| Katana swords have always been very popular, | | | | such as Masahiro, Koto, Cheness, Paul Chen |
| but it seems more and more people are getting | | | | Hanwei/Cas Iberia, Cold Steel, Bugei, Last Legend, |
| interested in Japanese swords. It's actually pretty | | | | Dynasty Forge, Oni Forge and Fred Chen. You |
| hard to find a katana locally, unless you live in a | | | | want to look for the steel type, heat treatment |
| big city, which is why many people are looking for | | | | and an honest and communicative seller for |
| these swords on eBay. There is nothing wrong | | | | production swords on eBay. Don't buy from |
| with eBay, I love the site, but you must know | | | | sellers that claim it can cut steel and other |
| your stuff before you bid so that you're not | | | | nonsense. |
| taken advantage of. | | | | Custom katana swords are made by |
| There are four different types of katana swords | | | | swordsmiths on a one by one basis. They |
| on eBay. They are sword like objects, production, | | | | outperform anything that is mass produced |
| custom and Nihonto. Sword like objects are | | | | according to aesthetics and performance. The |
| decorative swords to hand on walls. They are | | | | smith takes a large amount of time and care with |
| aesthetically pleasing, but are not constructed in | | | | the sword that is never equalled when it's mass |
| the traditional manner, and are not safe to | | | | produced. They usually go for $1,000 to $7,000. |
| actually use. They are made from .440 stainless | | | | These custom swords will show up on eBay if |
| steel which is too brittle for the length of a sword. | | | | they are unable to sell their sword through their |
| They shatter on impact causing metal shrapnel to | | | | connections. These are usually incredible deals and |
| fly everywhere. One sword like object that really | | | | you should snap them up. Contact the swordsmith |
| bothers me are the antique katana replicas from | | | | to confirm their work. The seller of a custom |
| China. They are made dirty and rusty to appear | | | | sword will have no problem providing that |
| as a true antique Japanese sword. But they are | | | | information. |
| poorly made and if put to any sort of test the | | | | Nihonto are true Japanese swords made in Japan. |
| katana will fail with dangerous results. If it's too | | | | They are modern or antique. Nihonto are very |
| good of a deal, it probably is. These cheap fake | | | | expensive because of their extreme quality and |
| antiques are usually sold very cheap with $100 of | | | | restrictions by law on their production. They cost |
| shipping. Stay away from these completely. | | | | from $5,000 on up. I wouldn't be surprised to see |
| Production katana swords are fuctional swords | | | | an antique go to $200,000 or more. If you want |
| that have been mass produced. If you want a | | | | a Nihonto I recommend that you spend a few |
| functional sword that isn't too expensive, then this | | | | hundred dollars on books and study. You don't |
| is the sword you want. They are made of carbon | | | | want to get burned by a fake. Sellers of Nohonto |
| steel, 1045 grade or higher. They have proper | | | | know what the katana swords are worth and will |
| heat treatment which makes them functional and | | | | sell them within that range. You're not going to |
| edge geometry to make them usable. They are | | | | get one for a few hundred on eBay. |
| usually $200 to $2000. You want a brand name | | | | |