On another forum they were talking about Katanas. Some fool paid $200 for one and thinks it is quality.

Now, we all know THAT is a lie.

However, others stated that a REAL Katana, from Japan, will cost around $5k.

Others question if getting one from Japan is worth the money and really superior.

While I had a hard time believing the $5k figure for one sword, I do TRULY believe that Japanese swords, made from a REAL sword makers are clearly superior. But at what costs?

Discuss.

When I lived on Okinawa a friend (non military) who married a local national lived in Osaka. His father in law was a sword maker & I could have picked up a hand made Katana with a matching Wakizashi for around 8K if I remember right...

There was an episode of "weapons masters" where they did a shootout between a traditionally made folded katana made by a Japanese master, and a american sword smith who used the latest material, heat treating and cryogenic treatment. His sword won. They were both HUGELY expensive.

The real masters in Japan almost never let their work leave Japan. Most have buyers waiting years in advance and only make a handful a year. Remember you have three masters involved in the process. One who makes the steel. One who makes the blade. One who finishes the blade. All three have to nail it perfect for a true samurai weapon. What we see sent here even for thousands of dollars is a blade that didn't meet all three masters' perfection.

If I had to make a guess on a true master crafted weapon that was very basic I'd say 20 to 50 thousand. They can hit 6 digits sometimes.

Older museum quality blades are valued in the millions.

Might seem like a lot of money, but then I doubt more than a couple dozen "perfect" weapons are made in Japan every year. A master will spend months on one blade and they only make the steel certain months of the year since snow is part of the process. Millions of very rich people in Japan and only a few dozen weapons made? Getting 50K would be easy.

If you spent 5K on a Japanese sword then you likely got a fake or a real one that didn't pass the tests. Maybe you got an apprentice or journeyman's sword who works under a master. Count yourself lucky that's what it is. A journeyman's sword is still pretty impressive to own. But with so many ready to scam you you can't be sure unless you go meet the craftsman yourself.


Honestly, that's how I would get a good sword if I had a job in Japan for 6 months or more. I'd go find a master finisher and inquire about hiring one of his journeyman for a job. Ask for good steel and a blade that is sound, but didn't turn out as pretty as expected. You might get a guy right on the cusp of advancing into his own shop as a master, but still cannot command the same price range now as his master can since that would be insulting. The master would take the commission for the journeyman since these guys need to pay the bills like anyone else. Sword making rarely makes a master rich. If his underling can bring some extra money in then they certainly won't complain. The master would get a small cut of the take.

Thats what I am saying...it takes DECADES to learn how to make these things.

And they aint stamped outa a machine

Want a well made sword a lot cheaper?

Go to Spain.

Spain is one of the few countries left that still keep the art alive.

The Marine Corps gets it's ceremonial blades made in Spain.

It won't be Japanese master quality, but some of the Spanish masters get real close. They also cost only a small fraction of Japanese blades. Naturally these will be Euro and Arab designs. No Spanish katanas to be found. But they will be fighting quality swords that will make short work of your average Hun in plate armor.

My family has some fine silver work done from Spain.

Do they hand hammer their blades?

Yes it's garbage! I have a vary big fascination with these blades. They are the best designed swords in history! They are capable of slicing threw up to 3 unarmored men! If they didn't fight amongst themselves & instead fought other Asian countries I think that history would be different.
Here is the book I purchased!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/480530957...WWBXCS3GTGYRG5J
It even gives you a primer on the Japanese language!
A must have!

Masters do for custom blades. They have added some machine processes for certain larger and regular orders. Like some basic shape grinding on Corps blades. Or using a gas fired furnace instead of a coal fired one. The Spanish appreciate their sword making art, but are not fanatical about insisting on complete hand processes for everything if a machine process will do the job as well or better. But it definitely isn't assembly line work. A sword shop there resembles a custom job machine shop here in the US, plus smelters and small furnaces. That said they still practice the ancient skills as well simply to stay in practice and do very special orders. It really depends upon the master, the job, and how much you are willing to fork out. You want a true hand hammered watered steel Mameluke sword? They can do that, but it will set you back a whole lot!

real katana's made by true artisans will cost a bundle, thats if you can actually get your hands on one. i will remind most here that a true katana is capable of slicing efficiently but it relys more on the training than the blade itself. give a quality katana to a untrained person and it will get ruined short order.

personally i find claymores more up my alley, they will actually half 2-3 men in one pass. a katana can't.

eta. hollywood has no idea on real sword play imo

This post has been edited by j-dub: November 4th 2009 12:11 PM

I've found via internet some blade manufacturers who are charging a few hundred for blades, but the steel isn't made by the same processes, the handle work isn't onpar, the hiltwork either, they're just a notch above the stuff you see on HSN for example. The big timers hell even finding them is rough, these aren't the kind of guys who actually sit down and make a website to sell their artistry on any kind of regularity, there are a few who show their offerings but even that doesn't seem to be the kind of work I think they're truly capable of

I had one made while in Okinawa that I still have, that cost me about $8k. I wish I hadn't of spent that money now, but at the time it seemed like a good idea to blow my enlistment bonus on.

Might have been made by the same guy, but I don't recall the name of the guy that actually made it. He was about halfway between Camp Lester and Kadena if I remember correctly, where his shop was.

I know that Japan had a law awhile back that prevented export of swords (Cheap replicas or the real mccoy, this was to keep the heirlooms from leaving the country). Swords made in Toledo Spain are indeed very nice. If you want a Nice katana check out Cold Steel http://www.coldsteel.com/swords.html They used to have a very nice selection.
The Weapons Masters episode was cool, but the sword made of homgenious steel had a problem with resonance when struck and transmitted to the hands. Which could be seen when they shot the blades with a bullet.
MikeH

You can get a good cutter for much less than that.

Here is a site with lots of info on high quality basic cutters that are available.

http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/


Or if you want to spend a couple grand on a nice handmade katana you can start reading here

www.bugei.com


If you want a real japanese katana the sky is the limit, but I doubt they will cut any better then a bugei sword. You wouldn't want to risk damage to a real antique sword anyway. (or an $8K one)

This post has been edited by macshooter: November 5th 2009 2:28 AM