[hitaEtela]

does anyone have pictures of masumune katanas or other famous katanas? all i can find online are people trying to sell iaitos, fake katanasm and modern made ones.

[wsbizwsa]

Oh yeah, I had tons of pix of my rather large collection of Masamunes AND might I add...Muramasas.

...But er um...
...Ninjas stole 'em.
Yup.

..Just snuck right into my Dojo O' Death and snagged 'em off the coffee table.

Damn Ninjas.

[mikelangr]

What would be the best made katana ever?

I balance it between the Masamune, Yoshimitsu or Dotanuki.

[Paul Bunyan]

What would be the best made katana ever?

I balance it between the Masamune, Yoshimitsu or Dotanuki.

You just finished smoking an enormous doobie and then decided to post on KW, didn't you?

[DebtDetox]

You just finished smoking an enormous doobie and then decided to post on KW, didn't you?

Shisha FTW!

[blogwado]

does anyone have pictures of masumune katanas or other famous katanas? all i can find online are people trying to sell iaitos, fake katanasm and modern made ones.

Try researching the swordforum if you coudn't find anything by googling the word.

[ñàéäèíã]

You just finished smoking an enormous doobie and then decided to post on KW, didn't you?

+Rep

[katespepach]

There are some really nice pictures of antique katanas on http://www.tozando.com... For sale as well - if you have the money...

[leflyCode]

What would be the best made katana ever?

I balance it between the Masamune, Yoshimitsu or Dotanuki.

Cool.

Explain pros and cons (your own opinion please, and not bloody cut-and-paste) in no more than 20 words...?

[Rellshare]

they are a bit of a letdown to look at and handle...There was one at the japan exhibition a few years ago in London, some people got to go behind the scenes courtesy of the BKA with Keith Hazlewood. I think it was in the sword catalogue the British museum put out...
I, however, have handled one in Eguchi sensei's collection along with a Muramasa he had (sadly he died a few years ago). (you all may go green with envy at this point) He built a museum in Saga to house his collection, which I seem to remember he had spent about 15million quid on. I did offer to take them off his hands as why would anyone need 30+ swords??? Sadly he turned me down at the time.
One thing I do remember about his dojo was that he had a dustbin with a bagload of iaito in it for generally bashing about, two swords that had literally welded themselves together through being hit edge to edge, and far too many tsuba pinned to the walls...

[Jueqelyl]

I did offer to take them off his hands as why would anyone need 30+ swords??? Sadly he turned me down at the time.

I don't see how he could have possibly turned you down... I would have made the same offer...

[Jackson]

What makes swords made by masamune or muramasa (etc) so good? Compared to another well made sword of that time period, anywho. Another question: How many of masamune's swords are left?

[ppfpooghn]

Have a look at this site http://www.nihonto.ca/swords.html they have a nice collection of sword for sale even some at $30k and over.

My sensie was given this link by someone at my club and fell in love with one of the swords. He found out that the makers son still makes them and has just commissioned and bought one from him. I am really looking forward to seeing it when i go to Japan.

David

[Gofthooxdix]

What makes swords made by masamune or muramasa (etc) so good? Compared to another well made sword of that time period, anywho. Another question: How many of masamune's swords are left?

Why do people pay Millions ( 3.5M is the recent record ) for Stradivarius Violin? It is made by the most famous maker and it's perceived value is more than ones made by others.

[PersonalLoansBank]

True, but aside from the antique value of the swords, I was wondering if there is any sort of superior functionality to them (poor wording, but you get the idea). Even those violins are supposed to be incomparable in the way they sound (I think?). I mean, the swords must be superior in some way, or they wouldn't be so fameous, right?

[Wrencytet]

True, but aside from the antique value of the swords, I was wondering if there is any sort of superior functionality to them (poor wording, but you get the idea). Even those violins are supposed to be incomparable in the way they sound (I think?). I mean, the swords must be superior in some way, or they wouldn't be so fameous, right?

They're Magic of course. Yup. They slice through metal like a hot knife through butter, ....and suck the souls right outta folks when you cut 'em.
But you gotta watch it though..once they've tasted blood, they must constantly be fed else they will turn the wielder into a savage vampire!
Muahahahahah!

[AnneseeKels]

Masamune blades are famous not for functionality(they are too fragile to actually use even though they are extremely sharp) But because they are extremely beautiful pieces of art. The sword have a high hamon(i think that is the term) compared to other more functional swords. so they are sharper and at the same time they are also very brittle.

[Singukil]

Masamune blades are famous not for functionality(they are too fragile to actually use even though they are extremely sharp) But because they are extremely beautiful pieces of art. The sword have a high hamon(i think that is the term) compared to other more functional swords. so they are sharper and at the same time they are also very brittle.

Hmm, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

[Lhtfajba]

What no body is gonna tell the story about the river and the leaves?

[BigBobdd]

No, because it ain't the best way to evaluate a good blade...