Japanese-style swords
 

One of the things that takes funding from my P-car projects. Just finished building the rack and mounted it on the wall this evening.

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You have to tell us more...about the age of some of your pieces. I know that some Japanese swords can run into serious money.
However it is an area that I know next to nothing about.

Unfortunately they are all "new".

Most are Chinese-made replicas specifically designed for practice cutting.

The third from the top is Japanese-made, but specifically for martial arts practice (kata) and incapable of holding an edge (it's made from an alloy to bypass the strict Japanese sword export laws). It is called an "iaito" ("Sword for iai") or "mogito" ("Non-living sword").

I'm going to the San Francisco sword show next month. I may come back with "the real McCoy"...though you have to look in the $6k+ range if you want something in good condition.

This is why I titled the thread "Japanese-style swords"...Someday I'll own the real thing but right now I'm concentrating on my martial arts practice. So owning a $6k+ sword right now would be counter-productive. :D

Here I am using the 2nd from the top to kick the ass of a straw-mat-wrapped piece of bamboo.

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Aaron - where's your dojo? I keep telling myself I need to get back into martial arts.

5th Ave. and Van Buren...

It's a *****ty drive and a not-so-nice neighborhood but worth it to me!

There's an aikido/jo-do class there as well.

Dood,

You need to get an updated avatar to show off her stripes she's getting! Or just photshop in some vertical bars.

And don't take this the wrong way but.... NICE RACK!! :D

ok, i dont understand the avatar comment. oh, that is m stewart, i need glasses.

blue, are you into the japanese cooking knives too? the craftsmanship is amazing. i cant own them, because of cost, and i dont want to learn the one sided sharpening method.

My wife is half-Japanese and her father (full Japanese, native of Wakayama) owns a Japanese restaurant near Cincinnati (and incidentally right across the road from the Toyota HQ there).

I'll let you do the math. ;)

Why are the best places always in the worst parts of town? Cheap rent I guess. I used to fence in downtown Atlanta... they had a rule that you could only leave in pairs... even for the guys!

The rent must be cheap, our class dues are only $50/month.

LOL, thanks. I've been working out. :D

Must do something about that avatar...it was funny for a while but now it's kinda lame.

Nice "blue". There is a Pelican who deals in swords and is in the Seattle area..Alfred Tan I believe. I've seen his web page and have drooled over some of his offerings. Very cool stuff!