Where do you buy your shinai from?

[Twobitmage]

I've only gotten shinai from e-bogu and eguchi so I dont really know about other places. do you have a favorite company? a favorite type?

[Himura. Kenshin]

I've only just started Kendo and got mine at Mumeishi 3's 2004 from Ninecircle.co.uk

I got the Ikken shinai, but when I oiled it, there were evidence of hairline crack although there is no evidence of cracks and splinters from Kirikeashi yet.

I'll see how it goes after a month or so. Maybe those hairline cracks don't affect the shinai that much. Otherwise seems a good shinai apart from I having to shorten the tsukagawa for my arms !

[stuartwilson]

One while visiting Japan (a dobari that looks like it weighs a ton but is really very light.)

One a gift from a visiting sensei. (a dobari with a somewhat narrow tip that wears 38 leather even though it's a 39. Interesting trick - it gives you a little more reach.)

The rest from e-bogu - several practice shinai, one Akatsuki, and one Musha that I broke (it served well for over a year) and replaced with a Kunimasa.

A guy just can't own too many swords.

[Twobitmage]

AH! maui!

did you come to that tournament a few weeks ago? on oahu that is.

[Taek]

Most of kendokas including myslef in our dojo get shinais from Koei in Japan. I bought a couple of dobari and matake from them and the price and quality are very good.

[stuartwilson]

Yes, I did. I got my butt kicked, but it was still worth the trip. If I can keep my practice up, I plan to be over in another six months and test for 1 kyu.

To keep this on the shinai thread, another kenshi from our dojo snarfed up the suburi shinai at the e-bogu table that I was looking at.