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.

Praying Mantis

Price

Everyone has a budget, so let us start at what kind of swords are in yours. The lowest cost shinken will have simple durable fittings, but there is no money in them. The practical has imitation ray skin and suede wrap with simple fittings. The practical plus has a similar blade but adds real ray skin and higher quality fittings. The next price range of swords have higher quality metal and finer finished blades. Folded blades are in the next higher price range. At the highest range are the folded L6 bainite blades. These are more durable and will hold up to harder targets without bending or chipping. You get what you pay for, but you need to determine how much you want to invest in a shinken katana.

Shinken Katana Selection	Price	Blade Length	Recommended Height	Handle Length	Cutting	Weight	Balance	Comments
Practical Classic Katana	$233	27.4	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.1	*	2.1	5.0	Handle not removable
Practical Light Katana	$233	27.3	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.0	*	2.2	5.2	Lowest Recommended
Practical Elite Katana	$237	27.1	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.2	***	2.3	4.5	Lowest Performance Blade
Practical XL Katana	$245	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.1	****	2.7	4.9
Practical XL Light Katana	$254	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***	2.5	4.7
Practical Plus Classic Katana	$339	27.4	5' 4" to 6' 1"	12.2	*	2.2	4.4	Start of Quality Fittings
Practical Plus Elite Katana	$356	28.1	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.3	***	2.6	4.8
Practical Plus XL Katana	$373	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	****	2.6	4.8
Practical Plus XL Light Katana	$381	28.6	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***	2.4	4.5
Warrior Series Katana	$399	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	10.9	**	2.4	6.1
Warrior Series Chisa Katana	$399	24.5	5' 2" to 5' 11"	11.5	**	2.5	4.3
Warrior Series O Katana	$449	34.8	6' 0" to 6' 9"	13.0	**	3.3	8.5
Practical Pro Elite Katana	$509	29.1	5' 6" to 6' 3"	14.1	***	2.9	3.8
Tsunami Katana	$713	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.7	**	2.6	5.2	Higher quality steel & finish
Shinto Elite Katana	$738	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.2	***	2.4	4.4
Shinto XL Light Katana	$738	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***	2.5	4.4
Shinto XL Katana	$738	28.4	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.3	****	2.7	4.5
Musashi Elite Katana	$738	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***	2.6	4.8
Musashi XL Katana	$755	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	****	2.6	4.9
Golden Oriole Katana	$760	27.2	5' 4" to 6' 1"	14.2	*	2.2	2.8
Tea Culture Katana	$760	29.5	5' 7" to 6' 4"	12.1	*	2.5	4.5
Three Monkey Katana	$760	27.2	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.1	*	2.0	4.8
Musashi XL Light Katana	$764	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***	2.4	4.5
Momo no Saru Katana	$786	27.3	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.6	*	2.3	4.7	Lowest Cost Folded
Wind and Thunder Katana	$803	29.9	5' 7" to 6' 4"	11.5	**	3.2	6.2
Bushido Katana	$1,070	27.1	5' 4" to 6' 1"	11.5	*	2.5	4.2
Meijin Folded Steel Iaito	$1,070	28.0	5' 5" to 6' 2"	10.6	*	2.3	4.3
Tori Elite Katana	$1,146	27.9	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.2	***	2.6	4.4	Lowest Folded Performance
Tori XL Katana	$1,172	28.4	5' 5" to 6' 2"	11.1	****	2.8	4.5
Tori XL Light Katana	$1,189	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***	2.6	4.5
47 Ronin Katana	$1,274	28.5	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	**	2.3	4.9
Tiger Classic Katana	$1,359	29.8	5' 7" to 6' 4"	13.9	**	2.7	3.9
Tiger Elite Katana	$1,444	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.3	***	2.7	4.7
Oni Katana	$1,529	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	14.2	***	3.1	3.9	L6 Bainite
Praying Mantis Katana	$1,529	28.9	5' 6" to 6' 3"	11.2	***	2.8	5.8	L6 Bainite

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