picking my first sword

[Nternal]

Anybody have experience with any of the following?

Cheness Folded Steel Kochou Katana

Hanwei Practical XL Katana

Hanwei Raptor Shobu Zukuri Katana

Kris Cutlery Kambun Katana

Hanwei Bastard Sword

Hanwei Hand and a Half Sword

Hanwei Mercenary Sword

Hanwei War Sword

Kris Cutlery Baselard

Kris Cutlery Crusader Sword

 

[PainProphet]

Someone asked for pictures of the Hanwei Raptor Moroha Zukuri Katana, so here are some. I can remove them if the OP is annoyed by it. The sword all around feels very solid, I have not done any cutting with it yet, but it is definitely sharp enough to cut paper with ease lolz. Truth be told I'm just getting into this stuff, so I still need to clean my garage/make room and improve upon my technique before I go live with the blade or the Tenchi when it gets here for that matter. Oh and no one give me too much hell for my sageo tying technique please, it's the first one I've ever tried. :grumpy:

 

[Dirtbiker]

Just for fun, here is what I vote for.

 

[Pueo154]

A rather bit more spendy than what OP was asking, but if it were me, I'd save for this:

2lb 4oz, 24½" overall, blade just a hair under 19", PoB 1¼" from the cross. When properly sharpened, the cinquedea is a vicious little cutter that sports a very functional point as well! :thumbup:

 

[Nternal]

Someone asked for pictures of the Hanwei Raptor Moroha Zukuri Katana, so here are some. I can remove them if the OP is annoyed by it. The sword all around feels very solid, I have not done any cutting with it yet, but it is definitely sharp enough to cut paper with ease lolz. Truth be told I'm just getting into this stuff, so I still need to clean my garage/make room and improve upon my technique before I go live with the blade or the Tenchi when it gets here for that matter. Oh and no one give me too much hell for my sageo tying technique please, it's the first one I've ever tried. :grumpy:

I can grab this for 150$ on a place I know( it's being discontinued) but I am not sure about the blade shape, something about it just kind of turns me off more than a more standard katana tip. Also CrimsonFalcon07, can you pm the site that you said has the raptor series for the best price? I think I am gonna grab one of this series.

 

[PainProphet]

Yeah if I didn't already have a "normal" style katana already ordered, I may not have gotten it. But its really grown on me, looking forward to using it. I'll pm you the link, but we're probably looking at the same sight because I got mine foe $150 as well. Not sure if its the cheapest price, but it was when I was looking.

Edit: couldn't find the pm function on this forum, so I left you a visitor message with the link.

 

[Nternal]

Yeah if I didn't already have a "normal" style katana already ordered, I may not have gotten it. But its really grown on me, looking forward to using it. I'll pm you the link, but we're probably looking at the same sight because I got mine foe $150 as well. Not sure if its the cheapest price, but it was when I was looking.

Edit: couldn't find the pm function on this forum, so I left you a visitor message with the link.

Yeah bro it's the same site but thanks for trying to help either way. Hey maybe you can let us know how it goes when you do some cutting with it. Perhaps the blade shape will grow on me too when I find out how it performs.

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

I can grab this for 150$ on a place I know( it's being discontinued) but I am not sure about the blade shape, something about it just kind of turns me off more than a more standard katana tip. Also CrimsonFalcon07, can you pm the site that you said has the raptor series for the best price? I think I am gonna grab one of this series.

Sure, left you a visitor message. When you gonna go gold (again?) eh? They carry most of the Raptor series and all of the Practical series for great prices. Fast shipping too.

The other thing you MIGHT consider at some point is picking up some 5160 from Aldo, and grinding out your own short sword. Have it heat treated by darrin sanders. If you have a nice 1x30 belt sander, or just some files and elbow grease, you can make yourself a nice blade for under $100.

Here's one of my WIP's

And another:

Just a thought...

 

[Nternal]

I just ordered a Hanwei Raptor Shobu Zukuri .

 

[hostileuniverse]

...I want something serious) and possible home defense...

then I would definitely consider something shorter than a katana, consider a ninja (insert mall-ninja joke here) short enough to wield effectively in confined quarters and a handle long enough for two hands, lightweight and fast!

 

[Nternal]

then I would definitely consider something shorter than a katana, consider a ninja (insert mall-ninja joke here) short enough to wield effectively in confined quarters and a handle long enough for two hands, lightweight and fast!

Good point dude

 

[C.S. Graves]

This TFW kris was around the $200 mark when I got it:

Same with this customer Kombat Weapons ginunting (mind you, it was second hand):

TFW Panabas, the one on the bottom:

Seems to cut well enough

Some villager HI stuff might fall into the budget as well if you luck out:

I scored this Valiant pamor parang nabur for a similar sum:

Apparently the original naburs were influenced by Dutch cutlasses.

 

[SeaxyBeast]

A lot of very tasty sharp and pointies, there. I like it.

Apparently the original naburs were influenced by Dutch cutlasses.

As I understand it a lot of parangs and klewangs were either re-handled cutlasses or were made from cutlasses with broken tangs or blades that snapped near the hilt. No one is going to waste a chunk of good steel. Some of my favorite looking blades are cross-culture re-handles or adaptations.