Short swords

[Devonai]

Geez, I didn't say they were good for the coliseum. You could take it off the wall and practice with it, though. Not all of us can afford to drop $1000 on a blade.

There's little chance that any sword from Bud K is anything but a sword-shaped wall hanger that would be dangerous to swing much less attempt to cut with.

The full-tang swords to which I refer aren't going to fall apart by swinging them around.

 

[rbmcmjr]

Is there any decent wakizashi, not a toy, but not tricked out with lacquer, inlay, and other cost-adding doodads?

That is to say, a wakizashi that's a well-shaped piece of decent quality steel with a comfortable grip?

For a modern American rendition, you might try the Busse AK-47 (47 cm blade length). The production window has closed, but there are still some available through the company store. See here: http://www.bussecompanystore.com/knives.htm

Rick

 

[LegendaryItaliano]

You could take it off the wall and practice with it, though.

You could, but it would be dangerous not to mention wreckless. The swords you are reffering to ARE NOT meant to be swung around. They are meant to be hung on a wall, PERIOD. There is a reason those blades are so cheap in price.

The full-tang swords to which I refer aren't going to fall apart by swinging them around.

Full tang means nothing if its made of cheap SS. And if you swing them around, at some point they will fall apart. Please read my other post in this thread.

 

[Trebor]

Our own MadMike is also a custom bladesmith. Send him a PM or e-mail him through his site for suggestions and info.

 

[Trebor]

A short sword that has been intriguing me for awhile now is this one:




Cold Steel 1917 Cutlass Reproduction.

I have an authtenic one of these. My dad found it in a shed when he bought a new house about 15 years ago and gave it to me. It had some surface rust, but is essentially sound.

It's a substantial piece of steel and I have no doubt it would work well if used "in earnest."

Personally, I don't like the balance though. It is definately a slashing weapon and the center of balance is too far forward for my taste.

Btw, I also think it's a little large to be considered a short sword. It's longer than a Gladius or a Falchon.

You know, for all the years I was in SCA, I'm surprised this is my only *real* sword. I really should get a custom blade sometime.

 

[Devonai]

I guess the one I've been swinging around for ten years is an incredible anomaly.

I guess my buddy's dojo has just been incredibly lucky considering all the cheap SS crap they've been swinging around for twenty years.

While I agree that it is possible that a weapon could be so poorly forged that the blade could snap by torque alone, I would classify such an occurance as rare, to say the least.

 

[LegendaryItaliano]

I guess the one I've been swinging around for ten years is an incredible anomaly.

That may be. Take a look at this when you get a chance
http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=43606

I guess my buddy's dojo has just been incredibly lucky considering all the cheap SS crap they've been swinging around for twenty years.

May I ask what type of dojo it is, what type of art they study. As I stated in my earlier post there are a very few (count on one hand) smiths that can properly heat treat SS for a sword. However, the cost would be the same if not more than a 10XX blade. If your friend uses the type of blades found at BudK then I would say he is tempting fate.

While I agree that it is possible that a weapon could be so poorly forged that the blade could snap by torque alone, I would classify such an occurance as rare, to say the least.

Perhaps rare, but I ask, is it worth the risk?

 

[Devonai]

I'm sorry, I missed your point about stainless steel. I understand now. I also apologize for any unwarranted sarcasm.

So to be honest, I can't say how many of the weapons at my buddy's dojo (Okinawan Karate, very reputable), if any, are stainless steel. I do know some of them are indeed Bud K catalog products and are used for kata without incident. My katana is marked 440 Stainless and has stood up well to quite a bit of practice. I used to do 100 reps a day of eight different strikes until I developed a cartilage spur on my wrist. The doctor just rolled his eyes when I told him how I got it. It gradually went away after I switched to a 1 pound bokken.

I suppose if I ever get bored I can go whack it broadside against a flagpole a few times and see what happens.

 

[hso]

I guess the one I've been swinging around for ten years is an incredible anomaly.

I guess my buddy's dojo has just been incredibly lucky considering all the cheap SS crap they've been swinging around for twenty years.

While I agree that it is possible that a weapon could be so poorly forged that the blade could snap by torque alone, I would classify such an occurance as rare, to say the least.

Devonai,
My apologies, I didn't look at the piece you suggested and didn't realize it was slabs riveted to a full tang. While I wouldn't try to whack anything with the piece you suggested (stainless doesn't stand up to impact well and 420J is the low end on stainless) it shouldn't fall apart at the wrong time without warning.

I'm concerned about the bulk of what Bud K (and others) sell because they usually sell pieces that are not slabs riveted to a full tang. In those cases the problem for "swinging around" occurs with the construction of grip. Nasty all-thread welded to stubs of tangs are typical and will shear allowing the blade to come free endangereing everyone in the vicinity of these POS sword like objects. If you've got a full tang with 2 cross screws/rivets/pins and the grip is snug you probably shouldn't have the thing fling the blade into the wall(or your little brother).

 

[taliv]

coronoch

try this link to paul chen wakizashis on ebay

9 out of 10 gurus will disagree about whether the "practical" or "practical plus" blades are usable. my opinion is that they're not the best choice for constant cutting practice, but that they're excellent budget swords for kata or daydreaming.

some of them, like the orchid, are quite aesthetically pleasing and have quality furniture for the price. (and it's folded, to boot, so it has a nice pattern in the grain) it has an 18" blade



while i'm a huge fan of japanese swords (been practicing iaido for 16 yrs now and have collected several antique swords), the classical mountings might not fit your mission profile without some modification:

for starters, the saya (scabbard) isn't designed to hook into duty belts or 511 clothing it's rather high profile (i.e. much wider than it needs to be) because it's round instead of flat like your typical knife sheaths. oh, and they don't come in coyote brown yet!

next, the tsuba (hand guard) is quite large, which just isn't practical for today, as you mentioned it's unlikely for you to encounter another sword. it'll make it difficult to conceal, and uncomfortable to wear when not traditionally mounted.

so while you're dreaming... check out this guy's page. he's very well respected and does custom mounting.

 

[0007]

Museum Replicas has some interesting "Ciquinta(sp?) style blades. Typically 18-24" blades with a wide guard end and a sharply tapered point. Try their website.

 

[Soap]

I'm sorry, I missed your point about stainless steel. I understand now. I also apologize for any unwarranted sarcasm.

So to be honest, I can't say how many of the weapons at my buddy's dojo (Okinawan Karate, very reputable), if any, are stainless steel. I do know some of them are indeed Bud K catalog products and are used for kata without incident. My katana is marked 440 Stainless and has stood up well to quite a bit of practice. I used to do 100 reps a day of eight different strikes until I developed a cartilage spur on my wrist. The doctor just rolled his eyes when I told him how I got it. It gradually went away after I switched to a 1 pound bokken.

I suppose if I ever get bored I can go whack it broadside against a flagpole a few times and see what happens.

When I was studying Iaido, I would have been terrified to train in the same room with someone who was using a cheapie stainless blade...

 

[Kaylee]

If you've got a full tang with 2 cross screws or rivets and the grip is snug you probably shouldn't have the thing fling the blade into the wall.

eek!

Ya know.. in my "stupid kid days" I did that very thing.. scared me to death.


To the original question -- what about a "pirate" hanger or hunting sword? Similar to the wakis, a little longer, sometimes with a bit of a fuller. Usually they look to have a nice gentle curve and often a right pretty guard. Old Dominion Forge makes some forged ones -
http://www.olddominionforge.com/swords.html

A search on ebay for "hunting sword" will often turn up some antiques for comparable or lower prices.. or you could go the windlass route --

http://www.atlantacutlery.com/webstore/eCat/Knives And Swords/Revolutionary War Hanger.aspx

(I don't have one, but it might be kinda neat to find one and dress it up all "piratical" for Pirate Day next year. )

 

[JShirley]

hso, love that penuti!

Mike,

I know I often suggest HI products, but that's because they work, and often are a bargain, too.

26.5 inch (OAL) 22 ounce carved Dukti sword;
27.5 inch 29 ounce Manjushree Sword;
23 inch 35 ounce chandan wood handle Uddha Sword (you've probably seen this as a Khyber knife);
20 inch 24 ounce "Bob White Bolo" (in this thread BladeForums member Dave Rishar pried, chopped through nails, and smashed concrete!);

 

[hso]

I like the Manjushree a lot.

Kaylee's made an excellent point ( get it, point? ) in that antique european small/short swords can be found for less than 100 bucks, especially if you willing to clean up one with some rust and without a scabbard. The old Euro styl swords are more than credible pieces and will kill you just as dead as a Waki at a fraction of the price uhoh: ).

 

[JShirley]

Forgot the Cherokee Rose.

It's about 21" long, and can be used with one or both hands.

I have one, but since I want something that I can use on stuff, I don't actually have any utility for it, since it feels like a dedicated fighter (as opposed to my well-loved kuks).

Mike, I don't have the funds right now, but where would one look for such a small Euro sword?

John

 

[MatthewVanitas]

For a modern American rendition, you might try the Busse AK-47 (47 cm blade length). The production window has closed, but there are still some available through the company store. See here: http://www.bussecompanystore.com/knives.htm

Rick

Wow, that's about exactly what I was asking about, conceptually. (Ah, 47cm is 18", got it). Short, simple sword of Japanese styling, but an "American rendition".

Price is higher than I can go as a fun toy though ($587), but I really appreciate your pointing the model out to me. I'd love to justify owning one for some vaguely practical reason, but my 1911 does me fine in Texas, and anti-gun jurisdictions to which I may be forced to move in the future are probably anti-sword as well. But definitely a very cool product. -MV

 

[hso]

http://osograndeknives.com/Ontario/ontario_-_wakizashi_sword.htm
Either are less than $100

Ontario Knife Company Blackwind Waki

Handle Material:

8" Nylon Paracord wrapped
Blade Type:

Black epoxy coated
Blade Material: Carbon
Blade Length: 15"
Overall Length: 23"
Sheath: Custom Kydex Sheath
Weight: 32 oz.

Their Katana

10" Nylon Para cord wrapped
Blade:
Black epoxy coated
Blade Material: Carbon
Blade Length: 20"
Overall Length: 30"
Sheath: Custom Kydex Sheath
Weight: 46.4 oz.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

A short sword that has been intriguing me for awhile now is this one:




Cold Steel 1917 Cutlass Reproduction.

These are really well made and SHARP. My dad has one of these and I sure wouldn't want to defend myself against a motivated opponent armed with one.

 

[JShirley]

Shame...Ontario was going to (/did?) offer several other short swords in various styles, some of which I liked better than the wakizashi.

J

 

[Kaylee]

hso -- you know, looking at those I can't help but think...

"Do you know what your sin is?"

 

[Skofnung]

"Right now, I'm gonna have to go with rage."

 

[hso]

hso -- you know, looking at those I can't help but think...

"Do you know what your sin is?"

His was a just a tad purtier than this.

 

[gfen]

Short Sword, 1d6/1d8, damage type P, versus your long sword, 1d8/1d12 damage type S, much better 'gainst your undead, but nothing beats the flail at 1d6/2d4 type B, unless of course you count the cleric with the flail who can turn the...wait...this isn't that forum, is it?

Nevermind, crossed wires.

gfen.

 

[Soap]

I have the Blackwind Katana that hso posted about. It has poor balance and too short of a handle. But it is tough as nails. I plan on having an extended handle done so it is similar in length to the Busse's.