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