Samurai Swords
Discussion
_VTEC_ said:
Anybody else have an interest in these?
I've always wanted a proper traditionally made one but my love of Nihonto is taking a back seat to my love of watches at the moment. Maybe one day...
I think the cheap replicas are best avoided. Apparently the real samurai sword is tightly controled by the Japanese government, with only a few being allowed for export. Can't imagine how much they would cost!
Witchfinder said:
_VTEC_ said:
Anybody else have an interest in these?
I've always wanted a proper traditionally made one but my love of Nihonto is taking a back seat to my love of watches at the moment. Maybe one day...
I think the cheap replicas are best avoided. Apparently the real samurai sword is tightly controled by the Japanese government, with only a few being allowed for export. Can't imagine how much they would cost!
This is true but there are quite a few Western dealers for Japanese sword smiths and the smiths will sell to foreigners directly.
They start at around £2k AFAIK. But can go up to about £50k for something made by a top smith. And then there's the work of smiths such as Masamune which will more or less be priceless.
>> Edited by _VTEC_ on Thursday 3rd March 12:17
_VTEC_ said:
Anybody else have an interest in these?
I've always wanted a proper traditionally made one but my love of Nihonto is taking a back seat to my love of watches at the moment. Maybe one day...
hadn't thought about them until seeing "kill bill" ... uma made them seem rather cool. scary but cool.
Dakkon said:
I you google for Paul Chen, might give you an idea of what you can get. HTH
oooohhh... www.swordsdirect.com/tai_chi_swords.html
I have a rather extensive collection Im pleased to say - mostly good replicas (and there are some very good ones) but also a Kane Nori forged gendai - astonishgly beautiful thing.
Costs of the originals can go rather higher than 50K....priceless is a very good term for old japanese swords....but as VTEC says you can get something stunning for around 2K. Kill Bill and The Last Samurai massively jumped prices up of the 'middle level' of these things - shame really
anyoen wanna see pics let me know
Costs of the originals can go rather higher than 50K....priceless is a very good term for old japanese swords....but as VTEC says you can get something stunning for around 2K. Kill Bill and The Last Samurai massively jumped prices up of the 'middle level' of these things - shame really
anyoen wanna see pics let me know
Have been interested in Samurai/bushido for a while now - the two films mentioned were very cool, but still western - try Akira Kurosawa, some sublime films from him.
Have also always wanted a genuine Katana / Wakizashi pair myself...but cost has been prohibitive.
To me, it's less the swords/"glamour", more the concepts of duty and honour - "ninjo o giri". Which are almost totally absent from western society, and we are the poorer for it.
Have also always wanted a genuine Katana / Wakizashi pair myself...but cost has been prohibitive.
To me, it's less the swords/"glamour", more the concepts of duty and honour - "ninjo o giri". Which are almost totally absent from western society, and we are the poorer for it.
Have you been to the Antiques Centre (Grays Antiques Centre, IIRC) just off Oxford St?
Last time I was there (about a year ago), a dealer downstairs was selling swords, etc. His collection seemed to be mostly katana, but he'd obviously have wakizashi and tanto and plenty of other stuff too.
Last time I was there (about a year ago), a dealer downstairs was selling swords, etc. His collection seemed to be mostly katana, but he'd obviously have wakizashi and tanto and plenty of other stuff too.
in addition to Nihonto and kendo, there is the noble art of the fast draw, or, Iaido. The university of Guelph hosts a mailing list on the art as well as classes in making swords in the classic Japanese style.
www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2904
there is a Nihon to mailing list too for people that apriciate the finer qualities of Japanese edged weapons.
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm lots of links to other Nihonto sites
www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2904
there is a Nihon to mailing list too for people that apriciate the finer qualities of Japanese edged weapons.
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm lots of links to other Nihonto sites
docevi1 said:
slightly OTT, has anyone seen Zatoichi/got the DVD. is it worth picking up?
Yes. You can tell all the blood is CGI, which spoils the effect slightly, but on the whole it's very good.
Another vote here for Kurosawa's films. Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Ran and Kagemusha are all in my VHS collection (along with Dreams, but that's not a samurai movie). I still need to get round to replacing them with DVDs
>> Edited by Witchfinder on Thursday 3rd March 13:16
Witchfinder said:
Anybody else have an interest in these?
I've always wanted a proper traditionally made one but my love of Nihonto is taking a back seat to my love of watches at the moment. Maybe one day...
I think the cheap replicas are best avoided. Apparently the real samurai sword is tightly controled by the Japanese government, with only a few being allowed for export. Can't imagine how much they would cost!
Bought a very nice replica pair with a stand when we went to Japan last year for about £400 plus shipping (didn't think I'd get them on to the plane as hand luggage somehow!). I had a look at some real swords as well but they were £20K+!.
iaint said:
I you google for Paul Chen, might give you an idea of what you can get. HTH
oooohhh... www.swordsdirect.com/tai_chi_swords.html
Nice helpful site. A Paul Chen Hanwei Katana is the sort of thing that may well please my dad (A student of Japanese marshall arts) on his 50th in July.
That lot say they don't export but what are chances of aquiring one in the UK (laws regarding functional swords for display and how to get one in the UK?)
Don Veloci said:
Nice helpful site. A Paul Chen Hanwei Katana is the sort of thing that may well please my dad (A student of Japanese marshall arts) on his 50th in July.
That lot say they don't export but what are chances of aquiring one in the UK (laws regarding functional swords for display and how to get one in the UK?)
you won't have any problem in importing one (have done it lots of times). There are no laws against impotring/exporting or owning edged weapons in the UK.
I would definitely make this an internet purchase and ship it. even with the shipping costs the dollar/pound conversion means it will be MUCH cheaper this way (in my experience). If this site dosent ship worldwide one of the others will
There are LOTS of different jap sword replicas - the golden oriole sword which Chen makes being a good example...as are gil hibben designed combat knives. You can find things which look identical and really anre't....the internet is much safer as a result (unless you know exactly what you're buying)
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