This is a question for people who know about Sai!?

Question

Okay I know that Chrome Sai are for show like demonstrations and the Black iron sai are for you know if you want to fight someone like someone else with another sai or Katana or w/e but what about the Stainless steel can you fight with them or not? will it chip them?? So im having trouble on which ones to pick the [Stainless steel Sai] or the [Black Iron Sai]?? And I dont want to use them for show I want to use them to fight for self defensive purposes and yess I know how to use them...I am trainning right now. loll

thank you very veryy muchhh

Raziel =]

Answer 1

Black Iron. The chrome sai are OK for kata. If used for fighting against other weapons the chrome will eventually start to come off. I have Both chrome and Black Iron sai from Shureido. Both pair are about 20 years old. Both have had hard use against other weapons. As I said the chrome will come off if hard contact is made with other weapons. Other than that both sets of sai are in great condition.

I do not recommend the stainless steel sai. Stainless steel can be a good thing or a bad depending on the exact stainless steel used.

Most important is having sai that are balanced. The balance point should be at the base of the blade near the prongs. Many of the cheap sai have tow problems. First the balance point is to far forward (nearer the tip of the blade). Second, the distance between the prongs and the blade is to long. That makes the sai harder to control. Prongs that point out to the sides are also not good.

Answer 2

Stainless steel is typically used to describe 440C stainless, a steel alloy with 11.5% chromium minimum and a high carbon grade. 440C and 440F are generally considered the strongest of the stainless steels.

However, it should be noted that 440 stainless steel is what sword enthusiasts call "wall hanger" quality. Sudden, jarring impact can cause significant breakage or cracking in the steel due to the hardness. 1020 carbon will bend more easily and and 1080 spring steel would probably be optimal

Now, kid, have fun getting arrested.

Edit:

Might want to look up "self defense" case law. Police see big, pointy dagger like thing with no plausible "tool" purposes. Some US states even outlaw pepper spray. Bringing a weapon into a fight isn't just a bad idea for someone poorly trained, it carries other legal ramifications.

Answer 3

do the stainless steel ones, the black iron ones may end up rusting with each workout.