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Astrocat — Maple Sword
Published: 2008-05-13 13:52:23 +0000 UTC; Views: 2620; Favourites: 32; Downloads: 78
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Squeeeee! Finally my Iaito has arrived! It's a custom katana made in Japan for me and I ordered it back in January so been dying to get it ^^It has a 2.3 un-edged aluminum/ zinc blade with a nice deep Hi so I can make her swoooosh to my hearts content XD It also has a smaller Tsuka than the general generic pre-made sword so it fits my tiddly hands really well.
The Tsuba, Fuchi and Kashira are all decorated with maple leaves and the Menuki are a cute pair of Chinese Phoenixes.
Can't wait to take it to Iaido practice next week
If anyone need a reference shot of a samurai sword/ katana from a certain angle let me know and I'll see about rigging up some ref/ stock photos for you
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Comments: 56
sure, no problem. I ordered from the Sword Store- [link]
If you look through the site, it'll answer the rest of the questions on customisation and costs. They've changed it a bit since I bought from them ^^
They're an US agent for the Japanese maker so you shouldn't have any problem being the US yourself ^^
This sword I got from there is fantastic quality and I still love it so would definitely recommend the maker. It took a bit longer than the estimated time but was worth the wait
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Thanks so very much!!!
I'm exploring the site now and drooling over all the stuff...
Though,I think I'd rather go for one that's more ME than going with a theme, you know?
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What a beautiful sword! I really want to have one too!
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a blade of zink and alluminium sinces odd for katana as i remembered a katana should only be made from steel
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If it's a Shinkin (live blade) it has to be steel as zinc/aluminum is too soft to put a sharp edge. But for a practice blade either metal is fine, the zinc/aluminum mix has the advantage of being lighter but the disadvantage of not being as hard wearing as a steel blade
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what fun is it haveing a sword that is fake?
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it's not fake, it's just blunt. You don't normally use a Shinkin until you're second dan or above or doing Tameshigiri (cutting practice).
In my club your not allowed to use a Shinkin if you're below first dan for the safety of yourself and everyone else, plus insurance reasons. And as I'm still making a few mistakes as i'm learning I'd rather not cut my fingers off, now that wouldn't fun! XD
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if you want to use a blunt blade you should buy one of real carbon steel so that you can feel the real weight of a sword you can find real weapons aswell at
[link] these swords can cut a man in half ive tried on a dead cow, its like cutting butter
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I do have another sword that has a steel blade and the weight difference isn't that much. To get a custom made steel iaito would have cost me double so couldn't afford one and it wasn't really necessary. It really doesn't matter on an Iaito whether its steel or zinc/aluminum.
I actually really don't like the steel one i've got, it was a paul chen pre-made one and feels clunky, particularly the Tsuka. I lend it to beginers as I don't mind if it gets trashed ^^
This one pictured was made by the same Japanese people who make steel shinkin and folded steel shinkin and you can really see/ feel the quality of craftsmanship. Plus they fitted the Tsuka to the size of my hand so it's nice and easy for me to grip. Even a year on I still love this sword, I can't see me ever getting another Iaito while this is in working condition
heehheh, we only cut rolled up mats, can't see our Sensei bringing in a dead cow for us to practice on! Yeah, Shinkins are kinda scary in their ability to cut.
Do you have any pictures of the sword you're practicing with?
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no, i have no camera exept the one on my cell phone and its so bad that you cant even see the difference between an animal and a human on it, its amazeing how good these swords are although i prefere european weapons designs
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That's a shame but I know what you mean, my phone so old it can barely take pictures and shamefully I have no idea how you get them from the phone to the computer *dunce!*
I love swords and armor, it's so fascinating looking at the different styles through the ages and cultures. One of my friends does the old battle reenactment, I had a go wearing his medieval style full plate armour, it was so hot and heavy and HOT! And I could barely lift the massive two handed broadsword he uses, haha, I think I'll stick to the precision of a Katana than the bludgeoning technique of broadswords XD
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that is why katanas has survived until today you can still train with katanas but there is no sport where you can train in medival armor and weps
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A brillaint piece of craftsmanship there. The Japanese really do know how to make a great sword
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Yes, the quality is noticeably better than the Chinese made Paul Chen swords. I'm really pleased with this
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That's a very professional-looking sword. Where'd you get it??
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I got it from here- [link]
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Oh yeah, I love that store! That's an awesome looking sword!
I recommend [link] because their forge makes awesome katanas from Japan.
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is that made of tamahagane? its Shiken right? were you get it from O.o
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Its an zinc/ aluminum mix so its a little lighter than my steel Katana. It an Iaito as it's my main practice sword and I've only been doing Iaido for a year so not ready for a shinkin yet. When I start doing cutting practice I'll have to get a cheap shinkin as they get a little scratched up cutting through those mats.
I think a tamahagane sword would be veeeeery expensive so I would be afraid to use it if I could afford one..
I acquired my sword from here- [link]
I don't know what type of steel they make their shinkins out of though.
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Good looking sword
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** Yeah, I'm still terrified of the Shinkins!
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It's really beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us, the pictures are really nice as well. ^-^
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Wow! Such a beautiful katana! 
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yay! Thanks. I don't think i've seen your sword? *curious*
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Ah beautiful
Where did you order it from, if you don't mind me asking?
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No worries, I ordered it from this site- [link]
They were exteamely good and very helpful there
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Ooh...katana... My brother has one, but its not half as fancy! *-*
Tell me, does it have a blade? My brothers doesnt and the mateal on the area where the blade would go is fragile, so that no one would try to sharpen it (if we tried it would breack!)
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Sure, it has a 2.3 blade. Its a zinc/ aluminum mix so too soft to sharpen but as it's a practice sword I don't need an edge on it ^^
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My brohers has a sharp tip though...he hit mw with it once...thank god I had my glasses on!
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^^ what on earth was he doing to hit you with it? XD
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Showing off... he came into my room and stared talking about it and swishing it around...next thing I know Ihave a cut on my nose, galles pressed against my face and a katana in the middle of all that. O.O
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haha my friend James would be really jealous LOL he collects swords ... actually he's got a large katana of his own..... XD I need him to take a picture of it sometime lol I want a sword now.... hehehe
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It would e good if he did take a picture
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yeah I know XD hmm I wonder if he has anything on his myspace....
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that is a sexy sword...* plots to steal....XD!*
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Thanks and NUUUUUUUUUU stealing!
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I won't steal it. I know better than that.
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ohmigosh!
I love it! Was it really expensive? Where did you get it ordered from?
I adore swords in general!
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It was about £300 as its a good quality practice sword. Its very well made so should last me many years
I ordered it from [link]
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whoa really sweet, the details are so pretty @___@ *envy envy*
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I'm very pleased with how delicate the decoration turned out
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Recently, my boyfriend got his own katana. Looks like this is the best month to get a new sword.
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