FIND A SWORD SYSTEM RESULT:
"I'm on a seriously tight budget and there seems to be some cheap Katana available for around $50. Are they really ok though..?"
Actually, some cheap Katana are surprisingly good value - thanks mostly to rolling mill technology in China (which removes all the labor costs involved with hand forging, and is more consistent too - allowing some factories there to churn out blades by the truckload, reducing the base cost of a blade to mere cents in the dollar!)..
Of course, there is downside to mass producting cheap Katana: none of them really receive any personal attention, quality control is often non existant and in most cases, the steels overall strength and integrity is compromised by the process in a way that you do not see with hand forged blades.
That said, they aren't all just cheap and nasty mass produced rubbish - and there are a few cheap Katana that offer some remarkable bang for the buck. My personal favorite is undoubtedly the $80 Bamboo Katana by Musashi Swords - a machine made blade that has a REAL hamon, well made fittings and actually handles exceptionally well (though as you will see in the review, while it is good value, it does not compare to a true hand forge blade).
Another decent one is the Shadow Warrior by Masahiro (who are often very hit and miss, but seem to have hit the mark with this unique and attractive model).
And who could forget my search for the best cheap Katana where I tested two Musashi Swords side by side, and one of them actually left me reasonably impressed!
Recommended Cheap Katana Reviews
"Bamboo"
Musashi Swords
PRICE: US$80 to $99
OVERVIEW: Machine made blade, with hand clayed REAL hamon, and actually pretty darned good quality fittings, this is a fast, lightweight - ALMOST a 4 star - sword, and for the price, is really something quite revolutionary..
"Shadow Warrior"
Masahiro
PRICE: US$59 to $99
OVERVIEW:
Probably one of the better entry level collectible blades by Musashi.
Unique and attractive style, and while not a serious martial arts grade
sword it is suitable for light, occasional cutting.
"Musashi Swords Double Review"
Musashi Swords
PRICE: US$59 each
OVERVIEW: Low
cost, machine made blades that actually perform pretty well considering
the price point. Not serious use blades, but good value.
While NONE of these swords can really compare to a decent $200 to $300 hand forged blade, for the enthusiast on a budget - these are definitely the best choices to date.
I hope that you have been able to find a good cheap Katana that suits you.
If not click here to return to our Beginners Guide to Authentic Japanese Swords from the find a sword systems page on selecting a good Cheap Katana
