strix Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 if you guys can give me pro's and con's and who would you pick and why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 This is the wrong forum for that sort of question. We are not collectors here, we make stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N. Runals Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Buy a piece from both. http://www.etsy.com/shop/NateRunalsBlacksmith?ref=pr_shop_more&view_type=gallerynaterunals.com My Instagram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Wands Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Tell you what I think of their work,,,AWESOME!!! INSPIRING!!!! And cons???? Con is I can't even come close to their skill,,, but I'm trying! BladeThe blade, elegantSlicing through the sweet, warm breezewith a precise hit.Sam Wands (10 years old)Gold for the merchant, silver for the maid;Copper for the craftsman, cunning at their trade.Good! Laughed the baron, sitting in his hall;But steel---cold steel---shall be master of them all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Burrell Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I saw this question when it first popped up earlier and couldnt think of anything to add. we here are a community of makers both professional and amateur. we are also a community of artists and friends, there is no pros or cons only your personal taste. Onen Hag Ol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Well said, Josh. HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Furrer Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 As a general rule to those who may be looking to commission or buy "off the rack" I say this. Do your research...internet and word of mouth. Look for a style you like and find those who work in that style. The product tends to be better rather than asking someone to do something that they are not familiar with. Some makers specialize. Look for depth of skills. Many makers come and go...the ones that have longevity tend to be better investments as they have a body of work and work can be sold later at a higher cost as they have more perceived "value". This does not mean to avoid or not to support new makers...some new makers become the old guard in time. Ric Richard Furrer Door County Forgeworks Sturgeon Bay, WI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Gillespie Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 There is nothing negative about either of their blades, if I had the money, I would spring on their blades. Josh, very well said. We should never degrade ones work, simply out of respect for the work, and thought that goes into making it. Ric is right, but sometimes word of mouth will no suffice, a blade should feel right to you, the maker can only supply you the blade. You may not like something in particular, but it foesnt mean its a con to the blade, it just means the blade feels natural to another person. But as I said, you will find no cons with either makers work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyle o'donnell Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 pros: epic blades cons: im poor. there is a fine line between creation and destruction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strix Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 thanks everyone for the feed back, i know for you guys it may be a easy choice cause you are in the art but for me thats not it's hard. i have about $8000 to spend and i want the best for my money, i joined this forum cause it was the only one that seemed active still, others are not and most people i sent emails to from youtube dont even know "Walter" or "Clarke" that i found real funny, and these people are doing sword reveiws and cutting videos what a joke right, i was looking for a maker that still folds steel and does the fittings and all him self, but now with all this great feed back from all of you, maybe thats not so much of a big deal. guys botton line im not rich man i just want the best i can get for my money so i was looking for help from people like your self that know better then i do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 One thing that you have to realize is that your question is very hard to answer. You also seem to be asking from the standpoint of a collector and not that of a user and are more concerned with a knife that will stand up as an investment than a tool. I am not personally familiar with work from either of the gentlemen mentioned but they are top makers with recognized names. Will either of them be the next Bob Loveless who's knives are searched for by collectors? Maybe. They could already be. I don't know. You need to get with some collectors to see what their reputations are. As Alan said, most of us hear are makers, not collectors, and we do not really know the market much beyond what styles that collectors tend to favor. Doug HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strix Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 One thing that you have to realize is that your question is very hard to answer. You also seem to be asking from the standpoint of a collector and not that of a user and are more concerned with a knife that will stand up as an investment than a tool. I am not personally familiar with work from either of the gentlemen mentioned but they are top makers with recognized names. Will either of them be the next Bob Loveless who's knives are searched for by collectors? Maybe. They could already be. I don't know. You need to get with some collectors to see what their reputations are. As Alan said, most of us hear are makers, not collectors, and we do not really know the market much beyond what styles that collectors tend to favor. Doug i would not call myself a collector, im not looking at it from a resale point, but more of a go to sword to have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Gillespie Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Well it depends on what you want in the sword itself. My advice is contact both Walter anf Howard, and see what they can make for you. You mentioned folded steel, and that brings Walter to mind, as well as Jesus. A modern steel katana brings Howard or Rick Barrett to mind. For a sit around blade, I would have Walter or Jesus make me a blade from raw steel. For a pure user blade, I would have Howard make me an L6 katana. If you have 8 grand, you mind be able to get one of each unmounted, then later have them both mounted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strix Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Well it depends on what you want in the sword itself. My advice is contact both Walter anf Howard, and see what they can make for you. You mentioned folded steel, and that brings Walter to mind, as well as Jesus. A modern steel katana brings Howard or Rick Barrett to mind. For a sit around blade, I would have Walter or Jesus make me a blade from raw steel. For a pure user blade, I would have Howard make me an L6 katana. If you have 8 grand, you mind be able to get one of each unmounted, then later have them both mounted. lol never thought about that, but dont get me wrong i want to cut some bamboo in the yard to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameswood Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 i find it strange that you have such a large amount of money to spend but dont know much about what you are spending it on Im with Rick, do your research and come to your own conclusion, either way you will have something to be proud to show off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Gillespie Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I would buy a tameshigiri mat to cut, its much easier to cut, and easier on the blade you just bought for 8 grand. If you haven't done much practice cutting properly, I would start with a modern steel katana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strix Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 i find it strange that you have such a large amount of money to spend but dont know much about what you are spending it on :)/> Im with Rick, do your research and come to your own conclusion, either way you will have something to be proud to show off! nothing strange about it there is alot of swords out there and makers i norrowed it down to the 2 but having a hard time picking between them, i like Walters swords cause he still folds steel "tamahagane" or moderen and he also make a beautiful "hamon" and Howard cause of cause i hear nothing but great things about him and his L6 blades but he dont do any folding and i wanted a sword that has modren and old traditional style to it. i want in a sword a eye pleaser as well as function. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Gillespie Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Now that you've pointed out what your looking for, I would suggest getting one of his pattern welded blades, they have a traditional feel with the toughness of his W2 steel katana. I'm not sure if he fully mounts his blades, that will be something he will have to answer. I believe Howard did pattern welded blades, but stopped and started working with only single steel blades. Jesus hernandez also makes blades from steel he makes himself, if you haven't looked at his blades, I'd suggest him as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smith Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Yes do some research on the smiths. I personally like my own blades. But I do have a love for Ricks blades. Walters tend to be a tad to light for me as do Jesus blades, I tend to forge wider thicker blades that I feel will withstand actual combat. So please do the research. John W Smithwww.smith-forge.orgFire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the Earth, Conan. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom, and they took from him the enigma of steel. Crom was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters, but in their rage, the gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just men. Not gods. Not giants. Just men. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts.[Points to sword]This you can trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strix Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Lots of great info on here I'm happy I joined the forum thanks guys, I sent out a email to Chris Osborne to see if there is a long wait for polishing the blade if I go with Howard then I also need to talk to someone a out fittings when I put all this together it should help make up my mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Furrer Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Lots of great info on here I'm happy I joined the forum thanks guys, I sent out a email to Chris Osborne to see if there is a long wait for polishing the blade if I go with Howard then I also need to talk to someone a out fittings when I put all this together it should help make up my mind I, of course, would recommend Patrick Hastings for fittings: http://taganearts.com/ He is getting settled into his new shop following a move, but will be doing more work (including a product line of fittings) this year. I would think he would be ready when you need his work. Ric Richard Furrer Door County Forgeworks Sturgeon Bay, WI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Norris Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Both of the swordsmiths whom you mentioned are members of this forum. That makes the question that you asked somewhat awkward. Before spending the amount of money that you mentioned... I would do some serious research. The very best thing you could do would be to learn more about swords and using them. It would really suck to spend 8 grand on a sword and then damage it because you did not know how to use it properly. No offense intended, I simply do not know what your skill level is. One of Howard Clarks L6 katana could be a very good choice if you are new to Nihonto, simply because it will handle a beginers mistakes without damage. A traditional tamahagane sword could be what does it for you, especially if you have a lot of experience with cutting and are not worried about damaging the sword with poor cutting technique. A third option would be to buy two swords... Indulge in that nice, traditional, tamahagane, sword and save it for good and use something else for cutting practice and what not. Choosing a sword is a very personal choice and different smiths work in different styles, it would be a good idea to get to handle swords made by various individuals so that you have a better idea of what you like. Minute changes to a sword will result in a totally different feel or balance to the piece. Good Luck! ~Bruce~ “All work is empty save when there is love, for work is love made visible.” Kahlil Gibran "It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them." - Alfred Adler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strix Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 thank you everyone im going to give them all a call after i look into things some more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strix Posted January 7, 2013 Author Share Posted January 7, 2013 Yes do some research on the smiths. I personally like my own blades. But I do have a love for Ricks blades. Walters tend to be a tad to light for me as do Jesus blades, I tend to forge wider thicker blades that I feel will withstand actual combat. So please do the research. your website is down i wanted to take a look at your stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smith Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 I am working with a gentleman who is reworking my site in exchange for a katana. So I apologize for it being down and if you want to see a rough of the site I do have images up there in the slideshow. goto Inprogress John W Smithwww.smith-forge.orgFire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the Earth, Conan. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom, and they took from him the enigma of steel. Crom was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters, but in their rage, the gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just men. Not gods. Not giants. Just men. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts.[Points to sword]This you can trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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