high carbon steel Knives, Swords, Blades

The Practical Wakizashi from CAS Hanwei of China represents the smallest and least expensive true cutting katana of their extensive product line. Although you get a high quality blade made with a traditional tempering process, other parts of the construction are not what you'd expect in an authentic wakizashi.

If you buy ...

Based on the Albrecht Hand and a Half Sword produced in the early 15th century, the CAS Hanwei Practical Hand and a Half Sword restructures the original concept for today's re-enactment and stage needs. The Practical version rivals the Albrecht in many ways but was built to ...

Becker Knife & Tool once produced a wide variety of survival knives built to the specifications of founder Ethan Becker, who had a longstanding interest in big knives. Now produced under the guidance of Ka-Bar, the Becker BK-9 Combat Bowie is one of the best Beckers for the ...

Hanwei Forge produced four different functional versions of the Zatoichi stick sword under the guidance of master smith Paul Chen. This traditional katana of folded steel and rosewood is the best of the four.

Hanwei Forge doesn't directly compare the quality of its swords to antique combat weapons. In many ...

This reproduction of the katana wielded by the immortal Scottish clansman Duncan Macleod in the Highlander saga could be one of the best swords ever produced by United Cutlery. Not the usual cheap reproduction, the Duncan MacLeod Katana is a hand-forged tempered katana of high carbon Damascus steel.

In fact, the blade ...

United Cutlery's licensed replica of Duncan MacLeod's katana from the Highlander saga exceeds what you'd expect in a display weapon. Made of hand forged high carbon steel, this comes very close to the quality of entry-level cutting katanas.

Although not as rugged as a sword truly designed for tamashigiri, this replica ...

Designed by William Fairbairn and Eric Sykes just prior to WWII, the Fairbairn-Sykes combat dagger was first produced for the British Army in 1940. Built to the specifications of these two veterans of the Shanghai Municipal Police, the dagger design first produced by Wilkinson Sword became the most popular Allied ...

The smallest knife so far in the Ka-Bar TDI series, the Tactical Defense Institute LDK neck knife could actually be stored in your wallet. The Last Defense Knife isn't much larger than a credit card and wields a wicked cutting edge just 1-5/8 inches long.

The flat build uses ...

The Becker BK3 Tac Tool, now made by Ka-Bar, resulted from a collaboration between Ethan Becker of Becker Knife and Tool and John Benner of Tactical Defense Institute. The original purpose of the Tac Tool was to provide emergency entry into locked or barricaded rooms. Even though the ...

First produced by Ka-Bar in 2005, the Desert Fighting Knife came about because many military personnel serving in the Gulf region wrote the company to request a desert version of the famous Ka-Bar fighting knife. Ka-Bar's Desert Fighting Knife incorporates handle material and sheath in desert tan.

A combo cutting ...

The Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Campanion brings back an older survival knife that became a collector's piece after the original manufacturer -- Becker Knife & Tool -- shut down in 2007. Ka-Bar holds true to the original concepts of the Campanion, and the new version still comes close to the ...

The Masahiro Empire Wheel Samurai katana goes well past display quality, giving collectors and recreational users a beautiful weapon capable of tamashigiri, or functional cutting practice. The details of this starter level sword from Fully Handmade will impress blade lovers.

Fully Handmade does produce traditional hand-forged blades using the old and ...

One of Ryumon Sword's simplest swords, this natural shirasaya hand-forged katana could also be one of the company's best bargains. Though the unfinished katana demands some time and effort from the owner, it has potential as a good first sword.

Made at Longquan Forge in Longquan Village, China, this basic ...

This Ontario Knife Company design issued to pilots during the Vietnam War and now offered by Rothco would make a dependable survival knife for anyone. Designed to aid pilots in escaping wreckage as well as surviving jungle and combat, the Army & Air Force Issue Survival Knife isn't fancy. ...

With quality similar to that of the designer's custom blades, this double-edged Tanto Yoroidoshi Dagger is actually a production version based on the work of Wally Hayes, a swordsmith from Ontario, Canada.

Manufactured for Ryumon Swords at the famous Longquan Village in mainland China, the Hayes Yoroidoshi Dagger was hand-forged by a ...

The Handmade Kill Bill Bride Samurai katana accurately recreates the Bride's sword from the popular series of movies directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Uma Thurman and the late David Carradine. Given to The Bride (played by Thurman) by swordsmith Hattori Hanzo, the Bride's sword was the key ...

Masahiro Swords are a great way to gamble on getting a good sword for a bargain price. The parent company contracts the work of making these swords to several different Chinese foundries with very different levels of workmanship. Whether you're getting the good swords or the disappointing ones is just ...

This 44-inch hand-forged katana from Masahiro has great potential as a functional cutter, but you won't know until you test it whether it lives up to reasonable expectations. Manufactured in China by one of several difficult-to-trace companies, the Masahiro brand intended to fill the needs of martial artists looking ...

Paul Chen's Functional Fencing Rapier with Spiral Hilt combines a 43-inch Schlaeger rapier blade with a modified swept hilt. Rather than the usual fencing blade -- a foil with parallel sides -- the Paul Chen version of the tapered Schlaeger has the narrowing shape of a true sword. As ...

Surprisingly well made, the Dragon Black Tanto #340 actually is the entry level tanto at Handmade Swords. Hand forged from 1045 high carbon steel and constructed with traditional materials, this tanto's hamon is polished on rather than clay-tempered. Aside from that, this beautiful knife is a combat-quality work of ...

If you grew up with stainless steel pocket knives, you may not be aware there's something better. High carbon tool steel pocket knives aren't that common today, but Boker still makes several models, including the Tortoise Congress, with blades of American-made 1095.

Boker's 3-5/8-inch-long Tortoise Congress is very similar to ...

Swing Cold Steel's Gim Sword with confidence. Patterned after a popular style of martial sword from China, the Gim Sword uses high quality materials and solid construction techniques. Cold Steel's testing methods prove it holds up in rough use.

The 30-inch blade of the 37-1/4-inch long single-handed sword is forged ...

Cold Steel's Naval Dirk duplicates the character of one of the most common naval sidearms of the sailing era without exactly copying any particular authentic blade. During their heyday, no exact form of the dirk became standard. This modern Naval Dirk follows that trend of individuality but is unmistakeably ...

If you're a fan of the Japanese anime series Bleach, you'll enjoy this recreation of the personal zanpakuto (or magical weapon) of Captain Jushiro Ukitake of the Gotei Imperial Guards, 13th Division. Wielded by one of the most honorable members of the Soul Reapers, the double sword called Sougyo No ...

Although Spyderco's Military Digital Camouflage Knife was designed for military users, it's one of Spyderco's best choices for civilians as well, with a rugged build and special features other Spyderco lightweights lack. Anyone interested in a dependable folding clip knife should give this one a look.

Thumb stud opening systems ...

Although this modern version of the war hammer -- a weapon which brought down many armored knights on the battlefields of medieval Europe -- isn't pretty, this is still an impressive and combat-ready instrument of destruction. Cold Steel's practical defense weapons often look like farm tools, but they were ...

Six steak knives from Wusthof's Gourmet line -- their least expensive -- come with their own handsome oak storage block in this seven-piece block set. Convenient for out-of-the-way countertop storage, the dedicated steak knife block is a great idea. The knives themselves are good but definitely at the bottom ...

From one of Mundial's highest quality product lines, this four-piece steak knife set combines the design concepts of French chef Olivier Anquier with the Old World German craftsmanship of this famous Brazilian company. Add renewable Brazilian tropical hardwood to the good ideas in this steak set.

Chrome molybdenum stainfree high ...

This SK-5 high carbon steel fixed blade from Boker of Germany matches one of my favorite survival knife designs. Recreating a style commissioned by General Curtis Lemay of the Strategic Air Command, this knife competed successfully against models from Randall's Tree brand and for years was the standard pilot's ...

Even though it's price-competitive with many display-only swords, the Bushido Musashi Natural Shirasaya Sword was built for real work. If the cost of a genuine cutter has been holding you back, consider this entry-level blade from Musashi Swords. Nothing about it looks cheap, making it an excellent choice for display ...

Even though handle and scabbard use polymer rather than hardwood, the Yin Yang Tai Chi sword still has a classic look and good balance, carrying the weight slightly forward of the handle.

The 40-3/4-inch sword with 20-1/2-inch blade of tempered high carbon stainless steel was made for the practice ...

Estwing solved the ancient riddle of how to make an axe handle that won't break by forging the entire tool from steel. The Estwing Sportsman's Hatchet brings the durability of a fine steel-shanked carpenter's hammer to the campsite in this 16-inch-long and nearly 2-1/2-pound camping tool.

Forged from high carbon ...

The Ames True Temper Landscaping Axe could be considered the civilian version of the Pulaski Firefighting Tool used by smoke jumpers and other wilderness workers to clear trails and firebreaks. The model used by the U.S. Forest Service is heavier than the Ames, but this lighter version ...

The average single bit axe sold today runs about three and a half pounds, so the steel-handled Estwing Camper's Axe is heavier than normal in spite of the compact 26-inch length. With a cutting edge of 4 inches and some streamlining of the high carbon tool steel head, the ...

If you need a knife heavy enough for chopping wood, the Ka-Bar 14-1/4-inch Bowie could be a match. The tactical black high carbon 1085 steel blade is flat ground and tempered to Rockwell 55 to 57 -- it's a strong edge that will even hold up to rocks without ...

The 11 Piece Carving Set from Two Cherries includes tools for both relief and chip carving. A good choice for beginners and for expert carvers who need to replace tools or expand collections, the Two Cherries set features forged blades of high carbon tool steel hardened to Rockwell 61 ...

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Whether you're trying to break into the Professional Lumberjack circuit or want an excellent tool for the homestead, the Lumberjack Competition Axe from ProChainsaw is the right choice. At 5.4 pounds it may seem heavy -- if all you've ever used before is an ordinary hardware store version. Those are toys. This ...

The Two Cherries 5 Piece Palm-Handled Carving set includes five high quality tools for detailing and small scale relief carvings plus a five-pocket leather pouch for storage.

These small carving tools show some of the same features of full-sized gouges and chisels intended for heavier work. Forged bolsters and ferruled ...

Ka-Bar's Black Cutlass Machete reaches back to the roots of both designs, coming up with a new approach that works well for modern campers and adventurers. The 16-1/2-inch rat tail tang knife -- with 11 inches of 1085 high carbon steel cutting edge -- chops brush, slashes rope, and in ...

First produced by Ka-Bar in 2006, the U.S. Army version of the Vietnam Commemorative Knife is the real thing, with a little added decoration. The 7-inch bowie style blade and stacked leather handle match the well known Ka-Bar fighting knife pattern that has been standard issue for American military since ...

Finally, a serious boot/neck knife from Cold Steel -- previous offerings from that renowned self-defense company were not always up to Cold Steel's no-nonsense standards. This tanto-style knife, designed by Barry Dawson, is one of seven blade styles available and probably also the most sensible. The tanto blade was ...

This pair of twenty-inch-long swords with single leather scabbard gives today's kung fu adepts the modern combat version of an ancient Chinese weapon. Cold Steel's versions of these wide blades weigh more than a pound each with fifteen inches of cutting edge and blade stock 1/5-inch thick. The 1055 ...

The classic black look of this Bushido 3-Piece Katana set is more in keeping with the character of that Japanese military tradition than are many of the colorful and garish sword sets created today for collection and display. Sleek black lacquered scabbards bound with black nylon cord complement ...

A replica sword of special interest to collectors and Civil War buffs, this cavalry saber recreates the sword carried by Confederate Colonel Jo Shelby on Shelby's Raid through the union state of Missouri after the Confederate victory at Wilson's Creek. This same model of cavalry saber saw action after the Civil ...

At over thirteen pounds, this forged high carbon steel Kwan Dao is heavy by today's standards but light in comparison to the old combat Kwan Dao of China. Designed by General Kwan Yu in the 3rd Century A.D. for his personal use, the original Green Dragon Crescent Blade which inspires ...

Although these 40-inch Twin Broadswords forged from combat-quality high carbon steel come from the Lung Chuan district of China, tracing them to a specific local foundry could be difficult. Many family foundries in Lung Chuan village still produce high quality weaponry, and one of them put the family mark on ...

This Tai Chi Broadsword, forged in the district of Lung Chuan in China, possibly at the Shen family foundry, comes from a region legendary for its high quality weapons. Visitors to the district in recent times comment that it's still easy to find a good sword there, but it usually comes with ...

One of the most interesting of the old Chinese weapons, butterfly knives originally were carried concealed beneath the robes of monks. Old accounts say that only the tips were sharpened, allowing monks to use the double short swords in self defense without killing their opponents. Original movements designed for the ...

Although the Dragon Katana Hand Forged Sword from Ryumon does catch your eye easily enough with a well-decorated scabbard and ornate fittings, be cautious if you expect this sword to be a good cutter. The steel used in the blade -- 1065 carbon steel -- could be excellent, depending on the quality ...

Inspired by the personal weapon of Miyamoto Musashi -- one of feudal Japan's greatest swordsmen and author of the famous book of strategy The Book of Five Rings -- this daito or long sword would have been used in conjunction with a shorter wakisashi. Musashi's dual weapon style saw him through ...