IBB Pro Titanium Men-gane

[alexpollijr]

Do any of you guys and gals have a Men with IBB Pro or IBB SD titanium Men-gane ? I'm thinking about spending some bucks on a new men and would like to have some feedback on these.

[KATSUJIN]

woah....that kind of gane is quite ex........but if u want to buy that and u got the bucks....why not? it is definitely good stuff......

[highelf]

Anyone know what the different levels men grills? From steel to
titanium? How many types of steel, aluminum, titanium?

[highelf]

Oh! And how can you tell what types of men grill do you have?
Is there any specific markings on the grill that tell you what type
of metal it is made of?

[Karaken]

I have (2) - Steel and Tatanium. Steel one has copper alloy for the bottom 3 or 4 - I think this is to prevent rusting from your breadth. Obviously Tatanium one doesn't have that. They're both good except I see some hint of rust inside steel mengane after 7 years of use. I heard IBB stuff has brand name indicated inside of mengane but mine is not IBB.

Center

[alexpollijr]

highelf,

I've come to know of the following types of mengane, from lower to highest quality (and price):

Iron
Steel
Light metal alloy (duralumin)
Titanium
IBB SD Titanium
IBB PRO Titanium

The IBB ones have 'IBB' in the central part of the grill.

[Chusan]

Originally posted by alexpollijr
mengane, from lower to highest quality (and price):
Iron
Steel
Light metal alloy (duralumin)
Titanium
IBB SD Titanium
IBB PRO Titanium


Hi!
I won`t sign that without a comment. Steel does not necessarily equal lower quality. My wife has been using steel-mengane for some ten years now and she is extremly satisfied with that. It`s a custom-made Japanese Men (from Yamashibu-Budoguten, not more available) of ´upper middle-class` quality. Since the Mengane are quite heavy, that does give some additional resistance against very powerful hits. It absorbs the impulse of a blow much better than alloy or titanium mengane.

[amatsuda]

Originally posted by Chusan

My wife has been using steel-mengane for some ten years now and she is extremly satisfied with that. It`s a custom-made Japanese Men (from Yamashibu-Budoguten, not more available) of ´upper middle-class` quality.

Hey!! I have a Men from Yamashibu too!!!

Anything from that shop is definitely a keeper...

Bogu from Yamashibu was of expceptional quality and craftsmanship...I have the custom tezashi 1.2 Bu and it is now 10 years old. Apparently, mine is supposably the last men that Yamashibu Sensei worked on before he passed away..

In my opinion the bogu created there shouldn't be considered "Shohin (product)" but "Sakuhin (Work of Art)"

Of course like any fine art purchase, you have to pay a premium..

amatsuda
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/sjkendo

[Chusan]

Originally posted by amatsuda


Hey!! I have a Men from Yamashibu too!!!
Bogu from Yamashibu was of expceptional quality and craftsmanship...In my opinion the bogu created there shouldn't be considered "Shohin (product)" but "Sakuhin (Work of Art)"

Of course like any fine art purchase, you have to pay a premium..

amatsuda

Fine!
Welcome to the family :-)
I still am using my handmade Yamashibu-Kote (a white pair of Kote) and I`m proud user of a magnificent Do that Yamashibu-Sensei gave me as present. This one definitely is a piece of art.
BTW: I also have in use a special Shinai made ´by ` Yamashibu-Sensei, a very tricky thing, extremly leight-weighted 3.9 with a 3.6 point. That one does all the work by itself.
Oh yes, when Yamashibu-Sensei passed some ten years ago, he left a huge gap, not only as ´the best` supplier but also as one of the most friendly and impressing people I´ve met among Kendo-Players.

[Hai_hai]

Just curious, what does IBB stand for? Is it a brand name?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by Hai_hai
Just curious, what does IBB stand for? Is it a brand name?
"Internal Better Balance" I think. And yes, it's a brand name.

[alexpollijr]

If I'm not mistaken, it's a brand name for a patented model of Mengane. I believe it was created by the Mori family (owners of Mori budogu from Nihon-Bashi, tokyo).

As for Chusen's comments on the steel one, I'm actually surprised to hear that. I sometimes have some kind of back pain after heavy practice with a heavier grill.

Actually, I just found out that there's an IBB SD Modem made with duralumin alloy. Should be nice. I'm actually dropping the idea of using IBB Pro now because the cheapest japanese made Men I could find with it costed about U$ 2.000, which is way beyond my actual budget.

There are Kendoshop Men (made in China) with IBB Pro, but I don't think they'll do the trick.

[Curtis]

Dear Alex,

I have a set with the IBB mengane. I love it. I started kendo using the nickle-iron mengane. It is as though I have nothing on my face. I also have duralumin, and regular titanium. The difference is small but I feel a more comfort with the IBB.

As for price, I purchased a custom set from Koei. 60 stave color bamboo do, custom mune, gold leaf kamon, 3mm machine and so on for around $1500 US (set 22 or 23). I have been dealing with them for years. Good products. Yes some of their product is manufactured in Korea. But they are very careful about quality. I have never had a problem with anything except an occasional kote palm. Korea makes some good stuff. I purchase both regularly.

Cheers

[stevemcgee99]

My recollection from emails with Stroud (bogubag/koei) is that the S series is all japanese, the other series have parts assembles, some perhaps even made, in Korea.

[Hai_hai]

Originally posted by stevemcgee99
My recollection from emails with Stroud (bogubag/koei) is that the S series is all japanese, the other series have parts assembles, some perhaps even made, in Korea.

That's good information. So you are saying the S models are made in Japan with all Japanese parts?