The sword is perhaps the most evocative weapon ever designed. From the Roman gladius to the European broadsword, the agile rapier, and the versatile falchion, swords have taken on many forms over the centuries. Few have the air of mystery and mystique of the katana, though.
If you’re in the market for a real katana, chances are good you’re wondering just how much you can expect to pay for the weapon of the ancient Japanese samurai. The answer is “It depends”. You can pick up a katana for as little as $50 at your local flea market but don’t expect it to be battle-ready. On the other hand, you could expect to pay tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for an authentic antique katana.
How much does a katana cost? The real answer is “How much do you feel like paying for one?”. To understand the illogic in that response, we need to delve into the katana’s history, uses, and the various types available to buyers today.
What Is a Katana?
The katana is one of the most popular swords in the world. Originating in Japan, its influence and popularity grew quickly with exports to China and then Korea. Swordsmiths from throughout Asia traveled to Japan to learn the art of making katanas, and Japanese swordsmiths were invited to other nations to teach others.
The katana we know today is a single-edged sword able to be wielded with either one or two hands. The blade is curved and measures 24 inches or longer, with a clipped tip (tantō style), a square or circular guard (tsuba), and a long handle. It was worn with the edge facing upward. In appearance, it looks like the tachi, which predated the katana and likely influenced the katana’s evolution in form.
Parts of the Katana
We touched briefly on the components of the katana above (the guard and the tip). However, any aspiring katana owner should understand the full range of parts that define a katana and separate these swords from others with similar forms.
- Tsuba – The guard protecting the wielder’s hand, also used for decoration.
- Tsuka – The long handle of the sword (long enough for two hands if necessary).
- Hamon – The temper line running the length of the blade.
- Hi – A groove running the length of the blade is responsible for distributing stress without damaging the blade.
- Habaki – A collar added to the scabbard to prevent the sword from falling out.
- Kaeshizuno – The hook on the katana’s scabbard is responsible for locking it in place on the wearer’s sash (obi).
- Menuki – Ornamentation on the handle/hilt.
- Saya – The sword’s scabbard, which was usually made of wood.
- Sori – A term to describe the blade’s curvature.
- Kissaki – The tip of the blade.
- Tsuka-ito – The fabric woven over the handle.
The History of the Katana
The katana has a long history, stretching back to the late 1100s during the Kamakura period in ancient Japan. It evolved from the sasuga, a type of tanto, or short sword, originally used by lower-ranking samurai who were forced to fight on foot. The first use of the word “katana” to indicate a sword different from the pre-existing tachi occurs during this period, as well.
Eventually, the katana became one of the signature weapons of the samurai class, along with the wakizashi (a shorter blade with a similar style that was often wielded in tandem with the longer katana). It held this place of honor for centuries until the samurai class was disbanded in the 1900s.
How Were Katanas Made?
Crafting an authentic, traditional katana was an incredibly involved process. It required a three-day smelting operation, followed by sorting and combining low-carbon and high-carbon steel, and then a purification process. During purification, the steel was heated and folded in on itself up to 16 times to combine the carbon and iron.
Next, the high-carbon steel is hammered out into a long piece with a deep channel in the center. The low-carbon iron is placed in the channel and then enclosed in high-carbon steel. This gives the soon-to-be sword a core of incredibly strong iron, with an outer shell that could be honed to a razor edge.
The final step was to fire the blade one last time. A mixture of charcoal and clay turned the blade black, protecting it from corrosion, and giving the edge its trademark look. Curving the blade is not done on the anvil. Instead, it’s the result of quenching the blade in water after this firing process. Then the blade is polished, a process that can take months, before being mounted on the handle.
The entire process could take years to complete at the hands of a master swordsmith, which is why an authentic katana could cost so much. With the ending of the samurai as a social class, most swordsmiths stopped making weapons and turned to cutlery, instead, although a few master smiths still hand-craft katanas and other authentic Japanese weapons today.
Types of Katanas Available Today
To answer the question “how much does a katana cost”, we need to dig into the different types you might find on the market.
Display Replicas – These swords are designed for display purposes only. They are often poorly made, a fact that’s often hidden since they’re not wielded. Display replicas might cost you $50, and you can pick them up almost anywhere depending on where you live, from the flea market to your local smoke/head shop.
More expensive display replicas are also available. In terms of price, you can expect to pay up to $100 for these. The more expensive a replica, the higher quality the materials will be and the more authentic the katana will look. However, some key indicators show you have a sword made for display purposes, and not for genuine use:
- No temper line on the blade or a temper line etched or painted onto the metal
- A blade made from stainless steel, nickel alloy, or zinc-aluminum
- A blade with any stamping on it – inferior blades are often stamped with their nation of origin
- An unsharpened edge (the point may be sharp)
Practice Swords – Practice swords, called iaito, are designed for Japanese iaido practice (swordsmanship drills). They are unsharpened and made of inferior metals and alloys. However, they do have the traditional shape and length of a katana and can make good display options.
Iaito are usually better balanced than replicas designed only for display. They may not have the same appearance, though, because they are designed for use by students, rather than to look good on a sword stand or mounted on a wall. You can expect to pay up to $500 for an iaito.
Museum-Quality Replicas – The next step up in terms of price comes with an upgrade in appearance, but not in usability. Museum-quality replicas certainly look the part and are designed to replicate high-end, authentic katanas.
However, the blades are not battle-ready. Many are hollow and will shatter if used (check with the manufacturer before purchasing, particularly if you intend to use your katana for cutting practice).
Most are made by machine and use polished stainless steel but may be tempered and feature a genuine hamon line and may be suitable for light cutting. You can expect to pay up to $4,000 for a museum-quality replica.
Newly Manufactured Katanas – If you’re interested in owning a genuine, hand-forged katana, the starting cost is around $8,000. This will get you a newly forged sword from a real sword maker, but they will usually be younger and just starting to make a name for themselves. Under Japanese law, swordsmiths are allowed to produce two katanas (longswords) per month every year.
If you’re interested in owning a newly made katana from a master smith, you should be prepared to pay up to $50,000 for the privilege. These are authentic katanas and are battle ready. However, they also represent masterpieces of art. Note that the more renowned the swordsmith, the more expensive their creations will be.
Genuine Antique Katanas – Want to own a true piece of history? An antique katana (forged by master swordsmiths before the 18th century), you can expect to pay tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the sword’s provenance.
More affordable antique swords may have significant signs of wear and even damage to the blade. More expensive antique katanas will have less wear and tear and will have established histories, perhaps even playing roles in key battles or being wielded by famous samurai.
How to Tell If a Katana Is Functional
Do you already own a katana and are unsure if it’s battle ready? Perhaps you’re interested in purchasing one but want to verify that it’s functional before you do. Here are a few tips to help ensure that you’re able to buy the real deal.
- Full Tang – Remove the handle to verify that the sword has a full tang. The tang is the portion of the blade that runs into the handle. In a genuine, functional katana (whether newly forged, antique, or designed for practice), you should see a full tang.
If the sword has a rat-tail tang or anything less than a full tang, it is designed for display purposes only. If the tang is welded to the butt of the blade, you have a display-only sword.
If the handle does not come off, the sword is designed for display only. If the handle is not held together by a mekugi (a bamboo peg), the sword may be usable, but it is not a genuine Japanese katana.
- Blade Composition – Check the composition of the blade. Carbon steel is the only type of metal that should be used. Stainless steel looks nice, but it is too brittle for use in a blade this long.
Stainless steel blades will usually have a number stamped on them, often near where the blade meets the handle. You might see 304 or 314 – these are both stainless steel designations. Any number stamped on the blade or any nation of origin marking indicates that you have a blade designed for display only.
- Hamon – Check the hamon (the undulating, different-colored line that runs along the blade, a few centimeters from the edge). The hamon is created during the tempering process and shows that the smith hardened the edge more than the spine to give it more strength while retaining the flexibility of softer steel.
The hamon should be part of the steel and you should not be able to feel it with your fingernail. If you can feel it, chances are good it is the result of acid etching or stenciling. In that case, the sword is likely not functional.
Do You Need a Hand-Forged Katana for It to Be Usable?
A lot of emphasis is placed on katanas being hand forged. That’s true if you’re looking for a genuine Japanese katana and you care about authenticity, quality, and the investment value of the weapon. However, if you’re looking for a katana for practice or display purposes, there’s nothing wrong with buying a mass-produced version. These might not be authentic katanas, but they can serve their purpose.
- Practice Weapons – If you’re shopping for a practice weapon, appearance should be a secondary consideration. Instead, focus on finding a sword with the right balance, weight, and length. This will allow you to wield it properly and develop your skills.
- Display – If you’re looking for a katana specifically for its display value, then weight, balance, and usability don’t matter as much. A mass-produced katana will cost less than an authentic one and give you the same look when hung on the wall or displayed on a stand.
The Cost of a Katana: It’s All About Your Preferences
When it comes to how much a katana costs, it’s really all about what you want. If you’re looking for something that will look great on the wall, you can probably get away with paying a few hundred dollars. The same applies if you’re looking for a practice weapon.
However, if you want an authentic katana, hand-forged by a Japanese swordsmith, be prepared to pay between $8,000 and $50,000 depending on the sword’s age, the smith’s reputation, and the provenance of the sword.
