I'm looking for a high quality bokken, and most places I'm finding just seem kind of mall ninja/cheesy. A friend of mine has a bokken that I offered to refurbish for him (sanded the black paint off, put on a cord wrap, treated the wood with some oil, etc.) it looks nice and has really gotten me interested in bokkens.
I've always been interested, but now I want one :D ...
any suggestions on woods or makers or anything?
thanks in advance.
Bokkens?
http://kingfisherwoodworks.com/
I'm retarded. This website is very informative as well as having awesome bokkens.
I'm retarded. This website is very informative as well as having awesome bokkens.
"I ain't looking for confusion, but it tends to follow me."
E4 white, E4 waved SE, Caspian Salt, Crossbill, Mule, white Dragonfly, Boker CLB Desert Subcom, BM Blackwood mini Skirmish,
E4 white, E4 waved SE, Caspian Salt, Crossbill, Mule, white Dragonfly, Boker CLB Desert Subcom, BM Blackwood mini Skirmish,
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vampyrewolf
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The polymer ones from cold steel work quite well.
http://www.coldsteel.com/bokkens.html
When I spar with my buddies we're going full speed (and one of them is going full force :rolleyes :) . So contact is hard and heavy, and often. Even against my rattan sticks the polymer holds up well.
bends a bit, but one guy has had the same 2 since they came out, after we broke a few wooden ones (never my sticks though :p )
http://www.coldsteel.com/bokkens.html
When I spar with my buddies we're going full speed (and one of them is going full force :rolleyes :) . So contact is hard and heavy, and often. Even against my rattan sticks the polymer holds up well.
bends a bit, but one guy has had the same 2 since they came out, after we broke a few wooden ones (never my sticks though :p )
Coffee before Conciousness
Why do people worry more if you argue with your voices than if you just talk with them? What about if you lose those arguements?
Slowly going crazy at work... they found a way to make the voices work too.
Why do people worry more if you argue with your voices than if you just talk with them? What about if you lose those arguements?
Slowly going crazy at work... they found a way to make the voices work too.
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The Deacon
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I got a very good one for a friend's daughter from e-bogu.com about two years ago.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Spydiewiki
Deplorable :p
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
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Mr Blonde
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I'm afraid I can't help you with a supplier or maker, but I do want to encourage you to find a high quality boken; it's worth it. I received a Japanese boken and it's miles beyond the budget version I got at the sporting goods store. The high quality ones feel alive in the hand and can stand up to heavy blocking without splintering. In my experience (hi-quality) sword dealers often also supply (hi-quality) bokens for Iaido training.
Wouter
Wouter
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vampyrewolf
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- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
we broke a few of the cheap wooden ones early on before moving to polymer.
Coffee before Conciousness
Why do people worry more if you argue with your voices than if you just talk with them? What about if you lose those arguements?
Slowly going crazy at work... they found a way to make the voices work too.
Why do people worry more if you argue with your voices than if you just talk with them? What about if you lose those arguements?
Slowly going crazy at work... they found a way to make the voices work too.
I wonder if i can make one of these. I have a bunch of teak laying around somewhere. Anyone know where i can find plans or a support site for bokken builders? I have a simple machine shop and the load of dremmels im just aching to use this weekend. LOL. But seriously. ....
The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of meeting deadlines is forgotten.
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My Dream Knife: Paramilitary with FFG H1. GITD G10.
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My Dream Knife: Paramilitary with FFG H1. GITD G10.
Bokkens
I have heard very good things about these:
http://www.aikiwood.com/weapons.htm
Personally, I don't do much with Japanese style sword work anymore and have not worked with the aikiwood weaponry, but I do still have an old, oak bokken that has seen over twenty years of use (and is battered enough to look it, so it is in honorable semi-retirement).
Donovan, I am unaware of any patterns out there on the web (but there could be some). I would purchase a cheap one from Century Martial Arts or a similar vendor, play with it, see where you could improve the balance, etc., and use the "crap bokken" as a gross pattern to do your teak masterpiece. If you have a "wood workin'" jones going, I might be interested in a set of 28 inch long teak escrima sticks (bastons) or the flattened garrote "blade simulator" versions :D .
http://www.aikiwood.com/weapons.htm
Personally, I don't do much with Japanese style sword work anymore and have not worked with the aikiwood weaponry, but I do still have an old, oak bokken that has seen over twenty years of use (and is battered enough to look it, so it is in honorable semi-retirement).
Donovan, I am unaware of any patterns out there on the web (but there could be some). I would purchase a cheap one from Century Martial Arts or a similar vendor, play with it, see where you could improve the balance, etc., and use the "crap bokken" as a gross pattern to do your teak masterpiece. If you have a "wood workin'" jones going, I might be interested in a set of 28 inch long teak escrima sticks (bastons) or the flattened garrote "blade simulator" versions :D .
"There is no weapon more deadly than the will." Bruce Lee
"The most pervasive and least condemned form of dishonesty is not doing the best you can." Colonel Jeff Cooper
"The most pervasive and least condemned form of dishonesty is not doing the best you can." Colonel Jeff Cooper
Tozando
When I was studying Kendo I ordered most of my supplies from Tozando in Japan. It has been a while since I purchased from them, but I remember it being a great experience. All their bokken are made in Japan and they offer varying levels of durability and wood choices. Very high-quality, authentic gear.
Check them out here
Check them out here
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step - Lao Tzu
I've heard Raven Studios http://www.little-raven.com/RS/MA/index.html makes really nice training weapons. They do not have a bokken on their site but they do custom work. They make a pretty interesting variety of weapons.