Looking for odachi (4 shaku length or longer), Iaito, bokken, and/or shinai

[cfriedel]

Also posted this in the kendo forum. I am looking for a odachi length iaito (4 shaku+) for practice and experimentation. Quality is not a huge concern as long as it doesn't fall apart in a month =). Also looking for a shinai or bokken of this length for practice. Have only found one so far on www.knightsedge.com, but was wondering if someone could tell me of another place with maybe better prices or with shinai/bokken of this length. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Also, wondering if anyone else is using the odachi. If so, please let me know and I would love to talk to you more about it. Thanks.

Cliff Friedel

[cfriedel]

Added: I should specify that I am looking for a BLADE length of at least 4 shaku and not total length. Total length would be around 5.5 to 6 shaku. Thanks.

Cliff Friedel

[Shiro]

DON'T buy blade from that site is you want to do more with it than just hang on the wall.
And those are the longest bokken I know of:
http://bokkenshop.com/eng/297.html
http://bokkenshop.com/eng/234.html

[chidokan]

it would be easier to make your own bokken, that way you get what you want. Suggest you ask Colin Hyakutake on where he gets his long swords from, although I have promised to make him a bokken with saya, so he may rely on just his shinken for usual practise. This is his website... http://www.hyoho.com/
Before you go pestering him: have a look around other sites as there are a few ryu who advertise long sword training. Most have only a small following even in Japan so dont expect to get into a school straight away.

[Genji]

i also suggest making your own

[Cypher]

bokkenshop.com will customize bokuto for you; it may cost a lot (solely because of the amount of wood) but if you use a standard type such as red/white oak it will be reasonable compared to,say, sunuke or the other exotic woods they sell...might be worth asking them, just for curiosity's sake ^_^

[Hyaku]

Added: I should specify that I am looking for a BLADE length of at least 4 shaku and not total length. Total length would be around 5.5 to 6 shaku. Thanks.

Cliff Friedel

How will you draw it?

[chidokan]

he's got VERY long arms.....didnt you see his real name was Clyde, you know, starred with Clint Eastwood in 'Every which way but loose'.

[thetsugiosan]

How will you draw it?

Odachi were more often used as a symbol of an army, an intimidation weapon, or a gift to the gods at shrines...but when they were used, it was a sight. Wielded in a similar fashion to the naginata or the nodachi (in effect, a very large tachi...a completely different sword), it was primarily used against mounted warriors. It had the ability to cleave through an enemy and into his horse, dropping them both. When traveling into battle, it was generally carried, sheathed, in the left hand or sraight up upon the back. The samurai would have a retainer with him to help him draw it, due to its enormous size.

[Charles Mahan]

I think you will find that Hyakutake-sensei knows plenty about long swords. I suggest you read his website http://www.hyoho.com/

[chidokan]

Charles, you spoilt it....I was hoping Hyaku would get a really long lecture that would show him he knows absolutely nothing about long swords...