| re several questions that come to mind when | | | | typically secured with a nut at the pommel of the |
| buying your first katana sword. What kind of | | | | katana. |
| Katana is right for me? is one of the most | | | | For those who are looking at a fully functional |
| frequently asked questions. | | | | blade, keep in mind that these are weapons made |
| One of the first things you should consider when | | | | to kill. These battle ready katana are |
| purchasing your katana, is how you intend to use | | | | usually forged from carbon steel, making them |
| it. Do you want the sword for decorative | | | | quite a bit more durable. However, because of the |
| purposes, or are you looking for a battle ready | | | | type of steel these are made of, they require |
| katana? | | | | constant maintenance. Many battle ready swords |
| For many of us, a display katana is a great place | | | | have a full tang, meaning that the entire blade is |
| to start a sword collection. Most of the display | | | | forged from a single piece of steel, extending all |
| kantanas are made from stainless steel, and as | | | | the way from the tip of the blade, to the base of |
| such, do not require as much maintenance as a | | | | the hilt. Having a full tang makes the sword |
| functional katana. They tend to be much cheaper | | | | considerably sturdier and quite a bit more durable |
| than your functional swords, but they also lack a | | | | as well. Another upside to a battle ready katana, |
| certain durability. Because of this, they are not | | | | is that it can also double as a display sword. |
| meant to be swung or used for cutting practice | | | | If price is not an issue, you may consider |
| as the impact may cause the blade to warp. The | | | | purchasing an authentic or custom made katana |
| cheaper display blades usually have a rat-tail tang | | | | sword. Take note that such high quality katana |
| which is a piece of metal welded to the handle | | | | require quite a bit more care and maintenance |
| part of the blade and strung through the handle, | | | | than your usual wall hanger. |