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"How do I choose a good
Samurai Sword?"
When I first started getting into the whole samurai sword thing, and I was ready to get my hands on a real sword, all I wanted to know was, "How do I know a good samurai sword from a bad samurai sword?" Sounds simple right? In some ways, it is simple. With some basic understanding of sword terminology, construction, and history, you'll have no trouble picking up a low-cost, quality sword. Don't worry too much about all of the new Japanese words and terms you'll come across, I'm just going to show you the basics you need in order to purchase a quality samurai sword.
Make no mistake, a quality sword that can cut through hard targets is light-years beyond most of the crap (pardon my French) that's on the market today. But soon you'll have all the facts you need to avoid those flimsy butter-cutters.*
First, in order to select a sword for your needs, you need to ask yourself a few questions:
- What am I going to use this sword for? Is it for decoration? Do I want to practice my sword techniques with it (hopefully not on a live person!)? Or do I just want to hack up old water bottles?
- How much money do I have to spend on a quality sword? (A "quality" beginner sword is anywhere between $200-$600 in my opinion)
- Do I know enough about Japanese swords to make an educated purchase? (not to worry, that's what I'm here to help you with!)
Basically, it boils down to:
Do you want a decorative sword, a functional sword, or a practice sword?
(click on the image for more info on the anatomy of a samurai sword)
Decorative Swords
There's absolutely nothing wrong with owning a beautifully made samurai sword and simply admiring it on display on your wall or in a case. Don't let the die-hards discourage you by telling you it's not a "real" sword.
Yeah, 95% of the "wall-hangers" as they're called, couldn't cut through butter on a hot day. In fact, most wall-hangers would break if you just looked at them the wrong way. But the 5% of "real" decorative swords hanging on display somewhere are the real-deal.
read more about Decorative Swords...
Functional Swords
A functional Japanese sword that can actually cut stuff and not break is probably what you're really after. If so, this is where things get interesting. You'll need a sword that is tough enough to take some abuse, while maintaining the qualities of a well-crafted work of art. And on top of that, you don't want to spend 1,000s of dollars to get what you want.
Good news is, there are plenty of great swords in the $200-$700 range. Anything below $200 probably falls into the decorative sword category (and I wouldn't swing one of these things around if my life depended on it).
read more about Functional Swords...
Practice Swords
If you're looking for something with the weight and feel of a real samurai sword, but don't want to risk cutting your ears off while practicing, you can either by a bokken (wooden sword) or an Iaido sword (a real, steel sword, but not sharpened). For beginners, a cheap bokken is plenty of sword to handle.
After you're comfortable wielding a bokken, it may be time to invest in a nice Iaido sword. This way you can get the feel of how a live sword would handle. Plus, you can practice drawing techniques with relative safety, and look really cool doing it!
read more about Practice Swords...
If you're saying to yourself at this point, "Geeeeze. Get to the point, already. Tell me about some cheap, but GOOD swords!" Ok, ok, click here for some fast recommendations.
I hope you find some interesting and helpful information on samurai swords on this site. Check back often, because I'm always adding new info. And remember, always be safe and obey the laws of your state regarding swords. After all, you are swinging around a 3 foot razor blade!
*Disclaimer: Swords are very dangerous weapons that can hurt, maim, or kill people if not handled properly. Handle swords with care in every circumstance. If you don't know how to handle a sword properly, don't touch it. Use every safety precaution available when handling any weapon. This website claims no responsibility for any of the information or links provided within these pages. This website is not responsible for any accident, injury, or dissatisfied purchase from links that originate from this site. Handle swords at your own risk. Purchase swords at your own risk. Always obey the laws of your state or area regarding sword purchase and sword use.
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