Is this a decent sword?

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batarange

Joined
Dec 29, 2015
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I am recently looking into buying a katana, but have zero clue on what is good and what is bad. I've been meandering around ebay, looking for a decently priced katana, and came across one and thought it looked really cool. It's at the top of my price range. I wanted one that's cool to display, while being fully functional. I'm not sure if it's legit, and I'm pretty sketch on if real. Any tips on being able to tell if it's good?
 
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G'day and welcome to the forums. Don't be surprised if there aren't too many responses mate; links to current online auctions are against the rules because it can be a way of non-paying members directing people to their own auction elsewhere, and leads to all sorts of spam.

Stick around the forums though. Lots of good stuff here.
 
Welcome. A great place to start learning about swords of all types. There are a few other forums out there which are worth checking out for info.
 
Hello, welcome to the forums!

In general unless you're absolutely sure it's not a scam, which is nigh impossible due to the shear amount of wall katana out there and the fact your getting it on Ebay, don't. Think critically
1. If this katana is so well made why don't the makers have enough money for a website?
2. Why don't other websites sell this for cheaper, there are plenty legit distributors out there who buy in bulk.
3. Why buy a expensive katana on a website ment for offloading junk for the smallest returns possible?

In short, keep looking, try googling for companies that make good katana then finding the cheapest on a third party website.
 
I tend to think of the following as bad signs:

1. They don't specify the steel. If it's some generic "hand forged hand folded high carbon steel," steer clear. You want to KNOW the exact type and grade of steel. Avoid 440 or any stainless swords at all costs. Stainless is NOT a good thing in swords. Avoid "damascus" swords UNLESS they can tell you what steels went into the making AND the HT numbers. The heat treat is the most important aspect of any blade. If they won't even tell you the steel they used, it's often because they don't know.

2. They don't specify the HT numbers. If it's differentially tempered, they should reveal the edge and spine (H)RC numbers. If they don't, you can assume the QC isn't up to an advertised guarantee of the numbers, and the heat treat isn't good enough for you to feel safe.

3. Made In China/Pakistan/India. This isn't necessarily an automatic bad. There are some good swords that come out of China, at least. But you want to be very sure of the provenance. Points 1 and 2 are critical here.

What is your budget, and what do you plan on doing with the sword? If you plan on using it for more than decor or doing the occasional pool noodle/water bottle cut in the backyard, what's your training background look like?
 
I would stay away from ebay and look into reputable brand name katanas such as Hanwei, Cheness, Ronin, Kris, and Dynasty Forge(I'm probably forgetting a few).

It would help if you would tell us your budget and what type of use you expect from it.

Also stay away from anything made of stainless steel and any that do not give the specific steel it is made from. You should also check out Sword Buyers Guide which is great for beginners.
 
I have a Cold Steel Chisa Katana and it is great. A little heavy though. I bought my brother a Katana from Handmade swords and it looked great. Very lite as well. You should check them out.
 
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