Quality Iaito on a Budget?
Not now, but in the next 4 months I'm going to be looking to obtain an iaito of good quality. I've collected a handful of swords in the last 6 months and I learned very quickly that good quality costs good money. The quality of the sword I bought that sells for $1500 MSRP is vastly greater than the quality of the first sword I bought, which cost me $180. Unfortunately the big sword suppliers are not big iaito suppliers. I didn't know it was such a specialty item to the extent that it is even more of a specialty item than a genuine quality shinken.
I don't see any stickies about this, so I hope it's not an FAQ: where do I go to buy a good quality iaito for up to $500? It's an arbitrary number; I can save more money and buy a more expensive one if the $500 price point doesn't buy the kind of quality that will stand up to the rigors of a decade of daily practice. So the question is somewhat fluid; the most important point is to purchase a decent iaito, not to save as much as possible. Cost is definitely factor (that can't be denied), but I'm looking for something that isn't going to be a showpiece here. I need something that's going to serve as a training implement. It's going to be used. A lot.
Please guide me. I can google "aluminum iaito" just as easily as anyone. However I seek the wisdom and guidance of the members here whose understanding and experience vastly overshadows mine as a humble but grateful beginner.
What I'm looking for:
- Aluminum zinc alloy blade, simulated hamon optional but appreciated
- 28.5 inch nagasa (measured from kissaki to the top of the habaki; i.e.- height of habaki not included in blade length measurement)
- 10 inch tsuka (more on tsuka below)
- Bo-hi, naturally. I think it would be hard to find a real iaito without bo-hi.
- Strong hardwood saya. Buffalo horn kurikata and kojiri would be nice. Handwoven sageo definitely not required.
- Kurikata should not be too far from the koiguchi (standard 3 inches of distance is what I'm looking for; when the distance is too great it makes the draw and the noto more difficult than it should be)
- Iron or steel tsuba
- Iron or steel fuchi, kashira (koshirae)
- brass seppa and habaki preferred
- Any motif is fine, menuki not even necessary
- Two (double) mekugi preferred
- The items below I can arrange myself if necessary (I know someone to whom I can ship the iaito for complete refitting)
- Hardwood tsuka 10 inches
- Genuine and high quality raw (white) samegawa, full wrap--not panels
- Panels would only be OK on the condition that the tsuka is beefy (I have big hands)
- Cotton ito with hishigami and classical wrap style
Again, all guidance is appreciated. Thank you for your advice. :)