I wanted to post a notice unrelated to ito cord . I recently was hired by zanshinironworks/ dynasty forge to design some blades from ground up . apparently they could not control thier quality. so they hired me as a consultant and I will make a few blades for them I may sub out some of the work to qualified artists. So in the future if you buy blades from this co. they may all be american made with chinese style tamehagane (not the garbagestuff you see on ebay. the chinese can make swords as good as anyone who do you think taught the japanese !anyway. I hope I can help them make a superior blade. I will post message when we produce the first weapons. ............................ thanks bubba- san