Things to Know About Japanese Katana Swords

Choosing a Katana is not something that people do on a daily basis. But, when you go to choose a Katana for yourself you must remember that it is more than a weapon. Besides taking in the technicalities involved with this Japanese sword, you must choose one from your heart so that you can truly connect with it.

Katana is the Japanese word for a "long sword". This long sword has a slight curve with a single edge and has an extremely sharp point. Their elegance and design has been shown a number of times in movies as well as novels. As these swords have the ability to cut down an enemy in one swoop, Katana swords are one of the most sought after historical weapons in the world. These swords are also referred to as Samurai swords and are made by hand. The blacksmith makers in Japan mould the metal in a hot forge with fine precision to make swords for battle. Katana enthusiasts still use the age old blacksmithing process in the face of technological metallurgy advances.

There are three types of Katana swords that are available. There are Practical katanas that are used for training and classes in martial arts. They are 29-inch blades made from high-carbon steel with different backs and edges. With either gold-wrapped or leather grips, practical katanas have about 12-inch long handles and to give them a more authentic look, black lacquer coatings or natural finishes are used. The second type is the deluxe katanas. These swords are strong and shock-absorbent. They have tough and hard edges that resemble katanas of the past.

Apart from these two types, you will also find the decorative Katanas. These swords are used for decorative purposes only. They feature more detail and colours than the deluxe katanas and may come with various Ido-style embellishments. In order to make them look perfect their scabbards are crackle finished and coloured to match the wraps on the handle. Decorative katanas are about 27 inches long with handles of nine inches. Of the three kinds, decorative katanas weigh the most which is about three pounds while the other weighs two pounds.

Although these swords are not used for their traditional purpose of warfare nowadays, they still have important applications. While some people like to use swords as decoration pieces on the walls for enhancing the decor of their living rooms, others may want it as a part of their Halloween costume or for a fancy dress competition. Some swords also have useful applications like backyard cutting or as a weapon.

If you wish to buy any of these Japanese swords in the US then you will get endless choices available online. The internet proves to be a more lucrative source for buying swords as there are very limited physical stores that deal in an item as unique as swords. Moreover, not all stores have different varieties of swords as their inventory has a limited number of products. So, it’s always better to buy them through online shopping as you will find a comprehensive range available under a single roof. However, when you are looking for a real Katana sword, you must do proper research before buying them. Learning more about a Katana sword will also help you to figure out whether the sword is really authentic or not. It's true that when you buy swords online, functional swords will always be more expensive than the ornamental wall hangers. Most of the sword manufacturers tend to create products with certain distinct characteristics and these are available at a price range of US$150 to US$300. You will only find a handful of them that can make functional swords and strike a good balance between the price and quality. So, you must have an eye to look for the best and it’s always better to take a person’s recommendation that has a good idea about swords. So, when you want to check out Japanese Katanas for sale you must always remember the above mentioned points to get the best deal.

If you are looking for an online retailer of Samurai swords, then the author of this article recommends Real Sword.

If you are looking to find Japanese katana for sale, then the author of this article recommends Real Sword.