Thread: Question about Japanese sword.

Despite its country of origin the Paul Chen practical katana is a good sword I know this first hand. The practical plus has genuine rayskin on the ito and more traditional tsuba and ornate fittings, though a bit slower/heftier. The cold steel sword mentioned is..hyped and not a lasting edge from what I've heard, like the tempered edge is very thin and poorly done and once it's honed down a little, it's lost.

If you were okay with spending 5-10k, Howard Clarke L6-Bainite Katanas. Extraordinary.

anything more and your looking at needing an export permit for your blade from the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai. A fairly simple request, though it can take commonly 2-4 weeks to have the appraisal and if granted, the paperwork allowing export in hand.

First katana? Uses it for martial arts? Get the practical katana, it's a great blade.