making your own weapons

[drgnlrd49601]

recently I ran into a person that saw my extensive collection of "home made weapons", the comment that he made was kinda dissapointing, he said that I would be better off spending the money to get some nice ones from some online supplier. I am quite proud of the fact that I have taken the time to learn all the skills needed to manufacture my own weapons for demonstration and practice purposes. I think that in doing so I have accomplished a few different things- first: the cost is so much less, second: I have the pride on knowing that I was able to accomplish the task, even if some of them are less than stellar looking, third: I have been able to gain a more personal knowlege of each and every weapon, there is nothing like going through the trouble to research just what a katan is and how it was made, and then trying to reproduce it by hand, fourth: I have been able to taylor the weights and balance points to a more precice standard for myself.
so what is the general opinion out there about making your own weapons for show and use?

[47MartialMan]

Do you really have the skills in woodworking and metal fabrication to make these professional looking and safe? or do they look like s crude homemade job? how about posting some pics.

[drgnlrd49601]

I will be posting some picures as soon as I get a camera, the one I had went south on me, as for safe- yes they are, and I do not want to make them look like a factory made them.

[47MartialMan]

I would have to agree that factory-made has the appearance of cheap quality-mass production that anyone can get their copy of.

[drgnlrd49601]

please understand that I do not want to claim to be any kind of expert at weapons, in fact in my mine I kinda stink when it comes to doing competition forms, but I have been able to practice some passable demo forms that I picked up on youtube, the demo's are only done at small town settings, and I immagine if I were to go up against some one who has had traditional training I would look like an idiot, which is why I am practicing to get better, as far as I know the nearest training facility for weapons is about 100 miles one way from me, as for making the weapons I have studdied books, videos, and the most used method trial and error, I have made hundreds of really screwed up versions that just did not work too good, I just kept trying until I managed to get something that worked for me.

[Rickster]

My 2 cents;
Sorry, I respectfully disagree with learning from videos and other media. Training of this sort without a instructor is just showmanship. IMHO<br><br>Post edited by: Rickster, at: 2009/03/13 21:58

[TKDRob]

Rickster wrote:

Training of this sort without a intructor is just showmanship. IMHO<br><br>Post edited by: Rickster, at: 2009/03/11 04:09

I would have to agree with you. Whilst the organization I'm with does do DVDs for help with patterns, to see them performed by the masters, they are only for reference and improvement, not for learning from specifically without having an instructor.:silly:

[Rickster]

I get weary of people getting such to improve themselves. These same types usually come back and make claims how well trained or knowledigible they are.<br><br>Post edited by: Rickster, at: 2009/03/14 08:04

[TKDRob]

yeah, that does get annoying. I've never used videos to train as i prefer to train with an instructor, i think a lot more can be gained from watchign a person do it in front of you, then being walked through it with the person until you understand and can give it a try yourself.

[Rickster]

It isn't a matter of watching a person do it on fromt of you. It is when you do it IN front of them, and they can point out errors and rid of bad habits or improper method BEFORE these form.

[UKTAstudent13]

i have made a few wepons in the past and i throught they were great. some knifes you can buy are 100 pounds or more. i think more people should make there own knives. you could go to some one to give you advise on how to make a knife

[Rickster]

I guess it depends on the material and craftsman.

[drgnlrd49601]

Rickster wrote:

It isn't a matter of watching a person do it on fromt of you. It is when you do it IN front of them, and they can point out errors and rid of bad habits or improper method BEFORE these form.
I couldn't agree more!!! but the simple fact of the matter is that I am having a difficult time finding someone who can be there in person to teach me. I have said it before and I will say it again "I AM NO EXPERT!!" I have to agree that without an instructor there all that practice from videos is showmanship, but since I have no desire to use any of the weapons against another person, it will have to do until such time as I am able to secure proper training.

[Rickster]

Of course. I agree to that situation.

[Z88]

all i will add is if you are making your own weapons don't skimp on quality materials and research first so that the build quality can remain high.

use them on a bag first before using them in front of people.

i know this fom experience. i made a beautiful pair or nunchaku and was demonstrating their use when on of the bearings exploded mid swing send one of the handles flying into the people in front of me. no one was injured but i now use quality materials and test all products before use..

[Rickster]

Good post of information

[47MartialMan]

Whenever you are ready-I will like to see those weapons.

[LazySamurai]

I agree with me.

[drgnlrd49601]

I am sorry that i have not been on the forums for quite some time, there have been a tremendous amount of problems here at home, my wife's sister recently died, and my cousin died on the same day, not to mention moving to a new house, and having to fight for custody of the sister in law's kids, ( fighting the state that is) (its a long story), but I am finaly starting to get back to work on some of the martial arts side of my life, I have just a few of the pictures of some of the weapons that I have been working on, and will post them as soon as I can figure out how to do so.

[Rickster]

Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. Take your time in getting some type of recovery.

[lowkickr]

Glad to have you back drgnlrd.

[drgnlrd49601]

sorry it has been so long an absence, the wife has been having health problems, and so many other worldly concerns to deal with but hear i am, also if you guys could steer me in the right direction as to how I should go about posting pictures of the weapons that I do have I would be grateful.