Sword Buyers Digest Magazine

SWORDBUYERSDIGEST: Issue 2, Noveber 2006 MAGAZINE

Sword Buyers Digest: MAGAZINE!

From the Desk of Paul Southren (Editor)

Hey guys! a very cool place where you can download some pretty nice arcade game emulations Welcome to the second edition of the new look (including my favorite arcade game of all time Inside this issue: Sword Buyers Digest Magazine. ‘Samurai Showdown’), a special last chance This months jam packed issue has a bit of a fo- offer to pick up the recently discontinued razor SBG Site News 1 cus on that hobby that gets all the neighbors sharp Cheness Higo Katana, and lots, lots more. looking at you funny—backyard cutting! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this issue of the di- Sword Industry News 2 In the first of a two part series I’ll be taking a gest—should you have any comments or sug- look at this hobby, from how to do it as safely gestions for the mag, be sure to drop me a line. as possible to how to select targets that are both Sword Review: Che- 3 Cheers, ness Higo Katana safe for you and your sword. Plus, we also have a couple of readers reviews, Article: Backyard Cut- 4-5 - Paul Southren ting!

FREE Sword Games; 6 Samurai Showdown! SBG Site News

Sword Review: Wind- 7 GRAPHIC PROBLEMS SLOW DOWN MY NEW AUSSIE SWORD STORE lass Qama NEW PAGES... Finally, in a an effort Customizing a Katana 8 October saw a few technical problems with the to help out some of my the EASY way... graphics suddenly not displaying on my pages fellow Australian Best Forum Posts 9 for medieval swords… :-( Japanese sword enthu- siasts, I have started This kind of slowed a few things down a bit, my first serious shipment of Cheness Cutlery Last Chance Discount 10 but the problem has for the most part (fingers Iaito and the 30” Nagasa Katana by airfreight Offer: Higo Katana crossed) straightened out so will hopefully be into Australia. While it isn’t easy, I’ve done able to get back on track with some planned everything I can to keep to prices competitive changes and additions to that page this month with the international standard (us Aussie (including a ‘test to destruction’ of one of my sword buyers tend to pay far too much for favorite Generation 2 swords, the Maximilian. freight, and when we buy locally the prices are It’s going to hurt, but it’s all in the name of see- simply waaay too high). PLUS: ing just how far you can push these swords before they inevitably break). So if you live in Australia and are sick of pay- New super strong ing inflated prices, have a look at the new tem- Filipino Swords porary home for my (slowly) growing sword WIN a Free Cheness SWORD MANUFACTURERS INFO store HERE 9260 Spring Steel I have also been refining some of my sub-pages Katana in Shirasaya on the different sword manufacturers, and will MORE SBG SITE NEWS AS IT HAPPENS Video of the Month continue to do so into November so that by the end of the year there will be a kind of ‘one stop To keep (more or less) up to date with all the Exclusive SBG Dis- shop’ page detailing all the major manufactur- changes on my site as they occur, have a squiz count Offers ers of the different brands of sub-US$300 at the ‘official’ SBG Blog: swords with lots of links to further info. And MORE! Behind the Scenes at SBG

CHENESS CUTLERY favourite single handed medieval arming swords, the European Sword… Cheness are definitely the company to watch in late 2006 and early 2007. Again, this really is pretty disappointing as I liked this sword so much it was the sword I More great designs of swords are currently in chose toe feature in the SBG Logo!!! the prototype stage and will be unveiled here in the coming months, including the extra tough 9260 prototype of the SGC (Specialized Goza Cutter) - a thick blade designed specifically for heavy duty tameshigiri (can’t wait to check that one out) - and a few other prototypes waiting in Well rather than change my logo, I am working the wings that I am dying to tell you about (but away behind the scenes to bring the European will have to wait until another edition of the sword back into production! So if you want to newsletter)… ;-) see it come back too, shoot me an email and I’ll compile them together to Windlass and see In other, somewhat sadder news, one of my fa- Arms of Valor’s Compari- what we can come up with…! :-) tive Sword Tests: Shrews- vourite Cheness swords, the Laminated Higo bury, Lucerne, Marshall and Katana is about to be permanently retired Mercenary (L to R). from the inventory due to ongoing difficulties of manufacturing it within the required budget. ARMS OF VALOR: Sword Tests I was recently submitted a review on this truly My good friend Jason at Arms of Valor has de- ‘sharp as a scalpel’ sword by a SBG visitor, cided to do something that pretty much no other Matthew Scruggs—but it isn’t purely nostal- online sword seller has ever dared to do before. gic… Taking four of the US$150 to $300 medieval swords with a similar blade profile that he sells, Paul Chen advised me that there is ONE LAST he is in the process of conducting some quite BATCH of these laminated, razor sharp blades scientific tests to help his customers understand that has just come in. the strengths and weaknesses of each brand and And while it is considerably smaller shipment select a blade that is right for them and their that what used to come in, if you are quick and budget.. want to get one of these swords at the lowest price on the internet, I have put together a spe- The blades included in the test include the cial LAST CHANCE offer at the back of this Windlass Shrewsbury Sword, Gen2’s Lucerne, months newsletter. the William Marshal by Hanwei and the Merce- nary by Valiant Arms (which is also rebranded and distributed by CAS Iberia). Tests include fit and finish, cutting, flex and edge on edge WINDLASS STEELCRAFTS contact. More of the results of the tests will be I hate it when they do this, but Windlass Steel- detailed here but for now: Click here to see crafts have recently discontinued one of my stage one: fit and finish. New Manufacturer of Traditional Filipino Swords

I was recently submitted some information on a ones on Traditional Filipino Weapons. That new manufacturer of high quality Filipino along with the mirror finish is what makes them blades and thought the story was interesting very unique. All blades are full tang. You actu- enough to share: ally can chop a tree down with a ginunting and still use it in combat. “When I was training in the Philippines, I met a family tribe that has been making blades and They all have to be held to be believed. You can other weapons for a few hundred years. What I feel the power of how they want to slash and saw impressed me so much, I talked to them thrust by themselves...they are all engineered about importing these blades here to the US. I that well. This tribe knows what they are doing. My personal favorite: also import a very high grade steel to them that They have it down to a science when it comes to the War Golok, just $165. cannot be found in the Philippines so that is the blade making.” Only available from Tradi- reason no one else has the same quality as the www.traditionalfilipinoweapons.com tional Filipino Weapons.com

© Sword-Buyers-Guide.com 2006 Sword Buyers Digest: Issue 2, Noveber 2006 MAGAZINE! Page 3 End of an Era: the Discontinued Cheness Higo Katana Reviewed for the last time... While they might have been discontinued, The tsuba is very plain and utilitarian, but good- there is one last smaller than average batch looking, with a simple Musashi double-ring. remaining. In this last review of the Higo, The habaki had a few black streaks or smudges SBG customer Matthew Scruggs gives you on it upon delivery, but these polished right out, the low-down on what these swords were all so it's not a big concern. Everything seems tight about... and well constructed. The blade is absolutely immaculate. It has a gorgeous curve to it, and Cheness Higo Katana something of a "double hamon." The hamon is acid-etched (because the blade is not differen- Review By Matthew Scruggs, USA tially tempered), but it is very attractive and natural looking. There is also a second hamon, Forging of a Higo: a cen- where the 9260 steel is revealed as the edge, tral core of 9260 Spring which I think is very cool. Steel sandwiched between 2 billets of Carbon Steel Oh, and the blade is sharp. It has a real edge, not a double bevel, and tapers fine enough that your eyes go out of focus if you try to follow it. Here's how sharp the Higo is: real G@dd@mn sharp. It is sharper than many scalpels, and, working in the medical field, I know this for a fact. “Here’s how sharp the Higo is: real G@dd@am I recently purchased a 2nd Generation Higo My only problem is that the tip is extremely Katana from Cheness Cutlery on SBG. rough and unfinished. However, I fixed this in a sharp. It is sharper than half-hour with metal-glo, so it wasn't too bad. many scalpels, and, The sword initially caught my eye because of its price and construction. It uses a laminated working in the medical style blade, with a core of 9260 spring steel field, I know this for a with a 1045 steel wrap. The intent here is to fact” give it a harder edge for cutting, with softer sides and back for shock absorption, all while remaining more resilient than a differentially- hardened blade. I am not a metallurgist, so I cannot verify this, but it makes sense to me. For a price of $199.99 it was a steal. I purchased this sword here at SBG, and I will defi- I did not torture-test this blade, for fear of nitely be doing business here again. Paul gave breaking it due to my own ineptness, but I have great customer service, answering all my ques- no doubts as to its cutting ability. The sword tions in a timely manner. Along with the dis- handles very well, with a definite weight to the counts, SBG is a great place to buy a sword!!!! blade, but it a firm, secure way, not at all awk- It came in a very nice wooden and cloth box, ward. It is no and was carefully wrapped in a soft cotton bag. agile rapier, but The verdict: The thing I love about the Cheness line is that with the proper Historical accuracy: 4/5 there is no glue or plastic used in any of their body torque be- Fit and finish: 4/5 swords. This gives them an authentic look and hind a cut, the Handling: 4/5 feel. The ito is very tight and even, and though tip speed is quite Structural integrity: 4/5 some say it is cheap, I think it is rather utilitar- terrifying. One Value for money: 5/5 ian and attractive. can tell it is Higo Cutting 8 Plas- meant to kill in a single blow. tic Milk Jugs in a The same panels cover the wood completely, row. Totally effort- and the mekugi are clearly visible. It seems to Overall, I am extremely happy with my Higo. I less, it is a real be very easy to disassemble and customize this highly recommend it and SBG for all Cheness shame to see the sword, if one so chose, but that is beyond what swords!!! Higo go... I am willing to do to a new sword, and I like it the way it is now anyways : ) Special last chance Higo offer on the back page on this months mag.

© Sword-Buyers-Guide.com 2006 Sword Buyers Digest: Issue 2, Noveber 2006 MAGAZINE! Page 4 BACKYARD CUTTING! (Safe) Test Cutting Basics: Part 1 By Paul Southren (Editor) If you’ve visited my site (and the fact that you are reading this magazine proba- bly means you have!) you’ll know that I am quite an avid ‘backyard cutter’. In this first article of a two part series, I will be taking a closer look at this rather eccentric but extremely enjoyable hobby...

SO, WHAT IS BACKYARD CUTTING? READY TO CUT! With the resurgence of interest in collecting So everyone’s behind the line, you’ve got a swords (both Eastern and Western) and the ease good sharp sword in your hand, you’re sober of buying sharp and fully functional swords on (they’ll be plenty of drinks to be had once those Backyard Test Cutting the internet, its no secret that there is a growing targets have been dealt with) and your ready to is a lot of fun and very number of people with an interest in ‘cutting cut… The only question remaining now is, satisfying! :-) stuff up’ in the backyard… :-) what are you going to cut up today? :-) From what I jokingly refer to as doing the old Well, I am glad you asked. Because we are now nutty ‘Samurai Gardening Services’ pruning job going to take a look at some common (and to simply chopping up the box your new sword cheap) targets you can chop up, how to use came in, it’s a fun (if slightly wacky) hobby them and what they will do to your blade... thousands of people across the world enjoy. So It’s target time! :-) much so that there are actually semi-organized and safety conscious ‘cutting parties’ where a small group of people bring along their sharp TARGET #1: Water Filled Plastic Milk Jugs pointy things to a friends house, chop some stuff up—and then sit back and have a bit of a Fill up a plastic milk jug with water, put it on a yarn over a good barbeque and some beers (and stand of some description and give it a go— strictly in that order!). chopping a plastic milk jug into pieces is one of “Essentially if you think While it’s all a great load of fun, before we get the easiest targets of them all—and very forgiv- too carried away there are some pretty impor- ing on the blade to boot! about what could go tant basic safety considerations to take into ac- Some people like to pickle chip them– in other wrong beforehand… and count before you even think of reaching for that terrified soda bottle... words try to get as many cuts out of one Jug as do everything possible to they possibly can, as thinly as they can. Others minimize these risks, you (like me) like to line up as many as I can and can concentrate on SAFETY FIRST try to cut them all with one massive hit! having fun..” I’ve often heard it said that anyone considering Whichever way you like to do them, Milk Jugs test cutting should learn some basic firearms are a great, inexpensive target-though don’t training as the principals are very much the forget to dry your sword off thoroughly and same: everyone should be well behind the give it a good oiling as quickly as possible af- ‘firing line’ and to basically treat the sword as a terwards and you won’t have any rust problems. loaded gun (that’s loaded all the time). So here’s a few basic rules to live by:  Don’t cut in areas people might wander TARGET #2: Water Filled Soda Bottles through. Keep everyone out of the way The skin of a soda bottle is a lot tougher to cut of the arc of the sword. through than a Milk Jug and it takes a much  Don’t cut around your pets! keener blade to slice them. It also takes a fairly quick cut because if your strike is too slow, all  Don’t drink before cutting (alcohol and that happens is that you will bat them across the swords don’t mix). Not even 1 drink. yard like a baseball (strike, your’e out!).  Don’t do test cutting alone... The smaller the container, the harder the cut is Essentially if you think about what could go to make as there is more pressure inside the wrong beforehand (in an off the wall ‘final des- Good Clean Fun: Slic- bottle. The only downside is that because the ing and dicing Milk tination’ kind of way,-swords can sometimes do skin of soda bottles is thicker, it may well leave the damndest things) and do everything possi- Jugs is a blast! small scratches on the blade, which bothers ble to minimize these risks, you can concentrate some people, but others think a sword without a on having fun. few ‘battle scratches’ lacks character.

© Sword-Buyers-Guide.com 2006 Sword Buyers Digest: Issue 2, Noveber 2006 MAGAZINE! Page 5 BACKYARD CUTTING! (Safe) Test Cutting Basics: Part 1 (Cont) TARGET # 3: FRUIT AND VEG months and dry, but they also leave no perma- nent marks or scratches on the blade and are a great, fun challenge to start with!

TARGET #5: CARDBOARD BOXES Some people who don’t do much test cutting often have no qualms about chopping up the box it came in (after all, that’s why they send you swords in a box isn’t it!). Test Cutting a Big Or- ange Pool Noodle: trick- QUICK TIP: Before cutting a box, check it ier than they look! for staples-otherwise you’ll end up with a really nasty looking scratch! Yes, I kid you not—making a ‘fruit salad’ with a sword from pineapples, apples, lemons, or- The advantages of cutting cardboard boxes is anges and watermelons (not to mention vegies that they are relatively cheap and easy to come like pumpkins) might be very messy, but it’s a by. Not to mention that they are pretty easy to real blast— especially if you stumble upon cut, even with a dull blade. some excess fruit and veg that’s going bad (too expensive and wasteful to do on the good stuff The disadvantage is that cardboard usually isn’t though, which doesn’t give you a license to just made of paper and often contains numerous conveniently let food spoil in the fridge as my other rough bits and pieces that can really wife often reminds me… Hehe). scratch the surface of a blade and dull the edge in no time at all. SIDE NOTE: While it sounds like fun, it’s really not a safe thing to do to have someone throw these things towards you and try TARGET # 6: NEWS PAPER to cut them up… There are basically two ways of using a newspaper for test cutting. The first way is to simply Anyway, if you decide to make a ‘fruit salad’ get a normal newspaper, roll it up as tightly as with your sword - bear in mind afterwards that possible, tie it up with string and soak it in a the acidic secretions of fruits and veg can bucket of water (you might want to weigh it quickly ruin a blade. So be quick to give it a down with something first) until it is nice and good wash down with soapy water, dry it off soggy… and then a spray on some WD-40 before giving Then let it dry a little, stick it into the upright it a good oiling for good measure. peg on your test cutting stand (or hang it from somewhere by some string) and viola! Instant TARGET# 4: POOL NOODLES ‘poor mans tatami’!! Pool noodles are great fun! Pool noodles are While it is obviously very cheap, it is not a bad also actually surprisingly difficult to cut, mostly substitute for tatami and has a similar consis- because they are extremely lightweight and tency that tends not to scratch or damage the have a springy texture so that if your cut is too blade, though the ink may run onto the blade slow or too hard, the little so and so’s tend to and needs to be washed off pretty quickly. just flop down out of the way and pop back up The other (much, much harder way) is to do cut again to mock you! :-) a single piece of news paper. You can either do In fact, I’ve even heard stories of people who this by suspending it from some pegs some- are quite adept at cutting traditional tatami where or freestanding (much, much harder!). omote mats who have had a fair bit of trouble A masterful cut by 10th Dan To cut the paper without tearing it, you’ll need Black belt and Grandmaster with pool noodles. a VERY keen blade and a lightning fast cut, but of the Muso Jikiden Eishin- Pool noodles also have a lot going for them. it can be a lot of fun to try! ryu: who is definitely NOT a Not only are they are fairly cheap (compared to casual backyard cutter! tatami mats), readily obtainable in the summer To be continued next issue...

I don’t know about you, but in my ‘misspent sub-folder called ‘Roms’. youth’ I spent a lot of time hanging out playing Now take a quick mosey over to all the ‘Mame’ games at the arcades. And naturally enough, games at under the letter S here, and click on one of my favorites was ‘Samurai Show- ‘Samurai Showdown’ (they have quite a few down’. editions of this game, up to and including Samu- rai Showdown IV!) create a folder with the same name as the zip file in the Roms folder and unzip the contents of the download into the newly created folder. Now you are pretty much ready to play! Screenshot from Samurai Plug in a joystick controller, click on the start Showdown IV button -> Accessories -> Command Prompt to bring up the old DOS Window. Then type in the following: Cd/mame [enter] Mame samsho –joystick [enter] Well, some enterprising folk have found a way “In my misspent youth I to prevent all these Neo-Geo games from going And you are done! spend a lot of time the way of the dinosaur—and they are now There are documents inside the original freely available to download via an interface hanging out playing download that explain how to configure your known as ’MAME’ (Multiple Arcade Machine games at the arcades. joystick and any troubleshooting, and yes, it Emulator) at www.rom-world.com might seem a bit complicated but once it is all And naturally enough, Here’s how it works. First of all, you need to up and running, I assure you that it is worth the one of my favorites was download the Mame emulator from Romworld effort to be able to play those old nostalgic ‘Samurai Showdown’…” here, and unzip the compressed folder some- games again. where on your hard drive where you can find it. LEGAL NOTE: Strictly speaking, downloading the Because most of the coolest games including Roms for these games is a copyright infrigement unless Samurai Showdown are made by Neo-Geo, you you own the original Rom. While no action has been also need to download the Neo-Geo Bios here taken by the copyright holders to date (the Roms are no and save it into the Mame Download folder in a longer for sale) it is important to bear this in mind.

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© Sword-Buyers-Guide.com 2006 Sword Buyers Digest: Issue 2, Noveber 2006 MAGAZINE! Page 7 Practical Swords Reviewed: By SBG Contributor Scott Hardy—Part 2 Scott Hardy is a sword enthusiast who loves long, the sword is 22.5" long overall. The practical, fast and short bladed swords. weight can't be much over a pound. In the second installment of a 3 part series, The grips are held on with two bolts, which Scott will be taking a look at Windlass Steel- are flush with the surface on one side, but crafts Qama—a very simple yet quite deadly stick out very obtrusively on the other. practical close combat sword used to great They're a little annoying if they're jutting into effect by the Northern Persians and Geor- your palm, but not bad if the protruding ends gian Cossacks. are on the fingertip side. The handle is a lit- Windlass Qama tle short, but not enough to be uncomfortable for average-sized hands. You might eventu- An actual 19th Century ally irritate the heel of your palm, but only Cossack Qama because the thing is so light, so easy to use, and too damned hard to put down. The handle is not particularly attractive, and The qama is kind of the opposite of the main was not masterfully applied, but it looks du- gauche I previously reviewed, in that it's rable, and seems like it could be replaced about as simple as a shortsword can be. An fairly easily. almost flat blade with a full tang wedged be- This qama doesn't have any grandiose ambi- “Some people buy the tween two pieces of horn as a handle. tions, it is trying to be simple, basic, plain -- Windlass qama and Happily, it arrived greasy, rather than cov- and it succeeds. make new handles for ered in the expected Windlass lacquer. As Performance-wise, it is almost exactly like a them, turning them into always, with Windlass blades, it had no edge, light gladius. It's not hefty enough to chop a very budget priced and needed a lot of filing. through a significant amount of armour, but Gladius.” The scabbard was surprisingly good, being is an excellent thrusting weapon, and can still leather-covered wood with steel fittings, but be swung against softer targets. doesn't provide any way to attach it to a belt. The only bad news is the lack of provision It is, if anything, a bit too snug, and will need for attaching the scabbard to a belt, and the some breaking in. (authentic) lack of guard for the hand. The The Roman wars against Persia brought the blade should stand a little parrying, and the gladius into that part of the world, and it lives tang is perfection, but it would be easy to on to this day in northern Iran and Georgia as imagine losing a few fingers using it in a the qama. swordfight. As sold, it's all offense. Some people buy the Windlass qama and The good news is that this qama cost me $39. make new handles for them, turning them At that price, I absolutely cannot complain. I into a very budget-priced gladius. So if you're could pay someone $100 to put on whatever thinking that it looks a lot like a gladius, sort of guard I wanted, and still be in the you're right. price range of an entry-level gladius. The blade's balance point is 3 3/4" from the If you've always wanted a functional sword, handle, and the sweet spot is about 6" from but are on a machete budget, this might be the tip. exactly what you're looking for. Windlass Steel- The blade is thin, with a barely diamond crafts Qama: note cross-section, which is no more than 1/8" at The verdict: the ‘gladius’ pro- the thickest part. There is no distal taper to Historical accuracy: 4/5 file of the blade. Fit and finish: 2/5 speak of. Handling: 5/5 The steel seems to be of decent quality, and Structural integrity: 3/5 is heat treated well enough that shaping the Value for money: 5/5 edge is pretty slow work. The blade is 17.5"

© Sword-Buyers-Guide.com 2006 Sword Buyers Digest: Issue 2, Noveber 2006 MAGAZINE! Page 8 THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: Last chance entries for the ‘Win a FREE Cheness Shirasaya’ Competition! As you may know from previous issues of the ject, just as long as you have the photos and text Sword Buyers Digest, we will be drawing a covered, the Shirasaya can be yours! winner for the Cheness Shirasaya Competition To enter, simply submit your entries and any on the 1st of December 2006. questions to [email protected] So if you haven’t got your entry in yet, there is The competition winner will be announced in still time… next months edition of the Sword Buyers Di- All I am looking for is a text based gest, and entries will close on Sunday the 26th ‘walkthrough’ of any DIY customizations you of November 2006, and as the number of en- have done to a production Katana, along with tries are very small, if you’ve ever done any some accompanying step by step photos that I customizations yourself your chances of win- can put on my site, and the best entry will win ning are truly astronomical! themselves a Cheness 9260 Spring Steel Katana If you have any questions, let me know—but be in Shirasaya (with your choice of either a quick, a winner WILL be drawn on the 1st of through hardened 9260 blade with or without December, so if you’ve ever customized a bo-hi, or the NEW Differentially Hardened Cheness 9260 Spring Katana, here’s your chance to get your next 9260 Shirasaya blades that came out earlier last Steel Katana in project for FREE?! :-) month). Shirasaya: the perfect DIY sword project. It doesn’t really matter WHEN you did the pro- ENTRIES CLOSE NOVEMBER 26 How to customize a Katana: the EASY way…!

“...As the number of entries are very small, if you’ve ever done any customizations yourself your chances of winning are truly astronomical” Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to - had a silver rose menuki added from JP get a Katana customized without any DIY swords, a flower tsuba from Fred Lohman work at all and without paying the full and the saya was airbrushed by a friend of price tag that usually comes with getting a his at Ultimate Airbrush to create a truly custom Katana? stunning one off piece of art. Well, there is a kind of ‘compromise’ and I am talking of course about buying a production blade and getting other people to do the mountings! :-) While it’s obviously a lot more expensive that just buying the bits and pieces and doing them yourself-the end result can be just as If you are thinking of having a sword customized by a professional yourself here’s a breathtaking as getting a custom sword made few quick links to the guys Ron used: up at a fraction of the normal price you’d pay for a truly custom sword. Fred Lohman is considered by many to be one of the best custom fitters and can wrap a For example, the beautiful looking sword standard length handle for around US$165. shown above was once a pretty ordinary Han- wei Practical Plus Wakizashi. Ronin Swords do a cotton wrap for US$110, Brian Drier from Ronin silk for $130 and leather for $150. Swords offers full silk But as a present to his girlfriend, fellow Aus- handle wraps from just tralian Ron Salter had the tsuka rewrapped Both can do pretty much anything you want US$130 with black same and red ito by Ronin Swords them to do, just email them for a quote.

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71994 The sword that was broken—reforging a sword that was snapped in half! http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73179 Cool looking plastic toy swords for the office cubicle (and some info on movie swords)

Cool Plastic Toy http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=43975 Swords based on Giant Swords! What are the BIGGEST swords in the world..?! ‘Peter’s’ Sword from the Chronicles of Narnia… http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49143 BLAST FROM THE PAST: Cutting Power—Cutting ability in swords: a Primer

“While slamming a great VIDEO of the MONTH sword through a car door isn’t perhaps the most appropriate use for Proof” DVDs have a sword, it certainly made their way onto makes quite interesting Youtube, and while viewing.. ” slamming a great sword through a car door isn’t perhaps the most appropriate use for a sword, it certainly makes quite interesting viewing… I should point out that if you are ever in the market for Cold Steel swords like the great sword, it really pays to shop around. For example, while you might think you are getting a good deal on the Great sword Cold Steel on YouTube at the Cold Steel website for US$549, the truth is if you shop around you’ll find that While not known for producing particularly the cheapest place to buy them is at some- graceful or historically accurate swords, there is Hell of a way to make where like trueswords.com where they sell little doubt that Cold Steel make a very tough, chops… The Cold Steel Great for a more reasonable US$264. very mean beater. Sword in action! Now, it would seem that many of their promo- tional videos from their “Proof” and “More Click HERE to Watch the Video

MAGAZINE I hope you enjoyed this issue of the Sword buyers Digest Magazine as much as I enjoyed putting it together for you! :-)

Until next issue, stay safe and have fun with swords! Paul Southren

TELL US WHAT YOU Back issues: WANT TO SEE! October 2006

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SBG Sword Store Special Last Chance Discount Cheness Katana Offer! (Sorry, USA Subscribers Only)

price of US$169.99 + 20 shipping. PLUS, you also get a free display box, sword bag, cleaning kit and stand!! Naturally, this is a strictly limited offer on a very small number of Higo blades— and once they are sold out, they won’t be available again. To be fair and allow everyone who wants one a chance, this Cheness Cutleries sharpest and most unique offer is strictly limited to 1 sword per customer. sword, the Higo Laminated Katana, has just been discontinued. But the good news is, it isn’t too late to get one—because here is one last chance to grab yourself a piece of Cheness Cut- lery History before they are gone for good… Forged with a core of 9260 Spring Steel (the US$169.99 + $20 Shipping same ultra durable steel used in his famous Tenchi and Shura Katana) and laminated with two billets of 1045 Carbon Steel, the Higo is TERMS AND CONDITIONS literally as sharp as a scalpel and yet tough Offer Expires 30th November 2006 or until sold enough to take on a large range of traditional out (refund issued immediately if order placed targets with ease. after stock has run out). The Cheness Cutlery Lami- Normally US$229.99, if you use the paypal Discount valid only on orders within the conti- nated ‘Higo” Katana. Last button on this page to buy it you can pick up the nental US. Limit of one sword per customer. chance to get a laminated very last batch of Higo Katana for the bargain sword at this price point...