rookie question

Joined
Sep 21, 2003
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3
i have just started collecting swords although i have been fascinated for a long time. i have a few inexpensive swords so far and i really enjoy them i have a martial arts backround and prefer the japanese katanas. my question is what makes one sword worth 100.00 and one 1000.00. i hope this doesn't appear stupid but i have handled both and see little difference.
 
Machine made vs hand made. Hand made usually has refinements that give it the best weight and balance. Of course the obvious is that it takes many hours especially if the blade is of folded steel. a super polishing job also takes many hours. The best aim at perfection in every way.
 
I don't know what you have handled or who made it, but based on that statement and your other question about the samurai 3000 stuff I suspect that it might be a good idea for you to purchase a book or several on all aspects of Japanese swords. Also reading this forum and others would be a good thing. For a Japanese sword 1000 dollars is still considered to be on the low end of things but there should have been a noticeable difference between that one and one that cost 100 dollars.
 
Quick breakdown of what costs money:


Labour and skill of the smith: A hand forged sword made by a master bladesmith takes a lot longer to crank out then a factory Like Hanwei.

The polish: The polish is what makes the difference in a sword. Its extremly labour intensive and the difference between a good and a mediocre polish is hard to tell with an untrained eye. Polishers can cost $100 per inch of blade and more.

The handle/tsuka materials and fittings: Copper costs less then Gold or silver, cotton Ito cost less then silk, There is different grades of Same (rayskin). Some parts are mass produced and some are origional hand crafted pieces.

At the end of the day you could well prefer the handling charistics of a Practical katana over a 15000 dollar Nihonto (traditionally made japanese katana) but what makes the difference in proice is the "little" things and asthetics. An katana is a work of art, not just a killing tool, you paty for the art and teh skill and materials it takes to create that art.


C
 
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