It's good to see modern reproduction businesses competing and making better products than what I had available to me 15 years ago, as a martial artist I'm proud that the weapons being sold to the next generation have more attention to detail and less con artists using false advertisement.
Yes, SoN has a good reputation for customer service and making things right if there's a problem. I dealt with them initially when starting out and cast no shade on them. But they do cost a little more as they are a third party retailer. But as such they deal with a few different "factory direct", so to soeak, providers they do offer some different odds and ends and services that any one of those direct providers may not. That's the advantage, but again you pay retail for it.
@KF1 I never actually ordered from SoN. Before I knew all of what I know now they and HBF were the two that I settled on ordering my first sword from, so since I was seriously going to order at that point I sent each a request for an estimate with the exact same specifications including steel types, saya and blade etching. HBF came back with a quote of 280 while SoN came back with 430. I later wrote them and, in so many polite words, asked why they were more expensive and they forthrightly replied because they're a third-party retailer.
Back in 2021, I bought a sword from SoN but when it arrived, the blade was warped and twisted (not exactly sure why, it could've been due to climate changes or it could've been UPS just being UPS). After I got in touch with SoN and told them about this, they offered to make me another sword if I returned the current one, so I did. The entire time, their customer service department kept giving me regular updates and never kept me in the dark and once I got the new sword, it had zero issues as far as I could see. There are better companies out there these days, SoN is definitely aging compared to others, especially if you want nicer fittings, but SoN still has the best customer service and trust factor in my opinion, would recommend for entry level swords.
i have the cheaper swords of northshire sword its great for practice. my favorite sword i own is from sky jiro forge. this is a tank and absolutly no issues
@@KF1 Jkoo make decent blades, but I'd personally only buy blades in shirasaya from them these days. I've never been a fan of their koshirae/the quality of their tsuka and saya.
the sword in the horimono is kurikara, the sword of fudo myoō. the sanskrit bonji is very sloppy but it says "immovable" which is also a fudo myoō reference.
This one is a little different. Got it doing squats. The bar rolled down my shoulders a bit and when I tried to pop it back up somehow I got it to fold my wrists back. Its not as bad as it has been in the past and I hope it recovers sooner.
Oh, my surprise when I saw that! I just happen to have a very similar issue on the other arm from the gym that is getting in the way of iai! What are the chances!!!! What are the chances, I say!!!!! LOL
Long time no see can you review hanbon forge ? Ive seen them pop up recently and their prices are reasonably cheap.. i wonder if they are to good to be true… there hamon looks abit off but id love to see your opinion on it!
That's a bit of a bummer that they didn't up their fit and finish game. yeah, my DH 1095 blade developed about a mm or less wiggle on the kashira, but very easily savable. My blunt TH 1065 trainer tho after a couple years not one wiggle I'm so pleased. With SON, I agree that tight Ito, fuchi, and kashira. Now days with the really great stuff coming out of forges, it should be pretty standardized or at least the option like hishigami/hishigami pro, ect. Buuuuut, I did specify in both custom orders I placed to SON for those things to be specifically tight with the fit and finish and the did it. I may go to them for another trainer of the TH variety but some other forges have more steel choices and can just about match the fit and finish, however the customer service was amazing and encourages me to buy maybe another sword or two. The guys at RVA katana have some really compelling stuff tho lol. Thanks for the amazing reviews Matt, and cheers from Detroit!!
Ive tried a couple . my experience with them: i tossed one in the trash, gave one away and relegated one as just a wall hanger.. 🤷♂️ Personally i wouldn't recommend them.
I have found that "Kobayakawa Hidekane " sword on Ryansword for about half the price with very small differences. (different tsuba, color ito etc but it's not like those really drive cost substantially)
The problem with swords for practice today is that they are mass produced and shit quite frankly for the most part. You cannot make a sword for 1700 quickly, there will be many problems. Too many gimmicks in this hobby. I am working on a solution to bring high quality blades to people. Will take a long time to get up and running but they will be coming out in the near future. Its sad to see so many problems with the 1700 dollar sword matthew. Someone spends that and encounters those problems they are bound to be upset. I would feel robbed. I have been watching videos like this a lot to narrow down what needs to be worked on and addressed. Perhaps if I can get this going well I would be able to send you a sample in the future.
It's good to see modern reproduction businesses competing and making better products than what I had available to me 15 years ago, as a martial artist I'm proud that the weapons being sold to the next generation have more attention to detail and less con artists using false advertisement.
Yes, SoN has a good reputation for customer service and making things right if there's a problem. I dealt with them initially when starting out and cast no shade on them. But they do cost a little more as they are a third party retailer. But as such they deal with a few different "factory direct", so to soeak, providers they do offer some different odds and ends and services that any one of those direct providers may not. That's the advantage, but again you pay retail for it.
How do you feel the quality control compares vs Hanbon Forge?
@KF1 I never actually ordered from SoN. Before I knew all of what I know now they and HBF were the two that I settled on ordering my first sword from, so since I was seriously going to order at that point I sent each a request for an estimate with the exact same specifications including steel types, saya and blade etching. HBF came back with a quote of 280 while SoN came back with 430.
I later wrote them and, in so many polite words, asked why they were more expensive and they forthrightly replied because they're a third-party retailer.
@@michaelrs8010 Thanks
Back in 2021, I bought a sword from SoN but when it arrived, the blade was warped and twisted (not exactly sure why, it could've been due to climate changes or it could've been UPS just being UPS). After I got in touch with SoN and told them about this, they offered to make me another sword if I returned the current one, so I did. The entire time, their customer service department kept giving me regular updates and never kept me in the dark and once I got the new sword, it had zero issues as far as I could see.
There are better companies out there these days, SoN is definitely aging compared to others, especially if you want nicer fittings, but SoN still has the best customer service and trust factor in my opinion, would recommend for entry level swords.
@Lo-tf6qt Did they pay for the return?
Thanks for the review
i have the cheaper swords of northshire sword its great for practice. my favorite sword i own is from sky jiro forge. this is a tank and absolutly no issues
6:07 no offense but that sucks. Ito and kashira should be rock solid. It's not 2011 anymore when the only option was the self destructing ronin tsuka.
Seems a bit overpriced to me.
Likewise. Dremsword would do the expensive one for way less. In fact, they might have. Could also be Jkoo rebranded, etc.
@@KF1 Jkoo make decent blades, but I'd personally only buy blades in shirasaya from them these days. I've never been a fan of their koshirae/the quality of their tsuka and saya.
the sword in the horimono is kurikara, the sword of fudo myoō. the sanskrit bonji is very sloppy but it says "immovable" which is also a fudo myoō reference.
Have you seen the Lord Of The Rings swords that Ronin Katana added?
Hope you get a hold of the Ranger sword soon.
The Strap! You're gonna have to stick to wakizashis or arming swords until that tendinitis calms down
This one is a little different. Got it doing squats. The bar rolled down my shoulders a bit and when I tried to pop it back up somehow I got it to fold my wrists back. Its not as bad as it has been in the past and I hope it recovers sooner.
Please take your time to get a full recovery matt!!!
@Matthew_Jensen last time mine flared up was due to a repetitive mopping injury. Your's is a better excuse. 🤣
Oh, my surprise when I saw that! I just happen to have a very similar issue on the other arm from the gym that is getting in the way of iai! What are the chances!!!! What are the chances, I say!!!!! LOL
Long time no see can you review hanbon forge ? Ive seen them pop up recently and their prices are reasonably cheap.. i wonder if they are to good to be true… there hamon looks abit off but id love to see your opinion on it!
I did a review of a custom Hanbon a few weeks ago from Swordis.
Honestly they look like $200 swords imo. They ray skin scabbard was nice tho.
I don't see the rayskin scabbard for under $100 anywhere, where have you fond a sword like this for $200?
Tbh SON can be a bit hit or miss ( from what I heard )
That's a bit of a bummer that they didn't up their fit and finish game. yeah, my DH 1095 blade developed about a mm or less wiggle on the kashira, but very easily savable. My blunt TH 1065 trainer tho after a couple years not one wiggle I'm so pleased. With SON, I agree that tight Ito, fuchi, and kashira. Now days with the really great stuff coming out of forges, it should be pretty standardized or at least the option like hishigami/hishigami pro, ect. Buuuuut, I did specify in both custom orders I placed to SON for those things to be specifically tight with the fit and finish and the did it. I may go to them for another trainer of the TH variety but some other forges have more steel choices and can just about match the fit and finish, however the customer service was amazing and encourages me to buy maybe another sword or two. The guys at RVA katana have some really compelling stuff tho lol. Thanks for the amazing reviews Matt, and cheers from Detroit!!
Ive tried a couple . my experience with them: i tossed one in the trash, gave one away and relegated one as just a wall hanger.. 🤷♂️
Personally i wouldn't recommend them.
I have found that "Kobayakawa Hidekane " sword on Ryansword for about half the price with very small differences. (different tsuba, color ito etc but it's not like those really drive cost substantially)
www.ryansword.com/Katana-1095-Carbon-Steel-Full-Rayskin-Saya-Hand-Craved-Blade--Ryan1356-p-1226.html
@@Matthew_Jensen yessir, that's the one!
Are the blade exactly 32 inches blade with the habaki, do longer blades feel more awkward to wield then the typical lengths?
Maybe you've got a koshirae gremlin? burn some sage, see what happens
The problem with swords for practice today is that they are mass produced and shit quite frankly for the most part. You cannot make a sword for 1700 quickly, there will be many problems. Too many gimmicks in this hobby. I am working on a solution to bring high quality blades to people. Will take a long time to get up and running but they will be coming out in the near future. Its sad to see so many problems with the 1700 dollar sword matthew. Someone spends that and encounters those problems they are bound to be upset. I would feel robbed. I have been watching videos like this a lot to narrow down what needs to be worked on and addressed. Perhaps if I can get this going well I would be able to send you a sample in the future.