Best Katana for about $800

Bimmer1 said:
www.dynastyforge.com Good quality control.

www.cheness.com The Tenchi line is a nice place to start for a user katana/wakizashi/ko katana that won't break the bank.
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The through hardened 9260 Cheness Katanas are reviewed very very well.
I am actually considering another Kat purchase, and I am leaning towards a Cheness Shobu over another Paul Chen.

If one is interested in reading reviews of the Cheness products, then go to the SordBuyersGuide.com and go to the discussion forums. Once there go to the reviews section and then into the review index. There you will find reviews on a myriad of offerings from many manufacturers.

Chuck
 
Thanks you guys for posting the katana source websites.
I had zero interest in swords, that is before today. Now I want one.:grumpy: How do you sharpen these anyway:D
 
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Dave Rishar said:
I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as well.
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I think that Hanwei makes the best stuff out there for Chinese made Japanese styled swords.

The workmanship on the fittings has been very good from the beginning, and has only gotten better.

For $399.00 retail, and less on the street, the Raptor series is a serious contender for a tough sword.

http://www.casiberia.com/product_details.asp?id=SH2414

You can find this sword for significantly less than $945(more like about $700, and for that price it is a steal!), and this is a superb mid-level sword for use(but NOT abuse) :

http://www.casiberia.com/product_details.asp?id=SH5001

I key on CAS over the other companies for the following reasons:

1. Close working relationship with American makers and practioners(James Williams, Tinker Pearce, Masayuki Shimabukuro....)

2. Excellent customer service, including returns and exchanges.

3. First to bring forth Japanese styled mass produced carbon steel swords, and have consistently improved year after year, fit, finish and especially durable sharpness...and I say this as a cutter.

Not every one is a sweet sword, but if you have the opportunity to check out a number of them, and pick a favorite, you could do much, much worse.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
You can buy a B-grade katana in Japan for about 1500$
So, my personal limit for a non-Japanese made katana is about 500$..
I mean, if you can save 800 you can save 1500 and have the real thing. (with official paperwork)
 
DannyinJapan said:
You can buy a B-grade katana in Japan for about 1500$
So, my personal limit for a non-Japanese made katana is about 500$..
I mean, if you can save 800 you can save 1500 and have the real thing. (with official paperwork)
Click to expand...

Hey Danny you can post up links where to check out those B-grade katanas in Japan?
Thanks!:thumbup:
 
DannyinJapan said:
You can buy a B-grade katana in Japan for about 1500$
So, my personal limit for a non-Japanese made katana is about 500$..
I mean, if you can save 800 you can save 1500 and have the real thing. (with official paperwork)
Click to expand...

I find that many of the lesser nihonto are bendier in cutting than Chen works, and usualy have some nasty looking kizu in the monouchi, probably not fatal, but aesthetically, ahem, messed up.

Best Regards,

Steven Garsson
 
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