View Full Version : School me on Samurai Swords
I've long wanted a nice samurai sword set (Katana and Waki) to display in the home. Having a low tolerance for non-functional weapons of any kind, I want them to be real swords. That said, I'm not trying to break the bank on something that won't see any real use. I'm finding in my research a wide variety in prices, from $250 to $800. I'm also struggling with the quality of something from Cold Steel. Their swords are on the more reasonable side in so far as prices, but my experience over the years with them as a company has been hit and miss.
Looking primarily at these options:
http://www.swordsdirect.com/paul_chen_professional.html
I've wanted the Golden Oriole set for as long as the internet has been around. I've always been unwilling to pay that kind of money when younger.
http://www.swordsdirect.com/paul-chen-swords-golden-oriole-katana.html
The offerings from Cold Steel:
http://www2.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_store.html?ttl=Oriental%20Style%20Swords&a=sword&b=oriental&
I know I want a full tang, and I want a traditional wrapped handle. I don't mind paying extra if I'm getting a quality blade set, but I don't want to get sucked in by good marketing.
Any inputs are welcomed.
Thanks!
Take a look at Ronin Katana. They make excellent working swords that I think are way better than the Cold Steel variants. In the $200 - $1500 this is a helpful site - http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/
Read up from Sword Buyer's Guide (right hand side): http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/
Their forum is the M4C for swords.
These are great katanas.
www.chenessinc.com/
Straight Shooter
10-14-14, 19:43
I have a brief experience with a Cold steel sword as follows: former friend of mine had one, I was messing with on a couple occasions.
As I recall, was very blade heavy, not well balanced. It was sharp, did not feel or look "cheap", but he did some slashing/cutting tests on a deer carcass, and the blade chipped on bone once. That's all I got for ya.
Excellent information gents! Lots of great reading at SBG.
StraightShooter, thank you. I'm sadly not surprised. They seem to be a shell of the company they once were. Or maybe there are just lots of better options now.
Straight Shooter
10-15-14, 06:21
You are welcome sir. You know, about Cold Steel. I agree, they aint what they used to be, however I do have a few things from them I really like, not ALL of it is junk. Some of the Tanto blades are really wicked stuff. And the owner is BATSHIT crazy. There tons & tons of better options, but there are as many worse ones....like Frost...S&W...and a few more I wouldn't let someone walk into my home with!
Another good forum with lots of information is Sword Forum Int'l. http://www.swordforum.com/forums/content.php?
.
Thanks for all the assistance. I pulled the trigger. Will post pics after Mr UPS drops off my early Christmas gift to myself.
Interesting reading. Had no idea there are protocols for how a sword is displayed.
http://www.chenessinc.com/display.htm
What did you end up going with?
Lots of protocols but there is such a unique beauty in a katana on display.
http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff482/laddmc/2014-10-15212722_zps2bbb5566.jpg (http://s1238.photobucket.com/user/laddmc/media/2014-10-15212722_zps2bbb5566.jpg.html)
What did you end up going with?
Lots of protocols but there is such a unique beauty in a katana on display.
http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff482/laddmc/2014-10-15212722_zps2bbb5566.jpg (http://s1238.photobucket.com/user/laddmc/media/2014-10-15212722_zps2bbb5566.jpg.html)
Nice! Is that one if the custom blades they offer at SBG?
I went with the Golden Oriole. I've wanted it as long as I can remember and while it's not specifically listed on the SBG page, Paul and many others gave it very favorable reviews in the forum. Something about a Samurai sword made in China doesn't feel right but I'm not ready to spend the amounts necessary for a "real" one.
Beautiful sword. Congrats!
If I ever become incredibly wealthy I will gladly pay for a real japanese katana, but if you spent all that money I don't know how keen I would be to use it unless needed. Thats the beauty of the chinese swords, you can beat the crap out of them and they keep on ticking. The sword above is not a custom, just a stock Ronin but it is razor sharp and has no issue cutting things in half be it a tameshigiri cutting mat or a paint can :cool:.
Moose-Knuckle
10-15-14, 21:55
PM SteyrAUG he is a SME in this regard.
PM SteyrAUG he is a SME in this regard.
Already placed an order - Thanks though!
Beautiful sword. Congrats!
If I ever become incredibly wealthy I will gladly pay for a real japanese katana, but if you spent all that money I don't know how keen I would be to use it unless needed. Thats the beauty of the chinese swords, you can beat the crap out of them and they keep on ticking. The sword above is not a custom, just a stock Ronin but it is razor sharp and has no issue cutting things in half be it a tameshigiri cutting mat or a paint can :cool:.
Yea, I read the authentic swords run from $5k to $30k and decided to put that on the "lottery list." Lol! Especially considering the extra security I'd want for something of that nature. No leaving it out on a desk or wall...
Yea, I read the authentic swords run from $5k to $30k and decided to put that on the "lottery list." Lol! Especially considering the extra security I'd want for something of that nature. No leaving it out on a desk or wall...
I was out in Redmond Washington on business many years back and was over at a guy’s house that worked at Microsoft. He had been there for a while. He was loaded and clearly had stock before it split a bunch of times. Anyways he had a Katana and a Wakizashi that were a set he purchased over in Japan. The set was like 400 years old and he either removed or they didn’t come with a tsuka. I think he paid 50k for the set. Unbelievably beautiful. I have been in love ever since.
Check out http://new.uniquejapan.com/home/. They travel around Japan buying the antique family swords from locals and then resells them. Very cool site to check out.
Check out http://new.uniquejapan.com/home/. They travel around Japan buying the antique family swords from locals and then resells them. Very cool site to check out.
Fascinating!! Thanks!
Yea, I read the authentic swords run from $5k to $30k and decided to put that on the "lottery list." Lol! Especially considering the extra security I'd want for something of that nature. No leaving it out on a desk or wall...
They can run over $30k, depending on the lineage of the 'smith. If you ever decide to get into the real stuff, here is a website that can get you started on the right track: http://nihontoclub.com/about
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but here is my katana and waki set:
Fujishima Yukimitsu ca. 1380 (Eiwa era)
http://imageshack.com/a/img803/9107/022el.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img804/8516/028rdp.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img535/8910/004gte.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img80/6036/013hi.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img692/8484/030ieu.jpg
Battle damage (parrying marks)
http://imageshack.com/a/img715/843/031qfh.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img249/6510/012gi.jpg
Bishū Onomichi Ju Goami Sadanobu ca. 1494 (Meiō era)
http://imageshack.com/a/img696/4924/032iy.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img706/3290/034yw.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img94/4355/003ydc.jpg
They can run over $30k, depending on the lineage of the 'smith. If you ever decide to get into the real stuff, here is a website that can get you started on the right track: http://nihontoclub.com/about
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but here is my katana and waki set:
Hijack away! Stunning!!
Thank you.
The katana has undergone a Shinsa, which is an evaluation by experts in the field of antique Japanese swords.
The green paper was issued by the NIHON BIJUTSU TOKEN HOZON KYOKAI (NBTHK) grading it as Tokubetsu Kicho (Extraordinary work).
I purchased both from a shop located on Oahu back in the early 1990s.
Thank you.
The katana has undergone a Shinsa, which is an evaluation by experts in the field of antique Japanese swords.
The green paper was issued by the NIHON BIJUTSU TOKEN HOZON KYOKAI (NBTHK) grading it as Tokubetsu Kicho (Extraordinary work).
I purchased both from a shop located on Oahu back in the early 1990s.
Just beuatiful. If objects could talk. Its hard to imagine where that sword has been, who has carried it, and who has lost there lives to the sword. Thank you for posting the pics.
Gallo Pazzesco
10-20-14, 08:02
Swamp Rat Rodent Waki ... and then use it. Beat it to death. Dog the $#!+ out of it because, the more you do the more you'll love it IF you can find one.
And listen, no sword is a fighting tool these days. Certainly not a first choice. Sword fights don't happen these days. But the Rodent Waki is a serious tool. I've used mine to chop, to slice and dice, as a shooting stick (notice the crescent scales cap for cradling your weapon), etc. Plus, hey, I figure if the zombies ever do try to take-over ... well I can save some ammo with my Rodent Waki.
Swamp Rat steel is legendary. I own a Battle Rat as well. If you've ever heard of Busse knives? This is his wife making these in the same shop with the same steel. Anyways, good steel is always fun to own. If you're gonna go sword - go American made Swamp Rat Rodent Waki (https://www.google.com/search?q=Swamp+Rat+Rodent+Waki&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zQdFVJ3pJYalyQTPmIGwDQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1347&bih=604)
Gallo Pazzesco
10-20-14, 08:10
They can run over $30k, depending on the lineage of the 'smith. If you ever decide to get into the real stuff, here is a website that can get you started on the right track: http://nihontoclub.com/about
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but here is my katana and waki set:
Fujishima Yukimitsu ca. 1380 (Eiwa era)
......
Sheeeesh .... that is beautiful.
Thanks for sharing those pics.
Thanks for the guidance everyone! They arrived today. Now I need a display stand but I'm glad I didn't buy a sword care kit - they each came with one. I got them from Kult of Athena. Their prices were unbeatable as mentioned above and on the sword buyer's guide.
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz209/El_CidAF_ResQ/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0121_1_zpseb076566.jpg
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz209/El_CidAF_ResQ/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0124_zps26d2b383.jpg
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