Guide to buying a workable sword?

You guys already helped me in the other thread but I figured this would be a new topic so new thread.

What maked/brand/vender of samurai type swords would be the best to use for defence.now that I have you thinking I am crazy. The truth is I along with you guys have all these large hones at home that are designed for sharpening swords. So I would like to get one, and get one I could take out and play with. Yes I know a 40 year old man shouldn't play with toy swords, so I just won't let any one know..:). Except you guys..

So my requirements are sturdy with single bevel and looks decent, nothing fancy.

What kind of price range are we talking here? Can I get something for 200$ ?

Google turned up nothing as there were too many links to Chinese junk..

I know that Cold Steel makes some pretty decent beater swords. Maybe check them out?

I used to be into martial arts, and I ended up buying a Cheness Iaito. It was quite cheap (just under $200 by memory), proper forged steel blade, genuine ray skin, etc. It's not a flashy sword but good quality, sturdy traditional construction and I've been really happy with it.

I'd suggest you get an Iaito first to get used to the feel, otherwise you'll lose limbs. Plus it'll give you plenty of sharpening practice when you're ready to slice mats..

Paul Chen makes decent swords at various price points - they are chinese I believe but made well.

A quality katana is well over 200 bucks, hand forged pecission made sowrd can't possibly be worth 200 bucks.
Here a site that has good reviews
Japanese Swords, Samurai Swords, Samurai Katana, Japanese Wakizashi, Japanese Weapons

Look, for 200$, you will only find the junk you already mentioned.
It has an edge, is made of steel, and can hurt someone. For 200$, that is about all you can expect. For a decent forged sword, the price is much higher. I'd say add a 0.

Also for defense purposes... a sword is useless unless you actually have formal training and have trained enough to wield it with skill, under pressure. Otherwise, a sword is just an expensive way to get shot at, or at best a hindrance to yourself.

And for the love of all that is holy: if you are not trained, don't 'take it out and play with it'. Even skilled swordsmen get nicked or worse. An untrained person 'playing' with a sword is a danger to himself and his environment. Swords are serious business. Not for playing.

For a good quality product here in the US, check out Cold Steel's offerings, but also take a look at the Bugei Trading Co. The owner, James Williams, is an outstanding martial artist, a swordsman in the Japanese tradition, and produces an excellent product Bugei Trading Co. | About Our Swords

Two of my favorite knives are designed by Williams, the Hissatsu and Hisshou, and have seen some of his swords. Good stuff!

In spite of the slightly alarmist tone, I must agree with the poster above that if you are going to own a sword, or any other weapon - impact, edged or ballistic - you better get some training along with it. This is probably double-true when it comes to Japanese swords - the length and heft of the blade coupled with a razor sharp edge can cause some devastating wounds to yourself or those around you before you even know it. Along with the real sword, consider getting a nice heavy wooden practice weapon in the same size and shape, and then practice, practice, practice!!!

:matrix:

PS: While I agree with Bruno's previous post inasmuch as that a sword is a dangerous weapon, I can't resist to argue with the point that:

Also for defense purposes... a sword is useless unless you actually have formal training and have trained enough to wield it with skill, under pressure.

History, ancient and modern, refutes this statement. Story goes that the great Tokugawa-era swordsman Miyamoto Musashi began his career path as a willful, stubborn and physically exceptionally strong 15yr. old who had no formal martial arts training, but enough will and strength for ten men to fight and win with swords he had stolen from fallen warriors on the battlefield. The classic Kurosawa film "Rashomon" very realistically depicts an epic duel between a formally trained samurai and an unwashed, untrained but extremely violent and aggressive bandit - the samurai's form crumbles under the sheer energy of his opponent. In modern day Britain a few years ago, a young man (who turned out to be a dope dealer) was sent to jail after killing one and severely injuring another of three rival gangsters who decided to invade his home and place of business - he used a faux samurai sword, and had no formal training. In the US last year, a home invasion at a house shared by college students was thwarted by a young man who was a guest in the house and grabbed the first weapon he could find - a katana hanging on the wall. Without any formal training, he ran through and killed one of the gun-wielding attackers, the other two fled.
Never underestimate the sheer power of will, and adrenalin. At a competition level, swordfighting is certainly a complex art that can be mastered only with years of dedication. At street level, for survival, a sword is just another long, hard, and sharp hunk of metal that causes serious damage to anything it hits, no matter who's wielding it...

Ahhh. I do see that I used the phrase "take it out to play". I was meaning learn to sharpen and swing at stuff to see how well it cuts. (matt cutting i think the sword guys call it) More or less the same thing i do with my machetes now, And when I said defense I was more meaning quality better than a wall hanger. Not for me to learn to use in defense. I can handle my machetes just fine already and use them safely.

Now that you guys have showed me the price range of anything better than the wall hangers I think I will stick to my machetes.


Edit : don't forget the zombies....that's the main reason I want one...but that will Be next year... :)

Funny, I was going to suggest a machete. It would fill all your defence , sharpening & playing needs .
There is a chance of shoulder & rotator cuff injuries swinging a sword around in the backyard without the experience.
A short sword would probably be ok.

Never take a knife to a gun fight. Check with a local dealer and take a home defense class.
Otherwise, stick to the baseball bat by the door.