A Beginners Guide to Buying Samurai Sword Sets

Like probably 99% of Japanese sword aficionados, my first experiences were with Samurai sword sets of the cheap/ornamental variety.

Unfortunately, many people don't know that there are some major differences between a functional Japanese sword and these Samurai sword sets, as can be clearly demonstrated in this rather amusing post here on Sword Forum International.

In this article, I'll be talking about the main differences between a functional Japanese sword and a purely ornamental sword like object.

But I'll also be taking a closer look at how to identify the best made Samurai sword sets that might be sturdy enough for at least some non-contact sword practice, as well as how much you should be paying.

Functional Vs Ornamental

Before I get started here, I'd like to point out that I have nothing against Samurai sword sets.

As a home or office decoration, it isn't necessary to spend a lot of money to get a really great looking set - and if displaying your swords is your only objective, it doesn't really matter if they are functional or not (though I'll admit displaying a functional sword set is a whole lot cooler!).

What bugs me is the combination of massively over inflated priced and when blatant lies are told about a swords functionality (such as "solid enough for actual use, but not intended for it") and my favorite example is the infamous home shopping network clip where an unscrupulous seller gets his just deserts.

(OW - Serves him right)!

Essentially, there are three major areas that separate a functional Japanese sword from an ornament: the type of steel used (and it's heat treatment), the structural integrity of the handle and (of course) it's sharpness.

Now bear in mind that I am referring to a live fully functional sword here that can be used for both martial arts practice and cutting. There is another class of Japanese sword called Iaito which is designed solely for practicing forms in a martial arts setting that are not sharp and can be made from zinc/aluminum or carbon steel.

And of course, there are also many more subtle differences that apply to the live steel blades - but for our purposes of separating the ornamental Samurai sword sets from the 'real thing' - these three characteristics will do fine.

First off, a real Japanese sword is made from high carbon steel sword, while the ornamental ones are usually made from stainless steel. But just as importantly, the steel needs to be properly heat treated to create a blade that is both flexible enough to withstand impacts and hard enough to hold a decent edge. The stainless steel blades of Samurai sword sets are generally brittle and will tend to snap on impact with a solid object (as the aforementioned home shopping network clip aptly demonstrates!)

Secondly, the handle needs to be sturdily constructed in the traditional manner - and area in which almost all Samurai sword sets fall down. Most ornamental swords have a rat tail tang, in other words a thin rod of steel welded to the blade that runs through the handle. You can see an excellent example of a typical rat tail tang of a wall hanger Katana compared side by side with a functional replica here at Sword Forum International.

Thirdly, it should come as no surprise that a major difference between a functional Japanese sword and a replica designed for display purposes is in the blades sharpness. A real Japanese sword has a blade with a single beveled edge (in other words, the two sides of the cutting edge meet smoothly), while sharp ornamental swords have a secondary bevel much like a knife.

It should go without saying that if a sword is sharp, but made of stainless steel and a rat tail tang, it should NEVER be used for cutting or even practicing martial arts forms as chances are that either the blade will shatter on impact (cutting) or the handle will crack open if you swing it around (much more likely).

Are Any Cheap Samurai Sword Sets Actually 'Functional'?

The short answer is 'No'. But it really does depend on what you mean by 'functional'...

Obviously, if you are just after some swords to display and don't intend to swing them around (ever) - yes, almost all Samurai sword sets fulfill this need. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are looking for a sword for some fun backyard cutting - the answer is a resounding 'NO', it's just too risky.

But in between these two extremes, are any of the cheap Samurai sword sets suitable for light practice use - in other words, are there any that can be used for the occasional swing...?

Strictly speaking, most experts will tell you there aren't - and this is good advise - because the most sensible thing to do is to look for a sword that can be used for display purposes as well as training are Iaito, such as the Non Sharpened Stainless Steel Iaito by Cheness Cutlery.

However, if you know what to look for - there are a few display swords here and there that are robust enough to withstand a reasonable amount of non-contact practice usage.

Essentially, what matters is that the handle is robust with a traditional tang double pegged to the handle (with wood - too many cheap Samurai sword sets do it with GLUE!). Most of the once piece full tang swords (with a knife like handle) are a good example of this requirement.

This full tang set sells for around US$89.99 here at Trueswords.com which is ok for swinging around, but the stainless steel blades aren't great for serious cutting...

There are also a few generic all wooden 'Shirasaya' ones that feel pretty solid in this department (pictured below).

However most of the traditional looking display swords are only single pegged with a short tang, and swinging them around puts an enormous strain on the cheap handle, leveraging to such a point that changing the direction or stopping a strike in mid air will eventually cause a catastrophic failure...

Where to Buy and How Much to Pay?

Many places sell Samurai sword sets for grossly over inflated prices.

Considering that these swords are almost always mass produced in third world countries (by simple stock removal of a bar of stainless steel) - and the component parts likewise churned out at a similarly rapid pace, production costs are not even comparable with that of a fully functional sword.

And yet despite this, I am constantly amazed (and actually really quite irritated) to see how much some websites and physical stores try to flog them off for. For example - I've seen many Samurai sword sets of 3 swords that would typically be purchased at a wholesale price of around the US$25 price point being advertised for the equivalent of US$200!

Personally I've found that the best place to buy Samurai sword sets at a reasonable price is on ebay. I've managed to pick up sets that typically retail for US$79.95 for just AUD$10.50!

While this doesn't happen every day (after all, this price is easily below the wholesale price) - with a little patience it is most certainly is possible.