe.

December 10, 2006, 11:40 PM	#80
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Although I couldn't be more pleased with the Cheness Inc. sword, in the interest of making this as much of a good, complete thread on the subject as as possible, I want to post some links to some companies which look pretty good, that I found late in the game, after my purchase: J-Armory Trading Co.: http://www.j-armory.com/FYKuro.html n-i-n: http://www.n-i-n.com/Tools.html Both have ninjato or chisa katana style swords. The J-Armory "ninpo" has a 23" blade like the Paul Chen or Cold Steel - more of a chisa katana. But the n-i-n ninjato has a 20" blade, more like the Kris or Cheness swords.