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Old 11-10-2009, 01:57 PM   #1
SeaGrass
Dojo: Kenshinyokan
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Hickory Jo

Hi all,

I recently got an Iwama bokken made by Kingfisher woodworks using L7 hickory. I was very impressed with the quanlity and craftmanship and already thinking about ordering a handmade jo using the same grade of hickory.
I found out that hickory does splinter a bit and requires frequent sanding from reading about weapon materials in the forum. Just wondering if it's the same for the Kingfisher L7 grade hickory? I don't mind a little splinter on the boken but i'm a little worry about the jo since there's quite a bit of sliding in its usage.

Has anyone ever got a handmade jo from Kingfisher? Any feedbacks would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
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Old 11-10-2009, 02:16 PM   #2
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Hickory Jo

I had a hickory jo (not from this company) and it tended to get harder as it dried and it did get splinters, but by oiling it I never really had much of a problem with it.

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 11-10-2009, 03:28 PM   #3
Michael Hackett
Dojo: Kenshinkan Dojo (Aikido of North County) Vista, CA
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Re: Hickory Jo

I have a Kingfisher hickory jo and haven't experienced any problems at all with it. I did take the time to "hammer forge" it - several hours of banging away with increasing impact with a plastic hammer. I got into the habit of always checking my wooden weapons by looking at them and carefully running a thumbnail the length of them to feel for invisible imperfections.

Michael
"Leave the gun. Bring the cannoli."
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Old 11-10-2009, 03:43 PM   #4
jbblack
 
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Re: Hickory Jo

I have been using a kingfisher jo for over 6 years and never a hint of damage. I also have two of his bokken and have used them for a few years also. I agree with the suggestion to keep your weapons oiled.

Cheers,
Jeff
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Old 11-10-2009, 03:50 PM   #5
Janet Rosen
 
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Re: Hickory Jo

I have had my hickory jo and bokken from sei do kei for over 8 yrs, maybe 10, and they are dented a bit from strong blows but never a splinter and yes I do oil them from time to time.

Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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Old 11-11-2009, 12:27 PM   #6
SeaGrass
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Re: Hickory Jo

What kind of oil do you guys use? Boiled Linseed oil? Tung oil?

Thank you for all your feedback!
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Old 11-11-2009, 12:44 PM   #7
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Hickory Jo

Since you got a weapon from kingfisher, here is a link to his suggested maintence. I'm sure he would answer any questions you have about other oils that could be used.

http://kingfisherwoodworks.com/warr.maint.html

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 11-11-2009, 01:00 PM   #8
Janet Rosen
 
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Re: Hickory Jo

I confess I take the lazy way, just grab whatever good quality cooking oil is on hand in the kitchen, literally put two drops in one palm, rub thoroughly into palms and fingers to warm and spread the oil, then essentially massage the wood. I don't think I've ever done this more than once a year. As noted, the hickory weapons are 8 - 10 yrs old at this point and in excellent condition.

Last edited by Janet Rosen : 11-11-2009 at 01:00 PM. Reason: spelling

Janet Rosen
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"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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Old 11-11-2009, 02:11 PM   #9
Jon Shickel
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Re: Hickory Jo

I gave mine a few coats of Danish Oil when I first got it and haven't maintained it in the year or two since. No problems, no splinters, no sanding. But as mentioned above, it's always good to inspect any weapon before use.
(I had different instructions than the ones posted above that specifically mentioned Danish Oil.)

They are very nice sticks with a very lively feel. Everybody who uses mine in training comments positively on it.
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Old 11-11-2009, 02:30 PM   #10
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Hickory Jo

Also, bujin has a nice weapon maintenece kit as well.

http://www.bujindesign.com/training-...ning-kit-p-284

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 11-11-2009, 03:39 PM   #11
SeaGrass
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Re: Hickory Jo

Quote:
Ashley Carter wrote: View Post
Also, bujin has a nice weapon maintenece kit as well.

http://www.bujindesign.com/training-...ning-kit-p-284
Exactly what i was looking for. Thank you very much!
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Old 11-11-2009, 04:47 PM   #12
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Hickory Jo

Glad I could help someone out for a change.

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 11-16-2009, 01:41 PM   #13
BC
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Re: Hickory Jo

I've had my Kingfisher jo and bokken for over ten years and have never had any problems with splintering. I have used tung oil to treat my weapons. You can call him if you have questions on maintenance, and he is usually happy to offer advice.

Robert Cronin
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Old 11-20-2009, 12:48 PM   #14
SeaGrass
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Re: Hickory Jo

You guys are awesome, thank you all!

I'll put an order in for the jo. I really like the look and feel of hickory, the bokken i got from Kingfisher is actually heavier than the white oak bokken from e-bogu. I always thought that white oak is a bit denser . Strange!

The reason i inquired about hickory splintering that because I had a cheap hickory jo that dented and splintered after one practice session, and the contact made was not that hard. The hickory wood used for the Kingfisher bokken is night and day comparing to the cheap hickory jo.
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Old 11-20-2009, 01:20 PM   #15
Rob Watson
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Re: Hickory Jo

Quote:
Bien Nguyen wrote: View Post
... cheap hickory jo that dented and splintered after one practice session...
There are several different types of hickory and even different species of trees are still called hickory wood. Impact hickory is used to make tool handles (As Clint Eastwood says 'there's nothing like a nice piece of hickory').

At the risk of the moderators wrath I offer these posts about wood over on e-budo.

http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42728

Also see the following websites for more info on wood.
http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_bokuto.htm at the bottom of the page

http://www.kingfisherwoodworks.com/hickory.html

From Joseph Svinth "For background on all this, you might take a look at Seasoning of Wood, 1917, by Joseph Bernard Wagner, and American Civil Engineers' Pocket Book, 1916, by Mansfield Merriman, both available via Google Books."

Thanks

p.s. I've gotten many compliments on my Kingfisher jo and bokken. Not so much on my abilities to wield them ...

"In my opinion, the time of spreading aikido to the world is finished; now we have to focus on quality." Yamada Yoshimitsu

Ultracrepidarianism ... don't.
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