Hi. I have a question and an introduction.

[MindFlare]

Well, I guess I'll start off by saying hi to everyone and introducing myself. I've been checking the forums for awhile now and have just recently decided to add this forum to my ever growing list of forums that I visit and post at. I'm 19 years old (almost 20) and have a growing love for an unusually thing. Thats right; Bokkens (Bokuto).

I know this seems odd, but I find the Bokken to be a very symbolic thing and very beautiful by its own right. I've just recently discovered a Bokken daisho with saya for them, which brings me to my first question:

Are these any good?
http://www.practice-swords.com/bokken.shtml

The very top daisho. I'm not sure if red oak is any good or not...I won't be clashing it against any other bokken, I'm just worried that it will rattle and not be a firm grip on the tsuka. Please tell me if these are worth the price.

If anyone feels like it, I wouldn't mind anyone pointing me to a US place with good bokkens that are high quality and beautiful as well. I'm currently also looking at a bokken from www.bobsbokkens.com made from cocobolo.

Thanks for your time!

[MindFlare]

Eh...Bump for anyone willing to help me out. ;(

[tango]

i wish i could help, but.. you're the first person i've ever known to be interested in collecting bokken.

a valuable bokken to me is one that i can use, so.. i don't really understand the fascination with collecting them and not using them --

anyway, i've heard that red oak is good..
i think i saw a white oak bokken many years ago that looked pretty cool...
there's a guy in my club who makes them by hand and they are absolutely awesome.. he needs to somehow work out the problem of proper balance, but they are beautiful and very well made.. don't know what kind of wood he uses..
(he's an artist by profession)..

but anyway, if i'm collecting something and i'm getting ready to spend better than $150 for it, i'd like to inspect it personally first rather than order it online and take my chances..

that's just me..

wish i could offer more help...

[tango]

y'know.. i just clicked on the "larger view" button on the link you provided..
that *is* pretty cool.. i've never seen a bokken made like that.. even with a saya... but, i'm not sure if anyone here can tell you if they're "good" or not because i suspect that what we (non-collectors) would consider a "good" bokken might not be the same as what you would consider a "good" bokken.

just my feeling on it, but I would not pay ANY money for a bokken that I was not going to use and just display.

the set at the top of the page looks to be designed especially for iaido students (thus the need for a saya)..

i just don't get it... but good luck nonetheless!

[MindFlare]

y'know.. i just clicked on the "larger view" button on the link you provided..
that *is* pretty cool.. i've never seen a bokken made like that.. even with a saya... but, i'm not sure if anyone here can tell you if they're "good" or not because i suspect that what we (non-collectors) would consider a "good" bokken might not be the same as what you would consider a "good" bokken.

just my feeling on it, but I would not pay ANY money for a bokken that I was not going to use and just display.

the set at the top of the page looks to be designed especially for iaido students (thus the need for a saya)..

i just don't get it... but good luck nonetheless!

Heh, I understand your confusement. I've always admired the craftsmanship that goes into making a good bokken. But! I never said I wouldn't use it! Of course, I do display the good ones, but I also use my "beat-em-up" bokkens.

I really do like that model. It has a saya, and a removeable tsuka. That only thing I'm really worried about is having the tsuka rattle around as I'm using it or holding it.

Oh well, maybe I'll order them and try them for 30 days to see if I have any problems. Thanks for the help anyway!

[Shiro]

hey I love bokens too!

But I don't recommend the use of that taicho in practice, though it would be suitable for katas.
I already did exercises where the bokens actually hit, so.....

Btw, you have one-piece bokens with saya too.

[mystic_kendoka]

bokkens... are they different from bokutos? or just another way of saying bokuto?

[Neil Gendzwill]

bokkens... are they different from bokutos? or just another way of saying bokuto?

Just a different way of saying the same thing - the direct translation in either case is "wooden sword".