Practical sword

eyeeatingfish

eyeeatingfish

Joined
Dec 9, 2003
Messages
4,817
I started thinking about getting a sword after seeing all cold steels swords. Ive seent heir videos where they punched them through car hoods... but a dull machete could do that. Cold steel isnt my favorite brand, dont really buy from them though i got a good price on a SRK and got a tomahawk from them. Both i was satisfied. Thought about a mace because well a mace isnt something hard to make.
Back to the swords I thought about them but then i figured id check here and see what people said about cold steel. Getting some mixed reviews.

I guess basically i want a good sword, medium size and weight, nimble. Katana, hand an a half are both kind of ideal. Something that would do well in a moist climate, look decent and would be able to go around chopping trees without any major problem. Something within the 400-700 range.
Seen a few brands recomended here but not sure of their prices.
Brother wanted a hand an a half too but dont want him getting a faulty sword either.
 
able to go around chopping trees without any major problem
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Seems like a tall order for a 1/2 $K sword. I'd like to learn about inexpensive swords that are capable of being used to chop trees.
 
Ok, maybe not chop down trees, i mean more like tree limbs, 2-3 inch in diameter. To chop a tree im smart enough to use my tomahawk.
 
A couple of thoughts...

If you want to chop on trees or limbs or whatever an axe would be a better option. :) Swords were not made for that, a sword is a specialized tool like any other and even different sword types are made for different specialized tasks. If you simply MUST have a sword to wack on trees or car doors or engine blocks and it must be a katana then I would suggest either one of the practical Chen products or one of the Kris Cutlery products. They are cheap, they take a good bit of abuse and you won't be devastated when you tear them up. If you want a western style sword again look at Kris Cutlery or another very good alternative is Angus Trim swords most of which should be in your price range.
 
I chop trees with my Ontario Knife Machete. It works well. I chop them (dry ones) when camping for firewood, where legal. I also use my machete in the garden.

I have a good katana that might be able to cut a 3 inch branch in the right hands, I don't feel up it. I have broken some dry 2 inch branches with a boken. I sharpen my machete a lot like a katana though, not like a knife. Cost me about $30.

I have a couple of places bookmarked for good swords, they range from about 1K-20K though. My favorites being about 3-5K, however I have yet to be able to spend that type of money. I haven't spent more than $600 on a single blade yet, and I'd expect a good non sharp practice blade to be under $200.

Cutting things with a sword isn't so hard, the proper technique and form, rhythem and speed are. You can develop those with wooden or non-sharpened blades and then check your technique with test cutting with your sharp practice or even real sword.
 
I'll add my voice to what Triton said. Swords are NOT for cutting trees, or limbs. If you really want to cut trees and have something you can also use like a sword (and have it survive), get a khukuri. They look cool, they're tough and can chop almost as well as a good hatchet. They're very useful tools and cheaper than a good functional sword. There's good khukuri info on BladeForums.
 
M. Taylor said:
get a khukuri. They look cool, they're tough and can chop almost as well as a good hatchet. They're very useful tools and cheaper than a good functional sword. There's good khukuri info on BladeForums.
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Agreed the Himilayan Imports forum to be precise. :) To reiterate a sword isn't an axe neither is it a machete, the blade geometry and balance are totally different (or at the very least they should be.) Can a sword cut branches? Well I suppose... but why would you do that when you can get more effective tools for that job and cheaper? You could use a Bradley fighting vehicle to go to the grocery store, but a mini-van or an SUV is a lot more practical and cheaper. On the other hand you wouldn't want to take the family Ford Explorer into the middle of a fire fight. The right tool for the job...
 
ok, forget i said anything about cutting trees, i was just trying to express my interest in durability. Im jsut thinking about some material i could practice swing techniques in the back yard. You know how they show it in the coldsteel video?

I jsut checked out Kris Cutlery, they seem cheaper than cold steel, are they better?
Paul Chen has some really cheap ones and some decently expensive ones.
IM guessing more money=more quality?
 
Though more money=higher quality in many cases, that is not always the case.
Of course the smart thing to do strikes me to do what you are doing, asking around. I'd suggest trying to find a place where you can hold some of the swords you are considering and compare them. At the price ranges involved I think you should focus on what feels right to you, Kris cutlery, Cold steel and Paul Chen (CAS Iberia too) all seem fairly comparable. I'd lean towards the ones people have had good results with and then compare them with hands and eyes.
 
If you want inexpensive Japanese styled swords, Paul Chen seems to be a good choice. You may also want to look at Cheness Cutlery; they've been getting good press lately. Angus Trim makes excellent swords, if you are interested in something more European; Triton mentioned him in a previous post. As for something to cut, try water-filled milk jugs or pool noodles. You could also try light cardboard carpet tubes.
 
eyeeatingfish said:
ok, forget i said anything about cutting trees, i was just trying to express my interest in durability. Im jsut thinking about some material i could practice swing techniques in the back yard. You know how they show it in the coldsteel video?

I jsut checked out Kris Cutlery, they seem cheaper than cold steel, are they better?
Paul Chen has some really cheap ones and some decently expensive ones.
IM guessing more money=more quality?
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Gotcha, Kris is cheaper the cold steel based mostly on the fittings and handle wrap and general finish on the cold steel blades in my opinion. As far as cutting performance I doubt you would find much difference. Personally I avoid the Cold Steel western products.
 
Hey here's a question: Wtf is a sword good for in the 21st century?

Utility? Use a machete. Defense? Use a knife.

Swords are cool and all, y'know, especially if you're a kid or a collector of some pieces of actual value. But for practicality? There is no practical sword in 2006. If yer a blade lover (I have loved and respected steel my entire life) think about something you can carry, something you can use.

Swords are nice to collect if you have the bucks for something decent, and learning the art of their use is an intriguing and amusing discipline, but until the next dark age comes, they have no practical application.

Okay guys, go ahead and tear into me and tell me how you all carry swords every day and use them on a regular basis :jerkit:
 
I have always been fond of the chisa katana from cold steel...very tough blade and price is good. The handle may crack after a while but whenever that happens you could make a new one easily enough from micarta if you don't mind the tactical look. The only paul chen swords worth having are the mid level ones and up...I had a practical katana plus and don't rate it too high.
 
Raggedyman said:
Hey here's a question: Wtf is a sword good for in the 21st century?

Utility? Use a machete. Defense? Use a knife.

Swords are cool and all, y'know, especially if you're a kid or a collector of some pieces of actual value. But for practicality? There is no practical sword in 2006. If yer a blade lover (I have loved and respected steel my entire life) think about something you can carry, something you can use.

Swords are nice to collect if you have the bucks for something decent, and learning the art of their use is an intriguing and amusing discipline, but until the next dark age comes, they have no practical application.

Okay guys, go ahead and tear into me and tell me how you all carry swords every day and use them on a regular basis :jerkit:
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Lots of things aren't practical. Owning a ferrari isn't practical. Some things we do for fun...
 
Raggedyman said:
Hey here's a question: Wtf is a sword good for in the 21st century?

Utility? Use a machete. Defense? Use a knife.
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A bolo (whether it is a sword or knife depends on how you define the terms) or a barong are practical tools and not much bigger than a Bowie if you want a weapon.
 
Raggedyman said:
Swords are nice to collect if you have the bucks for something decent, and learning the art of their use is an intriguing and amusing discipline, but until the next dark age comes, they have no practical application.
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MAybe thats why im getting one. When the oil runs out and we all have to fend for ourselves...
 
I'd expect a good non sharp practice blade to be under $200.
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I'd say that's the bare minimum really, even there lots of corners cut in the shaping of the aluminum/non-steel blade, handle fit, fittings, etc....
Lots of choices in production swords and customs, American, British, German, Japanese smiths..... good stuff. Expect to spend anywhere from 300-600 to even 1000+ USD for a good (more than barely serviceable) iaito.
Swords are good mainly for killing, some better than others, dependent on skill of user in that particular type of sword and in whatever style they use.... I'd say investing in guns would be better for post-apocalyptic scenarios... if you survived in the first place *cough*.
I think a simple cross-guard falchion would serve well as a heavier machete... and as a decent sword as well. Kukri anyone? Oh, and I think an Angus Trim sword (European or Japanese) is very "practical" regarding price - and certainly practical for using in swordsmanship (blunts).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwp6W4YF2dI no comment.

I'm waiting on owning my first KC kat... should be fun :D.
 
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