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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Katana
- Thread starter Odin40
- Start date
horseclover
Basic Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2000
- Messages
- 3,359
We're pretty much on the same page here....except....the quantitive; "most of us".
Admittedly, I am one of the most bizarre forumites you'll ever read
My point is that I generally give newcomers the benefit of the doubt regarding a bit of common sense. Pointing out crosswalks and Don't Walk signs can be done gently. Maybe it was getting smacked by a parent for crossing a busy highway while using the "Push To Walk" button. Geez, I had even phoned home to let them know I hadn't gone directly home from school.
I find "most" of the overly heated newcomer katana threads are first postings _after_ the first sword buy and an individual trying to justify a cheapie as just as worthy of a higher price sword. I am super happy (in this case) that someone took a little time shopping instead of a trial and error approach.
Just two sides of a coin
Cheers
GC
horseclover
Basic Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2000
- Messages
- 3,359
Congratulations on your acquisition. Along about 2004, Hanwei reduced the blade width on the practical (and several other models). The XL models went with a return to the beefier swords.
All bamboo is not created equal but green is definitely a better target than dried. A somewhat common error is using the middle of the blade as a striking point. Edge alignment is important. Some blades get bent even on 2 litre water bottles. Try not to baseball bat when slicing. Apply the brakes on the other side of the target and use the front third of the blade. It is the cuts and blows that don't cut cleanly that are most likely to stress a blade. I had tried cutting some very tough and thick cardboard tubes with my practical a few times but discontinued doing so.
Wet newspaper rolls, beach mats (watch out for wire edging) tatami, pool noodles soft rubber hose. I would avoid dried hardwoods. We have used pvc filled with dowel for stand pegs and it is not uncommon to cut both pvc and dowel (and chunks of stands). Dowels and bamboo iun the center of tatami, not an unusual target but the same maxim of cutting through is important.
When holding with two hands, you are applying pressure towards your wrists, kind of gently wringing the handle. A friend spends time first thing every morning doing 100 air strikes with his bokken (wooden sword).
Some complain about the Hanwei tsuka (handle) shape as being too straight but as a first sword (really any sword) one learns any tool in time. If using the sword mostly for decoration, you will probably want to learn different sageo knots
http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/sageotying.html
http://www.way-of-the-samurai.com/how-to-tie-a-sageo.html
https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/31529/sageo-presentation-knot
If displaying the katana out of the saya, be very aware of the hazard as well as keeping in mind that oil attracts dust, dust attracts moisture. Any sharp can be a hazard, even handling in their scabbards and saya. Sharps are always loaded. When handling indoors, note overhead and the space around you.
Enjoy!
GC
All bamboo is not created equal but green is definitely a better target than dried. A somewhat common error is using the middle of the blade as a striking point. Edge alignment is important. Some blades get bent even on 2 litre water bottles. Try not to baseball bat when slicing. Apply the brakes on the other side of the target and use the front third of the blade. It is the cuts and blows that don't cut cleanly that are most likely to stress a blade. I had tried cutting some very tough and thick cardboard tubes with my practical a few times but discontinued doing so.
Wet newspaper rolls, beach mats (watch out for wire edging) tatami, pool noodles soft rubber hose. I would avoid dried hardwoods. We have used pvc filled with dowel for stand pegs and it is not uncommon to cut both pvc and dowel (and chunks of stands). Dowels and bamboo iun the center of tatami, not an unusual target but the same maxim of cutting through is important.
When holding with two hands, you are applying pressure towards your wrists, kind of gently wringing the handle. A friend spends time first thing every morning doing 100 air strikes with his bokken (wooden sword).
Some complain about the Hanwei tsuka (handle) shape as being too straight but as a first sword (really any sword) one learns any tool in time. If using the sword mostly for decoration, you will probably want to learn different sageo knots
http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/sageotying.html
http://www.way-of-the-samurai.com/how-to-tie-a-sageo.html
https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/31529/sageo-presentation-knot
If displaying the katana out of the saya, be very aware of the hazard as well as keeping in mind that oil attracts dust, dust attracts moisture. Any sharp can be a hazard, even handling in their scabbards and saya. Sharps are always loaded. When handling indoors, note overhead and the space around you.
Enjoy!
GC