Quality Swords

Hello Everyone,
Does anyone out there know of a place where a person can purchase a good quality sword at
a reasonable price?I'd appreciate any information on the subject,thank you.
Your Brother in the Arts

Hello Brewer,

I think the following links will point you in the right direction:
http://www.tachi.com/
http://www.galatia.com/~fer/sword/buy/Default.htm
http://www.swordarmory.com/
http://www.wildroad.com/swords/index.html
http://www.mvforge.com/
http://www.bugei.com/

Some are a bit pricey, while other are inexpensive. (less than 1K) I've been reading for about 4 months in preparation for begining sword class in the fall. I would say this is not something to rush into if you intent to aquire something you will pass on to your children. For reasearch purposes, www.google.com will provide you with a number of sites that may be useful. I like this one:
http://japanesesword.homestead.com/files/nihonto.htm

Happy hunting.

Amos Smith

Hey Amos,
Thank you very much,Amos.I really do appreciate it.I am helping a friend look for this information,I know he is going to be happy with all the Links.Thank you again.
Anthoney Brewer
Your Brother in the Arts

Take a look at www.kriscutlery.com. I've dealt with them primarily for Filipino blades, but a friend of mine bought a katana from them. It was a quality weapon- not up to the standards of a true collector, but several steps up from the shoddy blades available in the mall or those silly catalogs that also sell 'The Sword from Braveheart'.

Dear Brewer:

Take your time.
Let me say that again. Take your time.

Having studied Korean sword for a couple of years now I have had a special sensitivity to many of the posts on various Nets which ask the same question that you have.

Take your time.

When people go out to purchase an automobile they research dependability and price, looks and MPG. Maybe they go to CONSUMER REPORTS or POWERS for evaluations and critcal examinations. I am always amazed that when buying a sword, students routinely attempt to purchase the least expensive wrench in the catalogue and then attempt to put said wrench to maximum use for everything from Forms to cutting.

Take your time. Do the research. Do not attempt to find a "one size fits all" sword. The kind of sword you want depends on the use you will put it to.

If you want a wall-hanger buy one of those garish items out of the local MA supply catalogue or go to the local gun show and pick-up on an old WW II gunto. Don't use it for anything but a wall-hanger.

You want something to do Forms or Iaido with go to "NOS" and buy one of their unsharpened Iai-To or perhaps that nifty new shapened Iai-To which is capable of doing LIGHT tamashi-giri (One or two mats). Pay the money. They are worth it.

You want to do some serious cutting go to BUGEI and Talk to James. Tell him the kind of cutting you want to do. He will help you identify the blade thats right for you. You will get a quality Chen blade with quality furniture and secure mountings. Pay the grand. Its worth it.

You want a custom sword-- custom made to your specs. Fine. It will run you 3 G-s or more and the sky is the limit. You will get reasonable polish on a folded blade and all the warm fuzzies attendent to owing such a piece.

Now, it has been my experience that whatever one buys, there is always someone who can cut a few corners and so shave the price. You can always get something cheaper.For instance MANTISS offers Chen blades for less but their furniture is shoddy. However, if you are going to modify your sword study in deference to what you are willing to spend, you are in the wrong art. I will go a step farther and say that if you are going to be guided in you MA practice by cost, you have selected the wrong activity and probably need to move to bowling or baseball.

Best Wishes,
Bruce W Sims www.midwesthapkido.com

..if you are going to be guided in you MA practice by cost, you have selected the wrong activity and probably need to move to bowling or baseball.
I can't say as I agree with that one. I know a fair number of martial artists who have to seriously budget for the tuition at thier school, let alone spend thousands on a sword! Their dedication and enthusiasm for their art is much more important then owing a sword that has a 'resonable polish'.