picking my first sword

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Hey all, I'm planning on getting my first functional sword. I don't care too much about what style or configuration it is I just want something useable to have fun with cutting(but not only light cutting, I want something serious) and possible home defense. I don't want to spend over 200$ though and while I understand that won't get me the high end katanas and other pieces I do know of many that many people say would still work for what I am wanting it for. So far I have looked at the Hanwei Banshee, coldsteel grosse messer, hanwei tactical katana and a few others. Any recommendations?
 
Go with the Hanwei Banshee. I have two of them; on one I changed the handle (or I should say, I had the handle changed); in my opinion, they are very versatile
and not too expensive or so big that they become cumbersome (like the Grösse Messer, for instance).
 
I have a hanwei practical and it is an awesome cutter with a better blade than the practical plus I have, fittings aren't top notch but your not paying $700+. tactical is a good cutter too.
 
Yeah The Grösse Messer is pretty large.. I'll look at the Hanwei practical. I'm just keeping my options open.
 
Any particular style you're interested in? You may be able to get a Himalayan Imports katana as a blem if you email Auntie. That might fit the bill.
 
The Himalayan Imports 25" Sirupati certainly fits in the "shortsword" category. I've heard good things about their Tarwar as well.
 
No one kill me as this is my first post, but how about the Hanwei Raptor Moroha Zukuri Katana. Normally over 200, but on Kult of Athena it's on sale for 150 as the model is being discontinued. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it's 5160 steel and I've read good things about the raptor series. Actually just got a delivery notification from UPS just now for it, so I'm going to run home and check it out. :D

edit: removed link just in case.
 
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I agree with the Moroha Zukuri, if looking at the Hanwei practicals as well. I am not that much a katana guy and my base line practical cost just less than than back in 2003. The market is quite expansive right now and the dollar is going further than it used to in terms of price vs quality and variety but watch for companies with track records.

Unless you are particularly attracted to a Ritter Steel sword model, I would shop elsewhere. The only item I have seen from them in recent yearsthat I read as value is the dussack.

Cheers

GC
 
I don't think links are allowed (deal spotting).

Raptor series is pretty good. I like Hanwei a lot; I think they do a good job, especially for folks on a budget. I buy Hanwei from a place I've been trying to talk into joining here, since they have the best prices out there. Only thing with Hanwei is that the cheaper swords don't tend to come particularly sharp, and if you're really going to beat on it, you might want to look elsewhere.

PainProphet, we want pics! (I suggest photobucket for hosting your photos to post up on the forum). Also welcome!

The Ritter steel swords are okay. I think they're somewhat on par with Kris, and Kris Cutlery has some nice prices too. Scorpion Swords might also have something fairly close to your price point as well.]

And, you might ask around some of the custom makers on here as well.
 
Don't know if you get Cheness Cutlery on your side of the pond, but they are very highly rated for cutting. In terms of Home Defense, you might want to consider something in wakizashi size a long sword is a PITA to try and wield indoors. The Kris Cutlery Pinuti looks really good for $99 as does their Dadao at $115 and I have no issues trusting their HT (unlike some of the Hanwei offerings I've seen). The Banshee is also interesting for its price point. And if you're not interested in "traditional" or historically accurate some of the cold steel offerings are up to the task of cutting. Valiant and Windlass Steelcraft also have good rep for "battle ready" purposes such as stage combat or cutting.
 
Ritter Steel started out making swords for reenactors. They are a bit on the heavy side and don't generally have much of a distal taper to the blade. This is great if you are going to be clanging steel together and they are rigid as @#$%, but the tradeoff for being tough as a tank is that they are usually a bit more blade-heavy and slow and even the blades that have a balance point a little closer to the hilt are heavier than a comparable blade of the same length and balance with more distal taper.
 
Thanks, I removed the link, but it's easy to find on their site if anyone needs to. Wasn't trying to promote anyone, actually this is the first time I've ordered from them. I'll have to take some pics soon, looked nice the few minutes I looked at it earlier.

Also, to the OP, if you have a little more money to swing, no pun intended, the other sword I have on order is the Cheness "Tenchi" 9260 Spring Steel Katana. I just found out the hard way that they are on vacation until February though. Ordered on the 7th of January and just emailed them yesterday to find out I must have overlooked the notice on their main page. Read lots of great reviews for this sword, so hopefully I will be pleased. I know I'm going to be tempted to get the 9260 "Tenchi" Wakizashi if I like the Katana.

Thanks for the welcome! :D

crimsonfalcon07 said:
I don't think links are allowed (deal spotting).

Raptor series is pretty good. I like Hanwei a lot; I think they do a good job, especially for folks on a budget. I buy Hanwei from a place I've been trying to talk into joining here, since they have the best prices out there. Only thing with Hanwei is that the cheaper swords don't tend to come particularly sharp, and if you're really going to beat on it, you might want to look elsewhere.

PainProphet, we want pics! (I suggest photobucket for hosting your photos to post up on the forum). Also welcome!

The Ritter steel swords are okay. I think they're somewhat on par with Kris, and Kris Cutlery has some nice prices too. Scorpion Swords might also have something fairly close to your price point as well.]

And, you might ask around some of the custom makers on here as well.
Click to expand...
 
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Besides the japanese style blades, I have enjoyed my Condor Combat Machete a great deal. I've beaten on that like I'm mad at it and had zero problems. Sheath is perfectly fine, it's cheap as sin, came sharp, has a comfortable handle and who doesn't like a gladius style?! ;) :)

Just some more food for thought...

Forgot to add I like my Banshee as well..handles fine, but I've only done light cutting, so don't know how it would stand up to more serious use.
 
I just picked up a Himalayan Imports Tarwar sword. 29" overall, 21" blade weighs 3 pounds!!! The spine is 3/8th thick for more than halfway down the blade. If it doesn't cut it will smash it. It however is razor sharp.
 
Some of em might. I'd certainly ask around. Most won't to be sure. But, especially if you're fine with a short sword, I could see getting somewhere around a 24" 5160 blade for around your price point.
 
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