Advice on getting a katana

Bill M · 18th June 2007, 10:52 PM

I saw a really neat, though absolutely new katana at the Atlanta Blade Show. It was in a booth where I also met Paul Chen of Hanwei Swords. We had a great talk about old Chinese swords. He is really a neat guy!

He makes some pretty nice swords. His top katana is called a Kami. About $1100.

I have always wanted a nice katana and realize I don't have a clue as to what to look for. Seems a very complicated area filled with unfamiliar terms that everyone who studies katanas understands, but no one else does!

Could someone direct me to some study books, or help me? I might get an older one if I understood them a little better, but one of the custom jobs made by a skilled craftsman is also an option.

Maybe a Hanwei Katana or made by another skilled craftsman?

Maybe a good, genuine antique?

I need a mentor.

If this is more appropriate in the Swap Forum, please move it.

BBJW · 19th June 2007, 01:26 AM

I have a Chen katana to play with. Great on fruit! I also have a Cold Steel bokken to practice with. I have other Cold Steel knives that I couldn't be happier with so I would check out their line of Japanese swords as well.

bbjw

Rich · 19th June 2007, 04:17 AM

If you need help with terminology, etc check my website at either:

http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm or

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

While my site deals mainly with antique Japanese swords, you may
find some useful info there.

Rich S

Andrew · 19th June 2007, 06:06 AM

Bill, you might check out John Lundemo of www.odinblades.com for a custom sword. He made a pattern-welded dha for me a few years back and did a fantastic job for a very reasonable price.

He's since started doing Japanese style swords as well.

t_c · 19th June 2007, 08:48 AM

Here are some starter books for you:

The Samurai Sword: A Handbook
by John M. Yumoto

The Japanese Sword
by Kanzan Sato

They are good introductory books for collectors, but I really enjoyed:

The Craft of the Japanese Sword
By Leon and Hiroko Kapp & Yosindo Yoshihara

It's more about how the swords are made than styles or history, but really great if you are interested in the process.

Bill M · 19th June 2007, 01:39 PM

Thanks for the tips. The weibsite is fantastic, Rich!

I am thinking about getting one of the antique blades. There is a lot to learn here.

Still need a mentor to help me pick one or two. PM me?

Maybe I will get one of the newer blades, well-balanced to do some sword play and cutting?

I really love swords of all areas! What a fun hobby!

Antonio Cejunior · 20th June 2007, 05:30 AM

Hi Bill,

After Rich's post very little can be said.
However I'd like to add a little condiment to it.
Many of those who collect contemporary made katanas that are not nihon-tô, do not like production stuff. And like me, some at my Forum are moving from Katana to Dhas. But then that's another story.

Production swords have been for long overpriced. You pay over 1K for a serial piece that costs in the origin not more than $150. The rest is profit margin with a little for shipment in bulk. And what you get is something similar to the next guy plus all the hype. I learnt my lesson the hard way.

And the proof is the PPK series which is made of steel (cheap or more expensive, it takes the same amount of work) is much more affordable.

I know of a Thai company whose owner spoke to me and said they were making katanas out of laser cut blanks and had a very special way to add a hamon etch without any quench.

All this is scary to me. But then it all depends on what you want it for.

I don't dwell into the nihon-tô area, but have many smiths with who I worked and continue to work. Here are some FYI

My Oar Saya Katanaby Jesus Hernandez
Buckeye Burl Katana by Walter Sorrells
Mino Den Uchi-gatanaby Anthony DiCristofano
SHIBUMIby Howard Clark
Katsujin-ken by Rick Barrett
Seasoned Katana by Joe Walters
Athziluth by Howard Clark

But then all of these have been designed by me. That is the pleasure of owning stuff that would not fit into traditional concepts. I'm mainly politically incorrect

Bill M · 20th June 2007, 09:17 AM

Anthony,

For new made swords, these are exquisite. I particularly like Atziluth. The name has deep meaning from something I have been studying for almost 40 years.

Perhaps you are reaching to an ideal to call it that?

Thank you for your response,

Bill Marsh

Antonio Cejunior · 20th June 2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

Anthony,

For new made swords, these are exquisite. I particularly like Atziluth. The name has deep meaning from something I have been studying for almost 40 years.

Perhaps you are reaching to an ideal to call it that?

Thank you for your response,

Bill Marsh

Ah, I see Bill.
The Three of Life and the Kaballah.

Well, it was prompted after I designed the guard, tsuba. It happened that the person who did it is a kaballist, and he was absolutely stunned with the design in terms of numerology. It also stunned me as I was just guided by my own sense of harmony. He then sent me the Kabalistic explanations and I uploaded them for the record.

Hope you find it interesting.

Bill M · 2nd July 2007, 12:51 PM

Thanks for all your input!

Got a modern made one. Good for a starter and will fun to do some chopping and learn a few sword forms while looking at antiques.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...9125&rd=1&rd=1

Turns out that two of the bladesmiths making custom swords mentioned in Antonio's post live near me. I am in contact with them.

I am still very interested in collecting antiques like the swords I already have, but seeing a lot of beauty and fun in the Japanese pieces.

mross · 2nd July 2007, 05:58 PM

Bill,
This is where I started my antique sword collecting. If you want I can fill you in on what I learned. You should have my email.
Mike

18th June 2007, 10:52 PM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Advice on getting a katana I saw a really neat, though absolutely new katana at the Atlanta Blade Show. It was in a booth where I also met Paul Chen of Hanwei Swords. We had a great talk about old Chinese swords. He is really a neat guy! He makes some pretty nice swords. His top katana is called a Kami. About $1100. I have always wanted a nice katana and realize I don't have a clue as to what to look for. Seems a very complicated area filled with unfamiliar terms that everyone who studies katanas understands, but no one else does! Could someone direct me to some study books, or help me? I might get an older one if I understood them a little better, but one of the custom jobs made by a skilled craftsman is also an option. Maybe a Hanwei Katana or made by another skilled craftsman? Maybe a good, genuine antique? I need a mentor. If this is more appropriate in the Swap Forum, please move it. Last edited by Bill Marsh; 18th June 2007 at 11:18 PM.

19th June 2007, 01:26 AM	#2
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	Playing with katanas I have a Chen katana to play with. Great on fruit! I also have a Cold Steel bokken to practice with. I have other Cold Steel knives that I couldn't be happier with so I would check out their line of Japanese swords as well. bbjw

19th June 2007, 04:17 AM	#3
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	If you need help with terminology, etc check my website at either: http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm or http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm While my site deals mainly with antique Japanese swords, you may find some useful info there. Rich S

19th June 2007, 06:06 AM	#4
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Bill, you might check out John Lundemo of www.odinblades.com for a custom sword. He made a pattern-welded dha for me a few years back and did a fantastic job for a very reasonable price. He's since started doing Japanese style swords as well.

19th June 2007, 08:48 AM	#5
t_c Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ca, usa Posts: 92	Here are some starter books for you: The Samurai Sword: A Handbook by John M. Yumoto The Japanese Sword by Kanzan Sato They are good introductory books for collectors, but I really enjoyed: The Craft of the Japanese Sword By Leon and Hiroko Kapp & Yosindo Yoshihara It's more about how the swords are made than styles or history, but really great if you are interested in the process.

19th June 2007, 01:39 PM	#6
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Thanks for the tips. The weibsite is fantastic, Rich! I am thinking about getting one of the antique blades. There is a lot to learn here. Still need a mentor to help me pick one or two. PM me? Maybe I will get one of the newer blades, well-balanced to do some sword play and cutting? I really love swords of all areas! What a fun hobby!

20th June 2007, 05:30 AM	#7
Antonio Cejunior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 294	Hi Bill, After Rich's post very little can be said. However I'd like to add a little condiment to it. Many of those who collect contemporary made katanas that are not nihon-tô, do not like production stuff. And like me, some at my Forum are moving from Katana to Dhas. But then that's another story. Production swords have been for long overpriced. You pay over 1K for a serial piece that costs in the origin not more than $150. The rest is profit margin with a little for shipment in bulk. And what you get is something similar to the next guy plus all the hype. I learnt my lesson the hard way. And the proof is the PPK series which is made of steel (cheap or more expensive, it takes the same amount of work) is much more affordable. I know of a Thai company whose owner spoke to me and said they were making katanas out of laser cut blanks and had a very special way to add a hamon etch without any quench. All this is scary to me. But then it all depends on what you want it for. I don't dwell into the nihon-tô area, but have many smiths with who I worked and continue to work. Here are some FYI My Oar Saya Katanaby Jesus Hernandez Buckeye Burl Katana by Walter Sorrells Mino Den Uchi-gatanaby Anthony DiCristofano SHIBUMIby Howard Clark Katsujin-ken by Rick Barrett Seasoned Katana by Joe Walters Athziluth by Howard Clark But then all of these have been designed by me. That is the pleasure of owning stuff that would not fit into traditional concepts. I'm mainly politically incorrect

20th June 2007, 09:17 AM	#8
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Anthony, For new made swords, these are exquisite. I particularly like Atziluth. The name has deep meaning from something I have been studying for almost 40 years. Perhaps you are reaching to an ideal to call it that? Thank you for your response, Bill Marsh

2nd July 2007, 12:51 PM	#10
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Thanks for all your input! Got a modern made one. Good for a starter and will fun to do some chopping and learn a few sword forms while looking at antiques. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...9125&rd=1&rd=1 Turns out that two of the bladesmiths making custom swords mentioned in Antonio's post live near me. I am in contact with them. I am still very interested in collecting antiques like the swords I already have, but seeing a lot of beauty and fun in the Japanese pieces.

2nd July 2007, 05:58 PM	#11
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	Bill, This is where I started my antique sword collecting. If you want I can fill you in on what I learned. You should have my email. Mike