jsp katana questions

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ninjamaster26

Joined
Dec 21, 2002
Messages
4
Does anyone own a jps katana?? If so!!
How do they perform?
Are they chisel ground or what I've only seen pics of one side of the blade?
what steel is it made of?
Is it well worththe 4000.00 price tag?
Well he deal with you for a buying price?
does he sell just the finished blades,complete scabbards and how much are they?
How much forging goes into his swords?
I have not seen or read much on his swords except for some pretty vegue articles. His sword is exactly the look I want but, the sword
seems to be extremely high priced for little forging or decrative furniture!

these questions are to decide, not to question anyone's abilites!!!!
 
I'm not familiar with that sword but IMO the JSP products are a bit overpriced. If I were to spend that kind of money on a katana I'd go with www.bugei.com which have a very good reputation with people who practice Japanese martial arts. At my training and income level I do Ok with swords from Kris Cutlery.:D
 
hello

The jsp katana is made of .250 A2 tool steel that is done by stock removal there is no forgeing involed it it ground on both sides with a 26inch blade and a 10inch handle that is wraped with a thin cord underneath then a black japanese wrap overtop that is epoxy coated to give a good grip as far as i know his swords are in the 58-60c on the rockwell scale so they do cut but i donot think they are worth what you pay for them if you want a sword that is very close to the jsp for a better price contact wally hayes and ask about his tak katana here is a link to his site http://www.hayesknives.com/tackat.html wally does some dam nice work for a good price hope this helps

Lee Brooks
Knifemaker
BROOKSKNIVES.canada


brooksknives@hotmail.com
 
Hey if you like the look you like the look but keep in mind for just a little more you can get something like this:

BainiteHamon2.jpg


This is the L6 katana sold through Bugei. Traditionally fitted out with a hamon, with a saya, practically unbreakable and made by Howard Clark one of the best Americans in the business and so far as I know the ONLY guy that can get a hamon out of L6. Just a thought.
 
Hello Ninjamaster,

I have no direct experience with the JSP Katana but based on other knives/sheaths that I have seen from Mr. Piorek, I would have total confidence that it is "worth it"!

In terms of other options, how about Phil Hartsfield? Of course, these are even more expensive ($6K range)

CF_274.jpg


CF_233.jpg


CF_217.jpg



RL
 
Hey Russ: Lots of people can put a hamon on L6, but Howard is the only one who's doing the duplex heat treat for his super-kats.

I agree though...when dealing with $2000 and higher, I *personally* feel that contemporary swords are not very worthwhile when compared to some of the *more* traditional options.

http://www.dfoggknives.com/Katana.htm

This is no longer available, but sold recently for less than $3000. While running across this from Don is not exactly commonplace, it would be hard to deny the quality you would be receiving.

With swords like JSP and Hartsfield, you are paying at least as much (and likely more than) as you would for a custom Clark sword with a top-notch polish and excellent mountings.

In purchasing one of the more contemporary pieces, what exactly makes it more worthwhile? The quality, balance, shaping and durability are not superior...and in terms of aesthetics, they are not even in the same league. Does a rougher finish offer THAT much more confidence? Geez...imagine what HC's blades would sell for if they were given the polish that Hartsfield's blades have.

I won't speak down about JSP or Hartsfield, but that is a *lot* of money to spend on a sword, you have to wonder what exactly you are paying for at that level. Ultimately, it winds down to what you want, since it's your money. Good luck :D

Correction: $3500 for the JSP is a bit less than the Clark sword from Bugei, but you can still get mounted/polished custom blades from he and other very well-respected makers for that price.
 
is a goo source and a good maker, and even teaches classes on katana forging in 1050 steel. He knows his stuff. Wish i could afford it.

Keith
 
whose blades would you guys trust in live combat?
or live steel to steel sparring/combat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The things I hear is good but I what something I can trust no matter what the situation might be!

I think someone should create a site that actually test bladesmiths
swords and knives against each other in cutting , live sparring,
attractivness and other important things people look for in a blade!

I'm tired of look for blade that has untested in several aspects!
wow it looks good and it cuts well but it is totally destroyed in steel to steel engagements!!! whats up with that!
in combat a sword will reiceve extensive damage but it should be somewhat repairable!
the old smiths had constant feed back by samurai,knights ect.
to make there blade more effective in combat.
today that is not the case the have more feed back on how it cuts
and it's inherent strengths for test cutting not combat or
any type of steel to steel exercices

if we want better blades from sword makers we need to give them the
info they really need!!!

anyone have a better solution??????
the operation might be expensive but it would give bladesmiths and martial artists like myself valuable info on how to judge a weapon
for its expected uses combat, cutting, iaijutsu, kenjutsu,ect.
and bladesmith would aquire more effective forging/grinding,heat treating and other essential smithing tech.

SO WHOSE WITH ME!!!!!!!!! literally!
 
Japanese sword arts do not use "steel to steel" in most actual combat. Yes, Japanese swords very often make contact, but as most here will tell you, this is not the norm.

If you want something that will survive this type of confrontation, most people will tell you to buy an axe. This is not sarcasm, because I have seen this statement made many times on this forum.



:cool:
 
yes in japanese and other sword arts train the practitioner to counter a opponets attack not to clank blade to blade till someone wins!
But the point I'm tring to make is that when swords do make contact
the damage that one acumulates may or may not be fatal depending on forging,steel,heat treating,shape ect. without this elusive contact we lose valuable info about our own fencing/sword fighting and the bladesmiths trade tech.
we should remember that as sword enthusists/martial artists
that we are all tought that the smallest mistake or to under estimate an opponet is fatal in battle for you or your weapon!
ofcourse you are more than likely to get struck by lighting 32
times than get into a sword fight especially today!
though if you want to buy a "battle ready" or any thing bill as a
true weapon to be exactly that!!

I AM NOT SAYING TO CLANK THEM TOGETHER UNTIL ONE IS STILL STAND
BY A BUNCH IDIOTS THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING!

I'm talking about trained pro's sparring in a true combat fashion
to find out the invisible flaws that are currently unknown to
modern smiths and martial artists that can seperate the pros from the whana-be's
for example me and live sparring with so called battle ready sword
from makers i will not mention "no need of being sued",but the
moment they connected (me blocking my partner striking)
my sword almost cleved in two. the sword would have held up
execpt for grain split and crack inside the sword as the rest of the sword bent over causing my sword to die in a miserable way
now if the makers sword were tested this problem could have been
avioded. there is no telling how many of the swords are out there that will fail there owners.

YES YES YES this is the chance we take no matter the maker
but if we know who makes the best swords wouldn't that make feel better about the money,and quality in the swords we use as martial artists..........................


(I have been studing ninjutsu,kumdo,tae kwon do,judo And kenjitsu,european fencing/broadsword and I'm well versed in many ways to use a sword.)

you would not carry a gun that had not ever been fired or tested to hunt or in combat!
or in combat
 
Howard Clark's swords are as highly recommended as they come so far as performance. His L-6 bainite swords are simply the toughest in the world. No hype. There are also many excellent makers, Don Fogg, Michael Bell, etc. These smiths make swords that perform. Don't over look them because their swords are also beautiful.

I also like Hanwei swords because they are quite nice and affordable. But if my life depended on it, I would take a Clark sword for sure. Hanwei will sometimes ship a lemon, I rather trust a smith like Howard Clark who tests every sword he makes.

The modern interpretations like Hartsfield's and JSP aren't bad either. If I started making swords for myself I might go that route, as it's easier to do. But if I'm paying for it, I just don't see there's several thousand dollars of work involved.
 
I've used my Kris Cutlery Bonifacio Bolo to clear trails, cut sapelings and even cut down a few small trees. I've used similar bolos when I was younger and less careful and hit more than a few rocks when I was cutting brush. I did get a few chips in them but not enough to cause serious damage. Those bolos are still in usable condition. While clearing an area of my yard with the bolo, I decided to test the Japanese style swords, though this is not what swords are for and is considered abuse. My Kris Cutlery Ninja-To cut 1.5" sapelings with one cut and the Katana did the same with 2" sapelings. Part of that is proper technique, and I did not attempt cuts on thicker trees.
 
Greeting's one and All !! I Read the Entire Post So Far and find Myself in Agreement with the guy who Expect's a "Real Sword " I Don't know for Sure but my understanding is that a Good Sword "Smith " is very hard to Find !! Correct ?? I Have perhap's a Advantage over Some in that While i Practised Kendo as a Child My best friend was a Real Samurai Sword Collector !! My Personal Belief is that Given today's Technology You Should Expect a "Real Blade " but i also Understand some "Smith's " Reluctance to Make a Sandwich Style Blade !! I Have only One Made For Myself that is Forged By Me with 3 Different Steel's in the Blade , Center is to be Heat treated to "Rock Hard" ,Second is to Medium Hard , Third is to Remain Dead Soft !! I Personally Believe this to Be a Great All Around Blade that I Would not be Afraid to Really Use !!
I Would be Happy to Try to Help A "Smith " Make one or Give Him Pointers for you if you Ask !! Just My Opinion !!



http://www.pinoyknife.com
 
There are quite a few different sword smiths, it just really depends on what you want in a blade.

I would agree with everyone that the price for some of the more modern tactical blades is a bit high, but I guess it really depends on what people are willing to pay.

Ninjamaster26: Im not sure I understand the point of testing the swords like this. Most flaw will show themselves in other tests and the blades that pass any of the other tests are definatly well enough to be used against another sword correctly.
Also I doubt you would be sued if you mentioned the maker. :)
 
Do they make chisel ground swords?I guess nothing should shock me but damn!
any blade to blade contact is gonna really ruin the appearance of the blade at the least.I blame Highlander for that litle misconception, plus duels rarely last that long,I'll put it this way Musashi Miyamoto defeated swordsmen with steel blades , while he weilded a bokken(wooden sword)
But hopefully you will never use it for that, but is is nice to know you could, if you had the skill.
 
I read an account of the assasination of Archbishop Thomas Becket. Four knights hacked him to death with swords. As he lay dying on the stone floor, one knight took a swing at him. The sword hit the ground and broke in two.

Also in the Song of Roland, when Roland was mortally wounded he tried to destroy his sword Durandal by lying it flat on the ground and smashing the blade with a stone. It didn't break, much to Roland's astonishment. I'm quite confident any decent sword today would not break by such methods.

Another account was by a samurai who was very proud of the fact that his sword survived several battles without a nick. The trick was to use it in such a way as to not hit anything that may damage the sword. Apparantly this was quite difficult to achieve, and none of the samurai's friends were able to do so.

I think period swords weren't very tough, and their owners didn't expect them to be. Hollywood has greatly exaggerated the sword's survivability in battle. These were weapons that required frequent maintanence and replacement.
 
Just like now, there were different quality swords in ancient times. So the richer you were, or the more money you were willing to spend on a sword, the better it would be.
also during war, many swords were mass produced, making for some low quality swords.
 
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