| Authentic Japanese swords can and usually do | | | | - but they are almost impossible to actually |
| cost a small fortune.In fact many (though not | | | | buy at this price and tend to go for |
| all) sword collectors maintain that to get a | | | | US$400+)Unfortunately, they are a bit too |
| half way decent sword you need to be spending | | | | plain, too heavy (around 3.52lbs), poorly |
| around US$1000. And the maximum? Well, the | | | | balanced, sharp (but not as sharp as they |
| sky is the limit (there are quite a few | | | | should be), difficult to find and - |
| Japanese made Katana that sell for around the | | | | well...Moving on...Cold Steel make a very |
| US$25,000 mark).So what about all those $50 | | | | durable "Katana" for just a tad over the |
| swords being sold on ebay and everywhere | | | | US$300 mark. These swords are sharp and |
| else?Well, at the end of the day, these | | | | extremely durable. But they aren't in any way |
| swords are often junky ornamental "sword like | | | | traditional. They aren't differentially |
| objects". They can't be used as a martial | | | | tempered (they are a mono-steel sword, like a |
| arts weapon. Even just swinging them around | | | | European blade - all of one uniform hardness) |
| with moderate force risks the blade snapping | | | | and they aren't balanced properly...BUT - |
| off at the handle...But if you know what to | | | | they aren't a BAD choice... Only thing is, in |
| look for, buying authentic Japanese swords at | | | | my opinion (and in the opinion of many |
| a reasonable price - say for around US$150 to | | | | Japanese sword enthusiasts the world over) |
| $500 is quite possible. And in some cases, | | | | there is a better and even cheaper |
| for even less than this amount of money, it's | | | | alternative.If you are really looking for an |
| possible to get a nice sword that is well | | | | affordable "entry level" Japanese sword - |
| balanced, sharp, strong and an excellent | | | | there really is only 1 choice, and that's the |
| 'bang for your buck' buy.For start though - | | | | Practical Katana and the Practical Plus |
| let's take a very quick look at what | | | | Katana by Paul Chen's Hanwei Forge.These |
| separated the authentic Japanese swords from | | | | swords have it all - and for an online price |
| the ornamentals: Japanese swords are slightly | | | | tag of around US$279 for the Practical Plus |
| curved, sharp and single edged Authentic | | | | Katana and US$169 for the plain vanilla model |
| Japanese swords are light, fast weapons and | | | | - they offer outstanding value for money.They |
| should weigh no more than 3lbs max. They are | | | | are light (under 3lbs) and incredibly well |
| also very well balanced Real Japanese swords | | | | balanced. They are made from top quality high |
| aren't made from stainless steel - they are | | | | carbon steel. They have a "differentially |
| made from high carbon steel. They also have | | | | tempered" blade, a solidly constructed tang |
| what is called a "differentially tempered | | | | and boy - are these babies sharp! I've cut |
| blade" - meaning that the sharp edge of the | | | | everything from cardboard boxes to lengths of |
| sword is harder than the spine, giving the | | | | rope, water filled plastic bottles (of all |
| sword flexibility (so it doesn't shatter on | | | | shapes and sizes in a row and hanging), |
| impact) but also extreme cutting power. Real | | | | bamboo and traditional rolled tatami mats and |
| Japanese swords also have a tang (the part of | | | | it's no exaggeration to say that I have never |
| the blade that goes into the handle) that is | | | | once actually felt any resistance to my cuts. |
| made as part of the blade, not a length of | | | | In fact, many of my friends who aren't sword |
| steel welded on afterwards (called a "rat | | | | nuts are able to effortlessly cut a plastic |
| tail" tang).There are also a few other | | | | water bottle filled with water so easily that |
| factors, such as traditional appearance and | | | | they swore that they missed (until the water |
| fittings to consider...Now in our target | | | | comes gushing out over their feet that is).I |
| price range of US$150 to $500 - there are | | | | just love these swords! And what's so cool |
| only a few swords which qualify - and you'd | | | | about them is the price! NOTHING COMES |
| be surprised, it isn't necessarily the most | | | | CLOSE!Now sure, they aren't the same as |
| expensive ones either...The first is the | | | | swords ten times the price. But I remember |
| Generation 2 BWT Katana (around US$329 + | | | | seeing on a website when I was first checking |
| shipping)While I really like Gen2s line of | | | | them out a side by side comparison of quite a |
| European swords as top quality yet very | | | | few different "entry level" Katana - and |
| affordable "beater" swords, their BWT Katana | | | | these were the only cheap Japanese swords |
| - while a good choice, still has a few major | | | | that even got a look in - and overall, they |
| drawbacks. There are two versions of this | | | | were just 33% behind swords TEN TIMES THE |
| sword - a more traditional but rather plain | | | | PRICE!Anyway - at the end of the day, if you |
| looking one and another that uses a lot of | | | | love authentic Japanese swords, and don't |
| brown suede and has an almost surreal | | | | have (or don't want to spend) a whole lot of |
| "cowboy" quality to it...Neither are | | | | money, you should have a serious look at |
| particularly attractive. But the biggest | | | | these swords! I guarantee, you'll join me and |
| problem is a structural flaw - in that the | | | | a small army of raving fans across the |
| BWT Katana uses water buffalo horn for the | | | | world...:-)For more information on Authentic |
| small but critical band under the hand guard | | | | Japanese Swords, including test cutting |
| (called the fuchi) that has actually been | | | | results and heaps more, check out my article |
| known to occasionally crack on | | | | by clicking on the link or visit my websites |
| impact...Moving on...A lot of people like the | | | | homepage: Sword-Buyers-Guide. |
| Nahuarra of Mexico Katana (RRP around US$200 | | | | |