Considering Buying Musashi Shirakawa Katana... advice needed

I think that nobody here has experience with that sword because they are smart enough NOT to buy a sword for $81 and then try to use it. Just buy it but don't use it. =)
 
One person here has. He handled 4. And he recommended you not get one.

You don't have to handle a crap sword to know it is a crap sword. Bottom line here is "crap" = "dangerous" as has been pointed out by quite a few different people here, one even included a video of a cheap sword breaking.
 
viva la said:
One person here has. He handled 4. And he recommended you not get one.

You don't have to handle a crap sword to know it is a crap sword. Bottom line here is "crap" = "dangerous" as has been pointed out by quite a few different people here, one even included a video of a cheap sword breaking.
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a video of a sword that i'm not at all considering is NOT evidence that the one i AM considering is prone to similar breakage.

I know that at this point, you have invested your ego in your replies, but please try to understand. I am not interested in hearsay, or assumption. I want FIRST HAND information.

I fully understand that YOU have inherent prejudice against low priced swords, and I respect both the experience that brought you to that belief, and your opinions concerning the extension of that belief to the question at hand, but in this case, it offers me nothing whatsoever of value.

I know that an $80 sword will not give me the level or performance of a $900 sword, and i appreciate that you are operating in good faith when you recommend against it, but it is clear that you have no experience that relates directly to THIS weapon.

I want to know what those who have had hands on THIS PARTICULAR MODEL think about it.

thank you for looking out for me, but in this case, i'd appreciate it if you'd bare with me as i try to find pertinent informatiojn
 
If you don't want to listen to people then just buy the sword and bash it on something while hoping it doesn't break and hurt you or someone else.
 
Fanglekai said:
If you don't want to listen to people then just buy the sword and bash it on something while hoping it doesn't break and hurt you or someone else.
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it seems that you have mistaken what i'm saying. I am not saying that i don't want to listen to people. I am saying that i only want to listen to people who's opinion is based on having handled THIS sword or one in the same line as this one, rather than people who mean well but are making assertions bases on prejudice rather than evidence.

It seems that this is a difficult idea to grasp, but i'm trying to make myself clear.

I mean no disrespect, but there's no value to me in opinions that are based on absolutely no evidence
 
BePrepared said:
it seems that you have mistaken what i'm saying. I am not saying that i don't want to listen to people. I am saying that i only want to listen to people who's opinion is based on having handled THIS sword or one in the same line as this one, rather than people who mean well but are making assertions bases on prejudice rather than evidence.
K
It seems that this is a difficult idea to grasp, but i'm trying to make myself clear.

I mean no disrespect, but there's no value to me in opinions that are based on absolutely no evidence
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You have people who have handled the sword and have chosen not to listen. I looked at this sword, I handled this sword, it is a crappy sword I would not even hang on my wall....it is a sword that, if used, will end up hurting you.

But none of this matters to you, all you wanted to hear was "#great choice, great buy" so by all means,, go ahead and buy it. Good luck..
 
You will not find a sword you can use for that price. No one needs to handle this exact sword to know that. Someone already said this sword is junk. Listen or don't. Most people here don't buy junk swords so you won't find tons of reviews.
 
No and yes. But I do know a swordsmith or two have confirmed they are genuineC hamons just don't expect anything great.
I've looked at it on a microscope, 40x/100x/400x (barely was able to get the POS microscope to focus). The 100x magnification strongly indicates a real hamon, the 400x is inconclusive until I swap the lens. They do not re-quench the blade more then likely after hardening to soften it a little bit.

This sword will more then likely not break on you from swinging it on hitting some objects but it may roll the edge and bend the sword (bending of the sword can be very hazardous). Personally I would stick to water bottles only as it's very soft.
 
for $80 I would also be weary of cheap fittings, and them being poorly attached. But, you want to waste the money by all means buy it.
 
wharn, that's what i've decided to do. It'll be here tuesday. I'm going to run it through some basic tests and see how it holds up.

I'll post a review.
 
I dont recommend bamboo man unless it's the soft sissy stuff, dont try man seriously you will bend the sword easy. I owned 4, one of them did not stand up to bamboo at all, and yes my hasuji was proper. The edge rolled, and the katana took a set from a regular diagonal slash. This is using regular amount of power, approximately 30%.
 
BePrepared said:
wharn, that's what i've decided to do. It'll be here tuesday. I'm going to run it through some basic tests and see how it holds up.

I'll post a review.
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so pretty much i was correct and you were really just looking for someone to say "attaboy! great deal!"

I would not suggest slicing thru tatami mats or bamboo, it is a cheap sword and you do not have the knowledge to execute the cuts properly.

you will:
a) damage the sword
b) injure yourself
c) all of the above

but it is your choice and you will do what you wanna do regardless of the fact that every single person here has told you not to use it...
 
LOL... you really do make a LOT of assumptions sir.

Now, not only are you making assumptions about a sword that you have ZERO real knowledge of, you've also assessed that i have insufficient knowledge to use a katana properly, while have absolutely nothing to base that assumption on as i have made not even the slightest indication of my martial arts training

My decision to get this sword was based on reading several dozen reviews by people (unlike yourself) who have actually USED IT. I posted this thread to hear from more people who had first hand experience with it, and you took the liberty of chiming in with a large volume of useless, baseless, pseudo-information.
 
BePrepared said:
LOL... you really do make a LOT of assumptions sir.

Now, not only are you making assumptions about a sword that you have ZERO real knowledge of, you've also assessed that i have insufficient knowledge to use a katana properly, while have absolutely nothing to base that assumption on as i have made not even the slightest indication of my martial arts training

My decision to get this sword was based on reading several dozen reviews by people (unlike yourself) who have actually USED IT. I posted this thread to hear from more people who had first hand experience with it, and you took the liberty of chiming in with a large volume of useless, baseless, pseudo-information.
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You do have insufficient knowledge of proper use and little to no real sword training, of that I am positive. If you had any real training you would know that this is a wall hanger and not a user.

So you read all these reviews about how wonderful the sword is (most likely written by people with no knowledge of real swords, and yes, I read some of the reviews you are speaking of) and then you came here to ask about it. You got quite a few different people telling you they had in fact handled or owned the sword and it was not recommended you buy it to use. You then decided to purchase it anyways, going against every opinion in this thread and you are planning on using it, going against every opinion in this thread.

You originally asked for someone who owned the sword of someone who was a "sword expert" and knew about them. I know of quite a few people in this forum who I would consider experts, but if you asked them they would say they are not. It is a misleading phrase that you used.

I have studied martial arts for over 30 years, that includes Iaido (literally translated as "drawing of the sword"), and Kendo. I am no expert, but I am very well versed in what makes a good sword good, a great sword great and a cheap sword cheap. I have seen and used "cheap" swords so even though I may have not used the one you purchased extensively I can say with much qualification I would not recommend using it.

But again, I believe you had your mind made up before you even came here, so when you break the sword, roll the edge (best case scenario) or injure yourself remember that many forum members told you that it was a cheap sword and recommended you not use it.
 
BePrepared said:
LOL... you really do make a LOT of assumptions sir.

Now, not only are you making assumptions about a sword that you have ZERO real knowledge of, you've also assessed that i have insufficient knowledge to use a katana properly, while have absolutely nothing to base that assumption on as i have made not even the slightest indication of my martial arts training

My decision to get this sword was based on reading several dozen reviews by people (unlike yourself) who have actually USED IT. I posted this thread to hear from more people who had first hand experience with it, and you took the liberty of chiming in with a large volume of useless, baseless, pseudo-information.
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His assumptions are not incorrect. I've owned and used 4 of them, I wouldn't use it to cut tatami omote let alone Bamboo. Personally if you can afford tatami omote (typically $100~ to make shipping worth it) just use that money towards a better katana.
Anyone who has practiced JSA will know the Shikarawa series katana is a extremely soft cutter meant for bottles. It may dispatch a half tatami omote but you risk taking a set.

Anyways your experience is well noted if all you have under your belt is reviews online by people who only cut bottles (hope those reviews werent on the "friendliest sword forum"). They are the most biased sword forum I have ever been in. The mods often contradict each other, and pretty much any bad review is almost flamed and if it's Cheness related it is often just flat out closed.

I am not an expert but I do actually use my swords on tatami omote, green bamboo, yellow bamboo, and hennon bamboo. I don't just cut a fregging bottle which gives no feedback. I take my cutting seriously.
This is me cutting. My technique was complete backyard style, I've gotten a lot better since then. Wara mat, tightly wrapped. Soaked 24 hours, dried for approx 1 hour.
[video=youtube;2HwG53DNr28]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwG53DNr28[/video]
This is another kawesemi, 1st cut was good. Fouled up the other two, hasuji went off on the 2nd cut and I had to wing the 3rd cut.
[video=youtube;BdRbKWOqZaE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdRbKWOqZaE[/video]

That was months ago, since then I've blown more money then I'd like on mats. Static cuts come easy, multiple cuts come easy. I still have a LONG way to go, and I am beginning to work on correct balanced technique.
Believe me when I tell you NOT to try bamboo. Use whatever money for tatami on a better sword.
 
Well guys, i got the Musashi today... here are my first thoughts

It's VERY well put together. Absolutely zero play in the tsuba or the tsuka.

the seppa has a very small, barely noticable "china" on it. No China graffiti on the blade thankfully.

The Ha is VERY sharp... i'm surprised how sharp really.

The blade has a very nice Hamon... if this hamon is faked, they used one HELL of a convincing method to get it on this blade. There's not the slightest indication that it's anything but a real Hamon.

The Saya is well built and very light.

I haven't cut anything with it, so i haven't got a clue what the durability is like, but i will say that the balance is excellent. It's better than any of the cheap swords i've played with.

just my 2 cents.
 
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