Selecting a Shinken Katana for Japanese Swordsmanship

These guides are based on the key things a student of the Japanese Sword need to worry about. It only includes standard katana used for iaito or battodo. It is based on the specific physical aspects of various swords. Remember that this is only a guide and we recommend that you ask your Sensei’s advice.

Price - Select you katana based on price.
Blade Length - Select your katana based on blade length.
Handle Length - Select your katana based on handle length.
Cutting - Select your katana based on cutting ability.
Weight - Select your katana based on overall weight.
Balance - Select your katana based on balance.

Practical Pro Katana

Balance

This is the measure of the balance point of a katana in inches from the tsuba (guard). Katana are by their nature tip heavy unlike some western blades that use a pommel weight to balance the blade. A larger balance point with a heavy blade will make the katana feel very tip heavy. That can be a positive thing if you want a heavy cutting blade. Long handles are going to make balance better. Heavy long blades are going to make it worse. A heavy tsuba will make the katana heavier, and improve the balance. The Tori XL with a 4.5 has about the same blade and handle as the Musashi XL with a 4.9, but has a different weight tsuba.

Shinken Katana Selection	Balance	Weight	Price	Blade Length	Recommended Height	Handle Length	Cutting	Comments
Golden Oriole Katana	2.8	2.2	$760	27.2	5' 4" to 6' 1"	14.2	*	Extra long handle
Practical Pro Elite Katana	3.8	2.9	$509	29.1	5' 6" to 6' 3"	14.1	***	Extra long handle
Tiger Classic Katana	3.9	2.7	$1,359	29.8	5' 7" to 6' 4"	13.9	**	Extra long handle
Oni Katana	3.9	3.1	$1,529	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	14.2	***	Extra long handle
Bushido Katana	4.2	2.5	$1,070	27.1	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.5	*	Folded awesome fittings
Meijin Folded Steel Iaito	4.3	2.3	$1,070	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	10.6	*	Folded sharp iaito
Warrior Series Chisa Katana	4.3	2.5	$399	24.5	5' 2" to 5' 11"	11.5	**
Practical Plus Classic Katana	4.4	2.2	$339	27.4	5' 4" to 6' 1"	12.2	*
Shinto Elite Katana	4.4	2.4	$738	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.2	***	Best balance Elite
Shinto XL Light Katana	4.4	2.5	$738	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***
Tori Elite Katana	4.4	2.6	$1,146	27.9	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.2	***
Practical Elite Katana	4.5	2.3	$237	27.1	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.2	***
Practical Plus XL Light Katana	4.5	2.4	$381	28.6	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***
Musashi XL Light Katana	4.5	2.4	$764	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***
Tori XL Light Katana	4.5	2.6	$1,189	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***
Shinto XL Katana	4.5	2.7	$738	28.4	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.3	****	Best balance XL
Tori XL Katana	4.5	2.8	$1,172	28.4	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.1	****
Momo no Saru Katana	4.7	2.3	$786	27.3	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.6	*
Practical XL Light Katana	4.7	2.5	$254	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***
Tiger Elite Katana	4.7	2.7	$1,444	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***
Three Monkey Katana	4.8	2.0	$760	27.2	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.1	*
Practical Plus Elite Katana	4.8	2.6	$356	28.1	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.3	***
Practical Plus XL Katana	4.8	2.6	$373	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	****
Musashi Elite Katana	4.8	2.6	$738	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***
Musashi XL Katana	4.9	2.6	$755	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	****
47 Ronin Katana	4.9	2.3	$1,274	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	**
Practical XL Katana	4.9	2.7	$245	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.1	****
Practical Classic Katana	5.0	2.1	$233	27.4	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.1	*
Practical Light Katana	5.2	2.2	$233	27.3	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.0	*
Tsunami Katana	5.2	2.6	$713	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.7	**	Very light tsuba
Praying Mantis Katana	5.8	2.8	$1,529	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***	long L6/Bainite blade w/ bohi
Warrior Series Katana	6.1	2.4	$399	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	10.9	**	Thick blade with bohi
Wind and Thunder Katana	6.2	3.2	$803	29.9	5' 7" to 6' 4"	11.5	**	Heavy with forward balance
Warrior Series O Katana	8.5	3.3	$449	34.8	6' 0" to 6' 9"	13.0	**	Very long blade with bohi

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