KatanasKatana, the swords carried by Japanese samurai, are the sort of weapons which generate legends. Carried with the cutting edge facing forward in the scabbard, katana made one-stroke combat an art among bushido masters. Iaido, the practice of drawing the sword, is still one of the most advanced skills of that martial discipline.

If you find martial arts of interest, you know the katana is one of the most fascinating of the old weapons. Katana are deceptively simple in appearance, but the more you learn about them the more impressed you are by their hidden complexity. Many people today not only collect katana, but train in their use. Good swords are available in several levels of quality, designed for Iaido or for cutting practice as well as display. With a good katana in hand you get the feeling that what you’ve seen re-enacted in movies just might be possible.

If you have a generous budget the traditional combat quality katana is still available. Combat katana blades are forged from layers of tough low carbon steel surrounding a core of high carbon steel cutting edge. Traditional katana underwent a special clay tempering process which left a distinctive mark called a hamon along the blade. The best katana still show the true hamon, while today’s reproductions mimic this sign of quality with etching.

Some of Our Favorites

For those who look to the katana for inspiration rather than pure function, the Bushido Katana Set offers quality suitable for display.

Step up to tamashigiri, the art of striking, with this fully functional cutting katana, the Kyoumou Tora.

Combine the best modern steel with the traditional forging and tempering methods and you get our pick for the best katana — the Damascus Katana from Hanwei Forge. Combat quality at a reasonable price.

See All of Our Katana Reviews Below


Katana

Ryumon Shirasaya Wood Katana, Full Tang | Hand Forged Sword w/ Box & Cleaning Kit

Shirasaya swords like this natural Hand-Forged Katana from Ryumon provide only the basics and leave the finishing touches to the new...
JT Hats
1 min read

Musashi Miyamoto Double Sword Set | Samurai or Ninja Katana & Wakizashi w/ Scabbard

This high carbon stainless steel double sword set from Musashi takes a new approach to the two-sword fighting style of Musashi...
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57 sec read

Musashi Samurai Katana, Japanese Zetsutsin Replica | Miyamoto Handmade Sword w/ Throwing Knife

Loosely inspired by the dual-sword fighting methods of legendary swordsman Musashi Miyamoto of Japan, this modern 39-1/8-inch-long katana with hidden throwing...
JT Hats
1 min read

Oriental Master Katana Jin Tachi by General Edge | Japanese Military Longsword Curved Replica w/ Sheath

The Jin Tachi Oriental Master Sword from General Edge matches some aspects of the traditional Japanese cavalry sword but adds an...
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57 sec read

Lord Dragon Katana Sword Set by Trademark Global | Full Tang Wakizashi & Tanto w/ Display Stand

Place this three-sword set from Trademark Global towards the top of the list of display-only katana sword sets. Although the swords...
JT Hats
1 min read

Japanese Samurai Katana, Fully Handmade | Aluminium Iaido Sword, Lightweight Practice 634

The secret of this beautiful katana’s amazing speed is the aluminum alloy blade. Designed for the practice of Iaido or “drawing...
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58 sec read

Fully Handmade Damascus Katana | Battle Ready, Functional & Practical Cutting Sword 235

This practical cutting sword from Fully Handmade Swords outfits a blade of Damascus-type steel with traditional fittings of solid bronze. Decoration...
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55 sec read

Bleach Sousuke Aizen Katana, Kyo-ka Suigetsu | Anime Manga Fantasy Samurai Mirror Sword Replica

The details of this replica Bleach sword should accurately match the personal weapon of the story’s main antagonist — Sousouke Aisen,...
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54 sec read

Rukia Kuchiki Sword, White Sode No Shirayuki | Bleach Anime Fantasy Replica Shikai Katana

This pristine white katana replicates the Sode no Shirayuki magical weapon borne by Rukia Kuchiki of the Japanese manga Bleach. The...
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1 min read

Grimmjow Jeagerjaques Katana, Arrancar Army | Bleach Anime Zanpakuto Sword, Full Tang Blue

This reproduction of the personal katana of Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, an evolved hollow or demon from the Japanese manga series Bleach, faithfully...
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52 sec read

Samurai Zabimaru Katana w/ Scabbard | Anime Bleach Renji Abarai Sword, Manga Collectible

The Samurai Zabimaru Katana accurately replicates the ordinary form of the magical weapon wielded by Renji Abarai in the popular Japanese...
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1 min read

Plum Blossom Katana, Battle Ready Functional 126L | Handmade Japanese Sword Full Tang Forged

Sold brass fittings accent this fine high carbon steel katana from Handmade Swords. No corners were cut on looks, but the...
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58 sec read

Trademark Fantasy Ninja Sword, Red & Black | QVC Collectible Pakistani Katana w/ Scabbard & Harness

Collectors take note: the Trademark Red/Black Ninja Sword could be a real sleeper. Few swords out there have a worse reputation,...
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56 sec read

Samurai Handmade Forged Sword & Bag by Trademark | Premium Full Tang Katana w/ Scabbard, Gift Box

Trademark’s Premium Handmade katana could be a good blade, but origins are uncertain and the quality of some parts is marginal....
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56 sec read

Hanwei Handmade Premium Ninja Sword | Practical Shinobi Ninja-To Katana, Straight Blade

This shorter straight blade katana from Hanwei Forge recreates the blade favored by the ninja of Japan, who sometimes created useful...
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57 sec read

Death Fang Dark Ninja Katana, Black | Handmade Full Tang Sword w/ Back Strap Harness & Scabbard

I’m never totally against buying a good blade, even if everything else about the sword disappoints. A good craftsman can always...
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57 sec read

Musashi Samurai Katana Tokusen Handmade | Functional Tameshigiri Sword, Full Tang Black SS676

The Musashi SS676 from that company’s Tokusen line of practical cutters could be one of the best buys in modern backyard...
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56 sec read

Heroes Fantasy Sword, Hiro Nakamura Katana | United Cutlery Damascus Steel Collectors Replica, Limited Edition

In the TV series Heroes, one of the popular characters — a Japanese executive named Hiro — borrows a good katana...
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1 min read

Black Kogane Dynasty Sword Tachi Damascus Steel | United Cutlery Forged Katana w/ Brass, Full Tang

United Cutlery’s Black Kogane Dynasty Tachi Sword in Damascus steel is a fine example of the company’s push towards better yet...
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1 min read

GI Joe Storm Shadow Katana, White w/ Display Stand | United Cutlery Rise Of Cobra Collectible Sword

Faithful to the details of the katana wielded by Cobra agent Storm Shadow, bodyguard of Cobra Commander in the movie G.I....
JT Hats
59 sec read

GI Joe Snake Eyes Sword, Official Collectible Katana | United Cutlery Rise Of Cobra Movie Replica Ray Park

The Snake Eyes Katana from United Cutlery accurately reproduces that character’s movie sword from G.I. Joe — Rise of Cobra. This...
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1 min read

Handmade Japanese Samurai Katana FuRinKaZan Battle Ready | Daimyo Takeda Shingen Tameshigiri Sword, Full Tang

Makers of this full-sized practical katana aren’t afraid to boast of its cutting ability. While those claims should be true enough,...
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59 sec read

Handmade Samurai Sword by Trademark Global | Forged Steel Katana w/ Dragon Scabbard, Orange

The flashy look is the most dependable feature of this Samurai Sword from Trademark Global, but you could get a sword...
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1 min read

Blue Samurai Sword Katana Set of 3 by Trademark Global | Engraved Kanji Blade w/ Display Stand

The three-piece Samurai sword set with blue scabbards from Trademark Global will be well-received by the newest generation of sword enthusiasts,...
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55 sec read

Trademark Global Dragon Sword Set of 3 w/ Stand | Katana, Wakizashi & Tanto, Engraved Scabbard

This three-sword set from Trademark Global embodies two grand old traditions — the warrior code of the samurai and the art...
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1 min read

Masahiro Red Date Sword w/ Scabbard | Masamune Functional Katana, Hand Forged & Tempered

The Masahiro Red Date Masamune Katana represented Masahiro’s functional cutter swords and is built for light cutting practice. The company’s checkered...
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1 min read

Kendo Shinai Bamboo Practice Sword Set | Martial Arts Training Katana, Flexible 42 Inch

These practice shinai or bamboo swords match an old Kendo training device developed to give martial students a taste of real...
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54 sec read

The Octopus Samuel L Jackson Katana from The Spirit Movie | Handmade Forged Sword w/ Display Stand & Bag

Built in the image of the katana wielded by Samuel Jackson as the immortality-seeking villain The Octopus, this movie replica sword...
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1 min read

Hanwei Wakizashi Functional Cutting Sword | Chinese Practical Katana w/ Black Scabbard

The Practical Wakizashi from CAS Hanwei of China represents the smallest and least expensive true cutting katana of their extensive product...
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59 sec read

Hanwei Zatoichi Stick Sword by Paul Chen | Functional Full Tang Katana w/ Folded Steel, Rosewood Handle & Scabbard

Hanwei Forge produced four different functional versions of the Zatoichi stick sword under the guidance of master smith Paul Chen. This...
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54 sec read