Where to buy quality sai?

[TimothyScott]

I'm looking to replace my el-cheapo AWMA sai. They're getting a bit bunged up and the chrome is starting to flake (metal slivers! Aiyeeeeeeeee!)

At any rate, do any of you have recommendations based on your own purchases for sai? I did a search on this board and came up with

http://www.okiadventures.com/html/sai.html

Doing some searching on the web I also found the following site:

http://www.weaponsconnection.com/page1.htm

Does anyone have any experience with either of these? If anyone knows other places to check out or a place in the US that carries Shureido sai, that'd be great too!

Thanks,
Timothy Scott

[Steven Malanosk]

All of these are grat, but WOW!!!!!!, the prices are a little high. I can understand, willingness to pay for quality, but..............

Try Shureido:

http://www.karateshorinkan.com/store/d000001.htm

[Steven Malanosk]

Heres the Okinawa website:

http://www.karatedo.co.jp/shureido/english/e_order/e_order.html

[tetsu]

The Shureido natural steel sai are excellent.

I would avoid the chromed sai of any type.

If you are only going to own one pair of fine sai, Shureido is the way to go.

Johnny Tetsu

[kenshorin]

Here's the website for the company which handles a lot of Shureido sales in the states. I have found their prices are the cheapest for Shureido products.

http://www.kamikazeweb.com/kamiweb.php?idiomaelegido=22&pais=002

[Doug Daulton]

Folks,

The link below will get you all the contact information for Shureido USA. If you are doing Ryukyu kobudo, there is no better source for quality, authentic weapons.

Regards,

Doug Daulton

URL: Shureido USA (http://www.e-budo.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=3553&highlight=shureido)

[TimothyScott]

Originally posted by TimothyScott
http://www.weaponsconnection.com/page1.htm


Well, I bit the bullet and went with the ones shown at the site above (thank goodness for that Christmas bonus check.) They feel a bit heavier than my cruddy AWMA sai, but they sure turn nice in the hands!

If anyone is interested, I've got some close-up photos here:

http://karate.dhs.org/graphics/sai_1.jpg
http://karate.dhs.org/graphics/sai_2.jpg
http://karate.dhs.org/graphics/sai_3.jpg
http://karate.dhs.org/graphics/sai_4.jpg

[E.elemental]

I am just qurious if anybody here have any experience with the Sai that German KWON sells? Are they of similar quality as the other massproduced? http://www.kwon.de/kwon/europa-UK/waffen/saigabeln/index.htm

[E.elemental]

Old thread but I just couldnt get the URL to work (Shureido USA), so here is the adress for the ones interested: http://www.shureidousa.com/index.html

[Prince Loeffler]

http://www.okiadventures.com/html/sai.html




Thanks for the link Tim ! $200 is very expensive. Does anyone owns one of this ?

[cxt]

You might try the Agena sai.

Guy in the Sates makes them.

Once you can get past the "Energy Sai of Agena" stuff on the website the sai are excellent!

(which is what I would type into a search engine--can't recall the exact website--sorry)

I own a couple of pairs myself.

(the delux stainless and the delux heat blued)

Like I said, pricey but worth it.

Again, don't let the marketing verbage throw you, they really are quite good.

[CEB]

This area needs to be flat so that you can stablize the weapon in the open position. The round knobby thing is no good.

If you do not do Bo-Sai kumite then buy the cheapest sai you can find because the issue is moot. Take care.

[RobertRousselot]

This area needs to be flat so that you can stablize the weapon in the open position. The round knobby thing is no good.

If you do not do Bo-Sai kumite then buy the cheapest sai you can find because the issue is moot. Take care.


Actaully that is not really a problem and doesn't need to be flat if you have a proper grip.
The round knobby thing is most likely the result of welding the prongs to the main body and then they grind it down and shape it a bit instead of being cast as one whole Sai.
Those Sai are pretty junky to begin with and can be found in almost any martial arts store.
I wouldn’t take them if they were free. They are poorly made and often have poor balance. I have marked the balance point on the bottom one.
Stick with Shureido if you want a good quality, fairly decent priced pair of sai that will last for a long time.

[CEB]

I hate that big round knobby thing. It messes with my sai mojo. Mine don't have don't have that thing. No good ones I ever have seen do. I never thought about it being leftovers from the weld process. I just figured it was someones idea to help with twirly stuff. That makes sense I bet you are absolutely right.

I think 80-90% of the people that buy those cheap sai are probably fine with them because all they probably do is run kata with them.

Yes get rid of the wrapping on the tsuka. Also chrome works better if you beat the beejeebees out of them where the plating is flaking off. It makes them a little more sticky. But they look real nasty.

[William Lassete]

Someone told me, and I can't remember who it was, that sai were originally most likely made from a solid bar of iron. That certainly makes sense. Does anyone know if that is accurate. I would love for people to have to do kata with a pair of solid iron sai. That would get rid of all that flippy tournament nonsense.

[Ed Gingras]

** Someone told me, and I can't remember who it was, that sai were originally most likely made from a solid bar of iron. That certainly makes sense. Does anyone know if that is accurate. I would love for people to have to do kata with a pair of solid iron sai. That would get rid of all that flippy tournament nonsense.
__________________
Will Lasseter **

Yes, I have seen a pair of Sai forged by a blacksmith. They were a gift from Soken Sensei to one of his students.
v/r
Edward Gingras

[ryujikan]

You can contact Gordon at Murasaki Kobudo. He makes custom weapons. I just bought 10 Ekku from him. 3 Brazilian Cherry and 7 Purple Heart. Great workmanship and nicer than Shureido.

Muraski Kobudo (http://www.murasakikobudo.com)