Ok, to come back to the discussion about cheap swords

Discussion in 'Ninjutsu' started by Count Duckula, Apr 26, 2015.

  1. Count Duckula

    Count Duckula Valued Member

    A couple of days ago, we had that discussion about how dangerous a cheap sword is for training. One of the arguments of the owner of the sword was that the steel was thick and solid, and he didn't believe it would break. I explained that regardless of the steel, heat treatment for a sword is a very important issue because it has to withstand impact. The chances that a mass produced piece of cheap steel would be done right, is nil.

    Then a couple of days ago I was working in my forge, and I remembered that I had some tool steel files laying around that I was going to make a couple of working knives out of. I have many old files lying around, and I thought that it would be more fun to show just how weak a thick piece of steel can be if it was heat treated incorrectly. After all, a picture says more than a thousand words. Best watch full screen if you want to read the text.

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEc10WBvet8&feature=youtu.be"]Breaking steel to prove a point - YouTube[/ame]

    I decided to post here, because it isn't an article per se, and this is the forum where we had the discussion.
    Perhaps the weapons forum would be a more logical choice.
     
  2. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    Damn I miss working in a forge, I generally sucked at it but I enjoyed it.
     
  3. kouryuu

    kouryuu Kouryuu

    You should have blown Dean, that's where you get the heat mate :)
     
  4. Niinpo

    Niinpo 万変不驚 Banpen Fugyo

    I only read your comment Normy and wondered what the hell the discussion was about!! Lol :wow:
     
  5. kouryuu

    kouryuu Kouryuu

    And now you know haha
     
  6. Guitar Nado

    Guitar Nado Valued Member

    I like your video. Thanks for taking the time to make it!

    Now you need to do one "big giant swords" style where you break the file on some flaming coconuts or something!

    Just kidding. Seriously, thanks for the video - I think it explained your point way better than any back and forth on the forum would.
     
  7. thomas81

    thomas81 Valued Member

    today i did some tameshigiri practice with the sword in question on an empty plastic cola bottle filled with water. It went through that really well at least and no visible damage to the blade.
     
  8. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    You aren't helping yourself, you know that?
     
  9. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

    For an encore have you tried cutting a turd from a dogs bum?
     
  10. thomas81

    thomas81 Valued Member

    No.
     
  11. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

    Try it an see if that damages the edge...if not you have a keeper
     
  12. thomas81

    thomas81 Valued Member































    .................No.
     
  13. thomas81

    thomas81 Valued Member

    I'm not asking for help. I did it for my own curiosity and amusement.
     
  14. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    In the words of a well known American Ninja "stop it!".


    Get proper instruction.
     
  15. thomas81

    thomas81 Valued Member

    I'm under no illusions that this is going to count towards my kenjutsu or my credits in the dojo. Right now this is at a purely hobbyist level. I come from a country where guns are banned, so this is the closest i can get to popping off a few rounds at the range. I am making sure the target is far softer than the blade so i don't see where the danger is.

    Even in the dojo, we aren't operating under zero danger conditions. There is always the risk of someone breaking their neck during ukemi or being smacked in the face with a blunt weapon. A big emphasis in our dojo is the words "have fun".

    For a performance comparison, the higher quality sword in this video is cheaper than my sword.


    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4I43BWR6q0"]Mall Katana vs Battle Ready Katana! - YouTube[/ame]
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2015
  16. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    In the dojo you are under guidance that is very different from playing with a sharp weapon at home and you are playing.
     
  17. thomas81

    thomas81 Valued Member

    Okay, well thank you for your concern.
     
  18. JibranK

    JibranK Valued Member

    I've given up. Look at the other thread. He's an Ashida Kim guy. (He'll claim otherwise now but he cited him uncritically first.)
     
  19. JibranK

    JibranK Valued Member

    What kind of psychotic dojo do you go to where people are frequently breaking their neck in ukemi and being smacked in the face with real weapons in the name of "fun"?
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2015
  20. benkyoka

    benkyoka one million times

    If you keep practicing with inferior materials without proper instruction you increase your chances of an incident or injury. People here are trying to prevent that.
     

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