Got a new Katana coming...I have some questions

68strat · May 8, 2016

Greetings all,

I am new to sword ownership and I wanted my first one to be a Japanese Katana style sword. I plan to take some classes to learn the basics but I do have a question or 2 on the sword i chose.

My criteria for choosing this sword are as follows:

1. I wanted functional not fake. I want the sword to be useful for defensive purposes if needed.
2. I want it to look amazing. Why not?
3. I wanted a larger sword (katana style) so it will be mainly a 2 handed type

Ok...with that in mind, here is what I have coming:

http://www.swordsofnorthshire.com/1...murai-naginata-katana-nagamaki-nagimaki-sword

After purchasing this sword i noticed that it is not a traditional Katana...but has a slightly shorter blade and a longer handle. As described on the website it is a hybrid sword of sorts.

I was wondering if anyone has had experience with this particular sword...or swords like it with this type of blade...and if you could tell me how you like it.

With the handle being longer...is this sword intended to be used like a Katana? Or is it used more with one hand...or some other method? Or is it similar to a Katana in function and use but with a different feel?

I did customize the sword...i got purple silk hand wrap with black underneath. I thought the purple/black theme would be cool

Thanks for the responses!

Highlander 20026 · May 8, 2016

most modern katana are longer than actual japanese period katana, this is a naginata katana used for heavy 2 handed cutting, something like beheading or delimbing

68strat · May 10, 2016

Interesting. I wonder what effect the longer handle has on the way you wield this sword. Would it be slower than a normal katana?

Highlander 20026 · May 10, 2016

longer handle (tsuka) provides you with more leverage to do harder cutting, usually those were used as weapons to decapitate or delimb because of the extra leverage it gave the wielder

68strat · May 10, 2016

Highlander 20026 said:
longer handle (tsuka) provides you with more leverage to do harder cutting, usually those were used as weapons to decapitate or delimb because of the extra leverage it gave the wielder

So what is a normal katana for? stabbing? or something else?

Highlander 20026 · May 10, 2016

68strat said:
So what is a normal katana for? stabbing? or something else?

both thrusting and slashing , but there is a trade off with a smaller tsuka you get less power in your swing with a smaller one, and more in a larger one, but you are more agile with a smaller one, so kind of a trade off

68strat · May 10, 2016

Highlander 20026 said:
both thrusting and slashing , but there is a trade off with a smaller tsuka you get less power in your swing with a smaller one, and more in a larger one, but you are more agile with a smaller one, so kind of a trade off

Makes sense.

Highlander 20026 · May 10, 2016

think of a katana as a lever one hand low and one hand high, the more leverage you get the more powerful your strike, a longer tsuka gives you that

68strat · May 10, 2016

Highlander 20026 said:
think of a katana as a lever one hand low and one hand high, the more leverage you get the more powerful your strike, a longer tsuka gives you that

With the Katana, you probably get more options for striking like 1 handed vs 2 handed.

Highlander 20026 · May 10, 2016

68strat said:
With the Katana, you probably get more options for striking like 1 handed vs 2 handed.

depends on your style really, generally a shield isnt used with a katana and it is classified as a 2 handed weapon, it can be used 1 handed but so much better with 2