Smart purchase, or bad idea?

[Zerobanshee]

I found this online, and want to buy it. Is it a good purchase, or a bad idea?
CLOUD STRIFE BUSTER SWORD 52 INCHES

I figured Id ask you guys before I went ahead and ordered it.

[Che]

Do you plan on getting into a sword fight anytime soon?

[Victoria]

So this will be the first piece of your sword collection, huh?
Shouldn't you save your money for, I don't know...

A better computer instead? XD

[smurphy]

Isnt it illegal to possess a blade of that caliber without a licence in most territories. I know its only an ornamental piece but the specs stated it had a sharp edge.

[loaf]

Isnt it illegal to possess a blade of that caliber without a licence in most territories. I know its only an ornamental piece but the specs stated it had a sharp edge.

Lol.


I'd rather buy a sword that actually looks cool. Like Frostmourne. Buster Sword just looks horrid.

[Josh_R]

F*ck I say go for. Unless you have bills or shit of that nature to I see no reason not to. Buy it, and sword fight however challenges you, unless of course you don't possess the strength to wield it...

[Block]

OMG. Don't do it man. Drugs would be a wiser investment. Seriously.

[Zerobanshee]

Well, I don't know about licenses. I'll check into that
with the iPhone, I no longer need a comp. All Internet access from my phone.
I only have gas, and a $80 bill to worry about, and this would ve the first piece to my sword collection. Lol

EDIT: Im drug free, intend to stay that way.

[Jin]

It looks like a plain piece of sheet metal...

If you're going to spend over $100, you should find a nicer looking one. That thing looks like a toddler could bend it.

Or is it supposed to look ugly? I can't really tell with FF7 graphics.

[Polk]

Just a quesion: Are you planning on growing stupid, spikey blond hair and lusting after some effeminate, silver-haired jackass with an Oedipus complex anytime soon?

If not, I'd say no. If yes, go for it.

[Zerobanshee]

Polk, you win. Once again.

I'm currently looking through Ebay to see if I can find a better deal.

[T.G. Oskar]

I'd say, for what it represents and the actual cost, it's...rather cheap. I can't say if it's a smart purchase or not, but it's actually cheaper than most replica weapons you see on other places.

This may be a problem, since in terms of replica swords, cheap tends to mean bad quality. There's already a problem with stainless steel (most of the time, the used metal is 420/440 stainless steel, which is rust-resistant and of good quality but often forged very badly). Normally, for a fully-functional sword, you'd be looking for hogh-carbon steel, Austensite or Martensite, which are the best quality steels you can find around (and basically, both Austensite and Martensite are essentially created through cold iron techniques, if my memory doesn't fail me); IIRC, a properly forged Japanese steel katana's blade is made of Austensite on one of the sides (though you can disregard me on that one).Usually, 440 stainless steel means that it's factory made and meant to be used for replicas; while it isn't bad to show (I have a tsuba-less katana and a hand-and-a-half sword forged from 440 stainless steel), it isn't practical (then again, a weapon of that size isn't very practical either). It doesn't say if it's hand forged (which I think not), or machine-made (which is usually a very bad sign), so I'd take that with some concern.

Full tang is a good sign; while it's not meant to be used, it is meant to allow a solid grip. I'm worried about the proportion of the tang relative to the blade (I presume the tang must reach the end of the hilt and be properly forged to withstand the width of the blade, or else the tang will break right at the point where the guard and the handle meet).

Size and weight-wise it is, oddly, appropriately large and heavy for a weapon of that size. Don't be scared by the 14 lbs. of weight: it actually is proportionate to a weapon of the size. Compare to a replica of an English Two-Hand Sword; the aforementioned blade is actually bigger in length than the Buster Sword, yet it's full weight is at most quite a bit over 4 lbs. The width of the Buster Sword is roughly 3.4 times the width of the pointed sword, and it has roughly 3.5 times the weight; that is reasonable since it's blade is shorter, the width is larger, and the thickness may probably be larger than the English Two-Hand Sword, so the proportions should check; if anything, the Buster Sword may be a tad lighter than a weapon of lesser width but equal length and thickness, considering general proportions. Of course, the problem is the blade's balance; if anything, the combination of the blade's width and weight should make it hard to lift. That's to be expected, though.

In conclusion: since it's 440, it's actually pretty cheap if only for exposition. High Carbon Steel would be practical but expensive, and actually most weapons made with 440 Stainless Steel are pretty expensive as well. Given that it holds pretty good proportions to a functional blade (the tang, the weight/width proportions and the material doesn't make it fully functional tho), it's actually a pretty good buy. So I'd say that, if you want it, go for it; it's not going to be a bad buy if the intention is to show it off. It also requires little maintenance, perhaps one or two wipes for the occasional dirt. It may be detail-accurate but it's not exactly size-accurate (I'd need to find the actual size, but based on the Final Fantasy Wiki, it's roughly smaller: 4'3" instead of 5' as the Wiki states), but it's not particularly practical (but, as mentioned several times, you don't want it to be actually practical)

Now...if what Jin says is true (looks like sheet metal, which means it has little thickness), then it's a bad buy. I'd think of the thickness, since what Jin says is true to a point: a toddler can't bend it, and perhaps no one may be able to lift it so that it can bend properly, but place it on your head and try to bend it, and if it's that thin (and badly forged/not forged at all), it will be like a wire: it'll stay bent.

[Block]

Holy Christ you know a lot about swords my man. Did you read the wiki, or are you just an enthusiast?

Ruin: Buy what you want, I say just do it. Maybe we don't think it's a good idea, but you obviously like the sword and the game that it represents. If you're going to start a sword collection I can think of no better place to start than a place that holds significance to you as an individual. So do it man, and damn what any of us have to say about stepping in the way of your happiness. It's your money, and you'll spend it if you want to.

[Zerobanshee]

Thanks, Oskar. Yet again, your wisdom surpasses mine, and is amazing.
Better yet, I want the sword this man made. Lol
YouTube - REAL Buster Sword

[loaf]

I can just see the next thread.

THE BUSTER SWORD I BOUGHT WAS CRAPPY.

Also why would you want that horrible heavy version, he didn't even sharpen it, and with the looks of it, Ruin you couldn't even look at that one without hurting your own back.

[T.G. Oskar]

Holy Christ you know a lot about swords my man. Did you read the wiki, or are you just an enthusiast?

Enthusiast, mostly. I don't know a whole lot (I do look at Wikipedia to corroborate my claims), but I tend to look at other places. Can't say I will always get my claims right, but I tend to be pretty precise on what I can work with.

While I can't say I'm an expert on Materials Engineering, it's one of the few things I like to know about, and that's where I get some of the knowledge I practice. It's quite incomplete (I'd like to go much further than what I know), but it's pretty solid knowledge nonetheless.

Part of what you learn at Engineering Materials is the balance point of most materials. Steel is stronger because of the amounts of carbon making the proper bonds with the iron, and Austensite/Martensite tend to be prized because of their crystalline composition (since how the crystals are composed determine how it'll react against impact and pressure). 420 Stainless Steel is good for show but bad for practical purposes, and 440 is only moderately better in terms of tensile strength, but much better on other areas.

In the end, though, it depends on how it was forged. Cold-treated too much, and the metal becomes brittle; too little, and the metal remains too soft. If not forged properly, metal remains soft on the outside and strong on the inside, so it acts like a wire (it stays bent, which is what Jin proposes; otherwise, with a good hammering and heat-treatment the material becomes flexible) These are points to consider when buying a blade, specifically one that's not hand-forged.

Thanks, Oskar. Yet again, your wisdom surpasses mine, and is amazing.

Uh...well, it's not a very deep analysis, given that the offered information is scarce and I'm mostly using online sources and what little I can remember of Engineering Materials. I'd love to tackle this again and link you to a properly forged version of the Buster Sword, but that'd take a lot of time. The one that's shown has a good design, it's oddly proportional in terms of weight, and my only qualms are the thickness and the lack of a mention of the process (hand-forged, machine-made, and the steps). Thus, it's good for show, but bad for practice; if it's too thin and machine-made, it means you need to take extra care with it (so that the blade doesn't bend).

[Zerobanshee]

It would just be funny, having a sword that could cut through a box like that.

Honestly, though, I'm going to get the original I posted. It is infinitely the better choice, and would be a good first sword

[smurphy]

Ruin i wouldnt exactly say it "cut" through the boxes i would say it smashed through them, basically as a glorified sledge hammer. Quite funny vid though, the fellow looked like a right idiot.

If youre only using it for ornamental purposes( anything else is illegal) i say go for it, the sword looks aesthetically decent.

[loaf]

So far every sword you showed us doesn't have the power to cut anything.

[Che]

Did you see the the mullet coming?

[Zerobanshee]

Lol, both are more of "cleaver" types than swords.

[Unknown Entity]

If it's your first sword, I'd say go for something else. Something cheaper.

You might get it, and regret it quickly when you realise the money you spent on it could have gone to better use.

But you know, it's your money. No one here can tell to go for it or not to go for it.

Did you see the the mullet coming?

My sword looks like his.

... but it's bigger.

[loaf]

Clever's don't smash wood, it would cut through it.

Also Che saw the video few days ago. Kid is a master man, A MASTA. Just wait till be busts out dual wielding.

[Zerobanshee]

That video was win.

[Block]

Did you see the the mullet coming?

OMDG! Where do you find this shit Che? I mean really! WHERE!?

Obviously it's on YouTube, but did you just type "lame ass with sword" or something good god.

[Zerobanshee]

I gotta admit, that was probably the most random video that still had relation to the thread topic lol

[SOLDIER #819]

Planning to do some mercenary work Ruin? I was once like you, but now I know that true men use a camera or fishing rod as their weapon of choice. Some day you'll understand.

[Unknown Entity]

Planning to do some mercenary work Ruin? I was once like you, but now I know that true men use a camera or fishing rod as their weapon of choice. Some day you'll understand.

I had a bottle of ice water used against me once. It pwned anything I've ever been hit with.

[Block]

Planning to do some mercenary work Ruin? I was once like you, but now I know that true men use a camera or fishing rod as their weapon of choice. Some day you'll understand.

I bet getting wailed on with a carbon fiber fishing rod hurts like the dickens. which if you didn't know the dickens is slang for the devil.

[Zerobanshee]

Most random epic devil pic ever.
I also was wanting to buy a gunblade replica, too. I'm a big FF fan