G'day Fellow lovers of 4 foot razor blades.

I was wondering your opinion on AISI 420J2 surgical stainless steel Katana, they have a full Nakago (tang), and are live blade. They have cheap fittings (also AISI 420J2 sss). Apparently they are reasonable balanced as well

I know these aren't going to compare to a folded blade but as a all rounder involving soft cutting and forms work, kind of an every day blade, Bare in mind they are a cheap blade and thats what I'm looking for something that wont give me heart trauma if the blade gets scratched ( you know what I mean),

I thought they may be ok. What is your thoughts.

Primarily, this should be in the weapons forum. After a few days of observation, I found this was for sword practices (kendo and the like)

I'm not to sure on katana schematics, but I do know this.
Stainless steel, although low maintenence. Is signifigantly more prone to shatter. The result of any hard hit, defence or other, may be akin to that of a fragmentation Grenade.

An everyday blade? We live in a land of guns and people shooting with them,
important call of duty quote: "try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo"
Carrying around a weapon indicates to them, that you have either something to protect, or a problem defending yourself without a weapon. They will then target you.

As for balance, Isn't that relative to your forearm reach?
I'm not quite sure, It's not my area.

Cheap junk which is only good good for hanging on the wall and looking gaudy? I think that about covers it.

Oh and real katana do not have "full nakago". The nakago is typically around 75% or so of the length of the tsuka.

You might want to go to google and look up Richard Stein's Japanese Sword Index and spend some time readingup.

You should also checkout the Cheap Steel sucks video at the top of this forum, and the following links:
http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=43606&highlight=second+mekugi

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=53083

that would be the tang and grip?

drg

Terms like "full tang" and the like get tossed around alot---but mean pretty much nothing.
"Full tang" is a essentially a MARKETING term---a "buzz word" if you will.

Sure a sword needs a "full tang" to be safe/effective--but you kinda need more information for that term to actually be of any value.

If the fittings are "cheap" and the blade is "cheap"--as you say above---then I would not trust it.

When I hear the word "cheap" I DON'T think "cost effective" or "inexpensive but accpetable."

If your dealing with sharp steel then the blade getting "scratched" is way down on my list of worries.

BTW how do you you know its "surgical stainless steel?"--is the comapny reputable that is making the claim?

Are they using the word "surgeicial" because it "sounds" cool or are they claiming an advantage for such a steel???

IMO if the blade is sharp---and yur going to be using it for cutting or put it thu the hard stress of practice (even drawing and cutting at "air" with speed puts the blade under some pretty serious forces) then you need to get the best blade you can afford.

Going "cheap" is seldom a good idea with anything-----esp when it comes to sharp metal.

If you still decide to get a "cheap" cutting blade---please, please, pretty please don't use around other people.
Its one thing to personally risk getting cut up if the blade breaks, the tang snaps or the pegs break----but OTHER people should not have to bear the risk of your choices.

Just a suggestion.

Thanks for the reply guys, my thoughts are much along those lines as well.

The problem is I won't be in a position to buy a decent quality blade for at least another 3 years. my wife and I have both returned to uni (we're in our 30s)

I owned a beautifully balanced Iaido katana back in the early nineties, my instructor borrowed it for a demonstration and never got it back to me before he went into hiding (long story that sounds more exciting then it really was)

Anyway I was thinking of getting a cheap but usable blade to reacquaint myself with before investing in my my new soul.

I forgot to mention that they come with a life time warranty, which covered the cutting I was limiting my self to.

p.s. using the AISI 420J2 is a guarantee of surgical Stainless Steel, to use it with out actually having that steel is illegal in Aust. and if found to be not AISI 420J2 the person is liable to heavy fines and the usual. false advertising penalties.

We're not suggesting that it isn't 420 stainless. We're saying that 420 stainless is not suitable for making swords. Stainless steel is simply too brittle. It can break all to easily and actually runs the risk of shattering.

You'd be better off with an iaito. They can be had nearly as cheaply and are much better suited to the rigors of training.

that sounds reasonable

Thanks for the advice Charles (and everyone else). Based on what has been said, I think I'll wait till I can get a better quality blade.

on a related note could you guys suggest a few examples (link or name) of a decent quality but relatively low priced Katana. Ideally I would like to be able to soft cut occasionally with it, so would prefer a live blade, and would also like it to have a decent balance for Iai. An all-rounder till I can afford to buy specialised blades in a few years.

It's been a long time since I've look at what's available out there, any links and/or suggestions would be much appreciated.

ps if this type of question has been answ2ered before just direct me to the thread.

Thankyou .