Boris,
You're correct, the art of making damascus or wootz is not lost, just not everyone is aware of that.
800 AD "Samurai" swords vs New metallurgy
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Boris,
You're correct, the art of making damascus or wootz is not lost, just not everyone is aware of that.
leadcounsel
member
Is it fair to say that the good price point for a combat ready style katana type sword is around $150? Anything below is junk, and anything above doesn't get you much more sword for the money (e.g. marginal incremental increases in quality)?
Much like a handgun has a sweet spot of around $500... below that you're rolling the dice, and above that you're paying for extras...
Much like a handgun has a sweet spot of around $500... below that you're rolling the dice, and above that you're paying for extras...
OH, no. Most decent katanas start above $200.
I paid around $500 for a wakizashi-length blade. It's not very traditional: if it had been traditional styled at this quality, I'd expect it to run around $1000 (if Busse even could make one). And that's for a short sword, not a 30+" blade.
There are quite a few "pretty good" katanas around $350. That point of diminishing returns you're talking about is much closer to $1000 for a traditionally-styled katana than $150.
John
I paid around $500 for a wakizashi-length blade. It's not very traditional: if it had been traditional styled at this quality, I'd expect it to run around $1000 (if Busse even could make one). And that's for a short sword, not a 30+" blade.
There are quite a few "pretty good" katanas around $350. That point of diminishing returns you're talking about is much closer to $1000 for a traditionally-styled katana than $150.
John
I think that is a bit lowleadcounsel said:
Even just casual browsing would lead me to believe that a combat capable katana starts at over $1k.
You could likely get a practice blade in the neighborhood below $700
If some of you have silly ideas about "needing" a sword, you'd be hard pressed to do better than the Dark Sentinel, purchased from Kult of Athena. Then you'll be ready. 
This, of course, isn't a serious suggestion for martial artists who practice a serious discipline, and need a sword in that style. For less than $150, it's a bargain, and will save you when the pool noodles attack.
John
This, of course, isn't a serious suggestion for martial artists who practice a serious discipline, and need a sword in that style. For less than $150, it's a bargain, and will save you when the pool noodles attack.
John
Heavens no. You're just getting half way onto the first step of that ladder.
tomrkba
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Severn at Sword Buyers Guide covers just about everything you need to know about this topic.
Read instructions and reviews at the Sword Buyers Guide. They have several price groups. I likely would not spend less than $300-500 for a cutter.
Scroll down to the "CHENESS CUTLERY" section for an interesting video covering the manufacturing process.
Read instructions and reviews at the Sword Buyers Guide. They have several price groups. I likely would not spend less than $300-500 for a cutter.
Scroll down to the "CHENESS CUTLERY" section for an interesting video covering the manufacturing process.
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i'd go further to say that it can be quite dangerous to attempt to actually use a $150 katana. odds are high that it doesn't have a full tang or quality handle and instead, there's a long screw in there. when you start cutting with it, it may break and the blade may fly out of your hands, with the only potential mitigation to disaster being that $150 blades aren't that sharp
i was a student of iaido for many years and owned and used many antiques (between 80 and 700 years old). some were papered and quite beautiful. but i always wanted one of clark howard's l6 bainite blades, which i believe are far stronger
i was a student of iaido for many years and owned and used many antiques (between 80 and 700 years old). some were papered and quite beautiful. but i always wanted one of clark howard's l6 bainite blades, which i believe are far stronger
Certaindeaf
member
They invented sepuku for a reason. tsk tsk
I'm not sure which everything you're referring to, but no one source covers close to everything anyone needs to know about making the katana or using it.
If you're talking about the under $500 katana, SBG is pretty good.
I'd start with SBG, head over to SFI, spend some time at Don Fogg's site,
The "best" American Japanese style sword-smiths are Howard Clark, Michael Bell, Louis Mills, Rick Barrett, Jesus Hernandez, Walter Sorrells and Steve Schwarzer (depending upon what it is that you mean by "best"). Check the price on their swords.
ApacheCoTodd
member
There was an outstanding - in humor and information - skit/clip on TOSH.0 where he commences to hack at things with a cheap sword and the point (NPI) that really impacted the greatest (PI) was right at the end in the middle of a comical demonstration involving a rather epic chop, the entire blade flies from the handle DIRECTLY at the camera operator. Watching this show a lot and observing the reactions I can say that it was not a set up and a real eye-opener for folk thinking these cheap collection place-holders have any real utilitarian value.
In watching it again, I see he says the handle in fact breaks - maybe. He also abuses the hell outa it but still...
Mod Note: Point made, but language not appropriate for THR.
Again, more cheerleading for the thread... Outstanding postings fellas.
In watching it again, I see he says the handle in fact breaks - maybe. He also abuses the hell outa it but still...
Mod Note: Point made, but language not appropriate for THR.
Again, more cheerleading for the thread... Outstanding postings fellas.
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A better illustration of an accident with a "practice" katana breaking and the tip and first third of the blade recoiling and striking the guy marketing the piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKInefbBljU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKInefbBljU
That has always been one of my favorites
Walking Dead
Member
That's exactly what I would assume as well. Today's processes and technology can give you exact duplications from one blade to the next. Those old processes while great in their time had a certain amount of guesswork.
tomrkba
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He does not need an extreme level of detail. He needs to know the basics so he can buy a backyard cutter. As usual, the empiricist personalities insist upon an N+1 level of detail to answer a basic question. SBG has that information on a few pages. If the OP becomes extremely interested in historical and modern katanas, he will seek that out.
As I said, if someone just wants an inexpensive cutter without any need for it to be based on a historical sword, the Dark Sentinel is about as good as can be found.
Reading the original post suggests we have exactly answered the member's questions. Perhaps reading the original post might clarify your confusion.
John
Reading the original post suggests we have exactly answered the member's questions. Perhaps reading the original post might clarify your confusion.
John
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