Best Place to Buy Weapons

[Bart Scovill]

Good weapons can make all the difference when practicing kobudo. However finding them can be a challenge. What is your best and/or worst experience in buying kobudo weapons.

[Ikigai]

I've always had good experiences with Crane Mountain Weapons based out of New Mexico. They create traditional weapons with personalized size and wood selection.

[Jonathan Forrester]

I also have had great experiences with Crane Mountain Weapons. They make custom weapons and I especially like Purple Heart (in case anyone wants to buy me anything...). I also have a purple heart bo made by Master Gordon Garland which I have had and used since 1999. This is my main practice bo and it is excellent.

Haven't had any bad experiences when buying weapons except for that boomerang - - can't make it come back to me.

[Darren Ball]

I have certainly been through my fair share of weapons in my time.

I have also always been subject to, let's say, curbed financial circumstances. In Victoria (Australia) we generally have to constantly shop around. Kobudo and Kobujutsu are not very prevalent here so even Martial Art's supply stores normally have token weapons (Bo, Boken, Twin Sticks/Kali).

Being in Australia, it's usually relatively expensive to get them shipped from overseas, but there are always the good sites that I have my 'dream list' on such as:

http://www.e-bogu.com/
http://www.yamatobudogu.com/
and, of course, http://www.budo-aoi.com/

I haven't heard of Crane Mountain until I read the post, but I'll certainly be looking into overseas shipping options if they've got recommendations from you guys.

I don't have a decent pair of Nunchaku, Tonfa or a decent Wakizashi.
My Katana have all been gifts, one of them is a very nice blade I use for Iaido practice mostly.
I have two Bo's - one is a white-wax wood which has a very good balance between pliability and strength so much so that it bends easily but only to a certain angle then is very strong. Excellent Bo, but unfortuantely it's hard to find one without knots. My last one broke when doing a disengagement where I 'drew' a sharp circle to disengage the opponents arm. Well, the opponent held on tight (like they're supposed to) and the Bo snapped! A knot inside the wood that didn't show on the surface.
My other Bo is made of a kind of cane, I think. No one has been able to give me a definitive answer to what it's made of. It's thick and strong, and only slightly pliable. I've had this Bo for a little over 9 years and love it.

Weapons have always been a strong part of the system I study, and going through weapons is kind of part of the territory. Our founder said that it was always best to make your own weapons - which is true, but my wood turning ability peaked in Year 8 (High School).

Any Australian's got some personal recommendations for good quality weapons?

[Chris]

Mr. Scovill,

I have had good success with Bo purchases from Custom Bo Staff at www.bostaff.com. Mark Taylor is exceptionally professional, responsive, and creative. He makes a solid Bo that is has practical training value, as well as demonstration quality . His Bo can withstand regular Bo vs Bo kumite and still look good. I highly recommend a visit to his website. He isn't fast, but he doesn't take as long as Crane Mountain; about 4-6 weeks for delivery.

For Bokken and Jo, Kingfisher Woodworks at www.kingfisherwoodworks.com looks very promising, too. I have yet to purchase anything from them, but the operative word is "yet".

I hope that helps.

Chris Wardell

[Jonathan Forrester]

I have an excellent pair of sai from Worbington Steele . They are custom made to your forearm and have some options when being made. He even sells Manji sai which are sometimes harad to find.