Top 5 Katanas Under $500 - Are They Worth It?

[@swordis-ed]

Thank you for the amazing roundup of katana reviews and for your kind words about us. We've taken your recommendation seriously and discussed it with HanBon Forge. We're now offering the option of choosing different menukis for easier unsheathing. However, even with the standard habaki, the unsheathing process will naturally become smoother with use. Regarding our sword builder, we're currently addressing some technical difficulties and have temporarily taken it offline. We expect to have it back up within a day. We're posting this in case anyone is looking for it and can't find it.

[@dlatrexswords]

Good to see you are so engaged in feedback and discussion with the sword community. Cheers!

[@samlevi4744]

Your sword builder is pretty dope. But have you all ever considered working with people who do bespoke swords? Obviously not in this price range. But since you commented, I felt like asking causing it’s a wicked investment and credibility from external validation from a credible company like yourself would be cool. IJS.

[@stonefox9124]

Market needs more Ninjato in wakizashi size....

[@bryanquick3349]

I appreciate that you keep you and your crew cracking each other up in your videos, it's really entertaining

[@edwardanderson4678]

My wife and my two boy's bought me a Japanese military sword for my birthday around 18 years ago, and I don't know what they paid for it back then but they hinted at under $300. In my reference book "The Military Swords of Japan 1868-1945" by Richard Fuller and Ron Gregory I found one that's as close a match as you could find. I checked the hilt the decorations, everything that goes into identifying one of these thing's and I cannot fault the identification. It was the first Japanese Military sword captured in WWII and belonged to Lieutenant Kazuo Sakamaki IJN, Commander of a midget Submarine captured at Pearl Harbour in 1941. A made for WWII Kai-Gunto. And it appears that i is what I have, and although it is not as shiny as those swords I am ex military, as was my father and his father and my elder son, so for under $300, I think I got the best deal.

[@PatriotJedi]

This dude is my favorite KZbinr when it comes to Katana videos. Please keep doing videos like this 🤙

[@Cerberusarms]

Appreciate it 👊

[@SpaceGhost182]

This was an awesome video. Took a bunch of great options, gave us the run down, then put them into practice doing what they are supposed to do. Extremely well done. Subbed

[@Louylou187]

ya think his neighbors ever watch him

[@ChrisM-zv9ic]

Probably

[@mixmastermike2128]

They keep a Shape eye out for him

[@Cerberusarms]

I wonder about this all the time

[@kingofantigua89]

Absolutely

[@theannouncer5538]

“Hey mom the crazy man is outside with those swords again”

[@Rhuna]

This is definitely the place where swords come to get immortalized, great reviews as always

[@dlatrexswords]

Hey dude awesome work. This is very well put together (like all your videos). The opportunity to do such a close side by side like this really valuable and it’s not easy to do properly so kudos to you and Swordis for getting this put together to help everyone make educated decisions about these different options at a similar level. Keep it up, chief!

[@Cerberusarms]

Appreciate it!

[@Rakushio]

Would be really interesting to see your take on some Chinese Swords D!

[@mixmastermike2128]

wasnt expecting to laugh so muuch! brynn and D are hilarious!

[@Harshhaze]

You look alot like D from Node. You guys should do a collab

[@Punisher6791]

mine is a replica of Jin Sakai's Sword from Ghost of Tsushima

[@zackvnoone]

Love the vids man. High production sword content

[@SpecJack15]

Nice reviews on the mid-range katanas. Also nice to hear your banter with your girl.

[@m0-m0597]

00:07 my man roasted nerds

[@stevenfriedman2902]

4:57 and then the girl behind the camera does the same thing lol

[@ch1m3r4c0mpl3x]

NGL the "clip clop for your chip chop" is what sold me on it

[@exander3636]

I think it's worth mentioning that there are many styles that do in fact use handles as long or longer than 12". In the Nami Ryū, for example, we use swords that have tsuka long enough to touch our elbow when held in the hand. Which, for me, means about 14".

[@samlevi4744]

The commentary on this video is unhinged yet informative.

[@ABEAZYdaRonin94]

It's a tough choice between the Takeda shingen and the Shadow dancer. Shadow dancer has the more Japan accurate fit but the Shingen theme is crazy dope. It really is befitting the man who the sword is inspired by.

[@mikey9906]

I have three Katanas i bought years ago off of Amazon all for less than 200 bucks and i thought those were nice. Description said hand made and pretty sure all were 1095 high carbon steel

[@Cerberusarms]

If they’re from Amazon and $200 they’re definitely lying and drop shipping low end swords. They’re probably made from 1045 at best

[@justanotherviewer8149]

if you wanna buy a katana stay away from amazon they are definitely not handmade

[@warrenmurphy1858]

A santa sword, great idea, how about an anime with the grinch battling him in a sword fight in time for x mass.

[@TONEDEAFSOUND]

love all these brands 🙏🏽

[@silverstasher9912]

Thank you I've been always wanting a katana but didn't want a cheap one that would break in case I ever needed to use it

[@buddah1221]

I honestly have no idea how actually use a katana but they are some of the most beautiful swords ever and I really just want a replica functional or nit of Ryu Hyabussa's Dragon Blade

[@danielames3937]

More katana reviews, please. Plus, please give them a rating. I know it's subjective, but an official rating would be nice.

[@はやしすぐき-sw9uw]

For the tsuka(handle) length, to me it really depends on what style you trained in. I personally is training in a style where we want our handle to be shorter to allow for the use of the rest of our body instead of just the hands/arms, so when I wield an uchigatana with a very long handle, it feel unwieldy

[@CharlotteGordonLennox]

Still waiting for your review on the Hanwei Shinto katana!

[@Cerberusarms]

I’ll get around to it one day!

[@johnmclain250]

Huh, this autoplayed after the spyfall episode. I remember being into this as a kid and even bought a few. I'm shocked that $500 doesn't even get you real rayskin or silk anymore. I started with some junk ones for $30, then got my first real one for $300 that was actual silk wrap and rayskin handles and high quality steel. I still have it in a closet now, think they called it a Practical Plus back then, I forget who made it. Then when I was around 20 I bought a very high quality one for 3 grand made of the best steel custom designed scabbard and style. I outgrew swords after that and moved onto guns as I moved into that field as part of my career, but the really nice one still decorates a nice display cabinet in the living room and I'll never sell it.

[@driverjb09]

I have a random request. I’m considering getting into airsoft and I was wondering if you could do an overview of your favorite airsoft loadout? I’d like to hear from someone I feel like I trust because I’ve watched you play airsoft for a long time across many channels.

[@410colepyro3]

Do you think you'll do a review on the cold steel machete katana. The sword that combines 2 weapons into one

[@riuphane]

Cerberusarms and node in one day! Hell yeah.

[@bearmtn7]

The ronin dojo-pro is really hard to beat at the price point; I’ve owned quite a few in that line, from tanto to o-katana, and my only complaints with any of them was that the ito wraps could have been tighter. That being said, I had one of their more recent models and the wrap was significantly better than previously

[@stevenfriedman2902]

Yea I got my Dojo Pro a couple of months ago from their scratch and dent sale and love it! Only thing I found wrong with it was the katana slid right out of the saya if the handle was at any angle pointed towards the ground. A shim fixed it right up though and seems like new.

[@BlackPillBuffet]

Heard about you over at Metatron’s channel.

[@ruanvictor6500]

1:39 my favorite

[@Alex.scarett]

Mine came out the 562 and amazing about it. I love it.

[@AllanScott28]

Massive difference to the Hishigami Pro model. The seasonal one. Something about that burgundy scabbard 🔥

[@Cerberusarms]

Yeah the hishigami makes such a big difference

[@bbd121]

6:07 Does that mean this sword is a hokey pokey?

[@bryangates4591]

would love to see you try a custom Romance of Men sword, they are pretty good quality for the price and you can choose exactly what you want for all your fittings, steel type and blade geometry

[@FutureRobinHood]

It's crazy to say but those apoc katanas are actually nice.

[@naruomi9477]

My goat 🙏

[@TheBrolosopher1993]

I've gotten a few katanas from Moritaka and Phoenix arms from RVA katana. I would try some of those out. I've been blown away by the price to quality after using hanwei and lyue sword for so long. The Moritaka legend stands out in particular.

[@Cerberusarms]

I’ve heard good things from RVA katanas. They’ve reached out about sending samples so maybe I’ll check them out

[@TheBrolosopher1993]

@@Cerberusarms John and Scott the owners are great guys. Really easy to get in touch with

[@LightningStrikes66]

Would be great if you could do a buyers guide to choosing a Katana? Thanks

[@mistermaky01]

Would love for you to have some mtg content on Node or here btw !

[@JamesBeggs-h5t]

calvary vs cavalry??? hummm 3:05 As far as horseys go, maybe Tachi, not Katana? On a rather personal note - sunglasses. Try a set of Bausch and Lomb "Balorama" sunglasses. If you can find them, get the original 5 barrel USA made vintage Baloramas - they are worth it. The Balarama has two tint versions, I like the darker version (L2870). They are considered the original "wraps" with real safety glass in them. First movie use was by Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry" Anyhow, they are comfortable, keep out the sunlight, offer real protection, and have that "look" I think you are going for. Good luck and great cutting!

[@u7by7tyr0n]

it's the music for me🎉

[@JoeSteel1]

Surprises me the dragon King having Ito loose as this one, The Hanbon Polish work is impressive, and having a better polish then Shadow Dancer, WoW...the standard Ito wrap should be a lot tighter, than the sample, but have to agree the Hishigami makes a difference for sure, feels so good in the hands. Really like the Hanwei.( i would love to know if the TANG-Nakago is the same length as the Tsuka or does it terminate 3/4 Down and maybe that's why you had some play after cutting) Wonderful Job on this comparison my friend. Your a good cutter so you made all the swords look good...LOL

[@Cerberusarms]

Yeah I really like the Hanwei one but the rattling makes me think it’s not meant for cutting which is a real shame. Great display piece though

[@Miciah-j1v]

Thinking about buying a katana for 3k battle ready but its like a guitar sometimes paying more doesn't mean its always better. I know more expensive katanas means natural not fake and they start using silver and gold ect.. but its the quality of the sword and hows its forged not how it looks.. looks are a bonus!!

[@TheUtkarsh-y3t]

Hey are these katanas rod tang or fully tang ?

[@AllanScott28]

I miss the D banter. I’m definitely gonna have to rewatch Son of a Dungeon again. This s*** was hilarious at times.

[@DavidIvan-AC]

Also, I like to think of the Wakizashi, the Katana, and the Odachi, as the Japanese equivalent to the European short sword, long sword, and great sword. Wakizashi = short sword Katana = long sword Odachi = great sword

[@DavidIvan-AC]

I think this is a very neutral and non-biased way of thinking, but I don’t know. I’m not really an expert on that matter..

[@peveral4246]

You've probably gotten this request a couple of times before, but I'd love to know what your thoughts are on the Moritaka Vortex 9260 Spring Steel katana from RVAKatana. For a 225 dollar sword, I find it to be quite a reliable workhorse with snug fittings, great balance, and impressive edge retention.

[@AngusKorten]

Can you try one from SMAI?

[@cahigusantonio7628]

How to order katana from philippines.

[@watchreport]

Look it up, I’m not familiar with your laws or shipping to Philippines, though I don’t know if I’ve ever seen your country listed on the banned list, so look at different makers and vendors and see who ships to you, most of these swords are made and ship out of China, so unless you have government restrictions I don’t see why you couldn’t order one.

[@DavidIvan-AC]

21:38 bro they should sell that sword in a dual wielding pair not just that sword by itself because it’s clearly meant for that

[@Pavlosgeo_]

Hey I just checked out Ninja scroll after you mentioned it and it looks sick , do you have any other movies/series to recommend in the same style?

[@Cerberusarms]

Ghost in the Shell, Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust, and Akira are classics

[@Pavlosgeo_]

@@Cerberusarms thank you ill check them all out!

[@obstwald9611]

Get Frostmourne from the Blizzard store

[@tominator992]

You have Black swords with Red scabards, i have a red sword with a black scabard XD and never had the chance to try out how good it cuts ASIDE from accidentaly cutting my hand once

[@Erduk]

I have been handling sharp katana for years and never cut myself. You need to go look up the pictures of serious injury people have gotten and scare yourself into being slow and smooth to start off during training/handling.

[@AkunKecil-c9y]

Any recomendation for katana shop, that can export to indonesia?

[@UrAvgGamer]

You should try out Chinese Jians!

[@Buckwheatowen]

Did you get the sekiro shadows die twice katanas or genechiros katana

[@aggonzalezdc]

I know a fair bit about the ancient history of these swords, but much less so for modern materials\methods, so sorry if this is a stupid question. Can you create a true hamon with these hardened steel and spring steel blades? Or are they just acid etched or ground in to make the appearance of one?

[@Cerberusarms]

The 4 swords with hamons are all real differentially hardened blades. The clay tempering can be done on most any non through hardened steel.

[@aggonzalezdc]

@@Cerberusarms thanks! That really helps. I've wanted to get a better katana, but with my love of their history I want something somewhat close. But I'm also realistic and not made of money, so I know a spring steel or other blade is a better choice for me. Great to know I can get at least some of that. Thanks for replying directly!

[@swordis-ed]

​@@aggonzalezdc The type of steel is not as important as the craftsmanship in sword making. Steel is just a raw material, and without proper blade treatment, the blade will suck. 9260 spring steel, T10 carbon steel, and 1045-1095 carbon steels all belong to the same group. They are affordable because they are easy to work with, but they have different properties. Depending on the application, 9260 steel might be better than 1095 carbon steel. Clay tempering, a marketing term, only works on blades with a high carbon concentration. This is why traditional clay tempering is not seen on spring and tool steels. Etched hamon is not necessarily a cheaper version of clay tempering; it is simply the only alternative that works with spring and tool steels. To illustrate, consider t-shirts. A shirt labeled 100% cotton won't last long if not well-made, which is why there are $100 t-shirts and $5 t-shirts made from the same material. The superior quality comes from the craftsmanship. Similarly, cotton is preferred for breathability and comfort, but for gym use, synthetic fabrics are better because they handle sweat more efficiently. With this in mind, if you want a blade with a real hamon, consider looking for a 1095 carbon steel blade. You can find a decent option in the $200-$300 range.

[@Ddraig222]

Could you buy a katana on the Katana-Afilada page? I want to buy one on that website, but there are no reviews about its Or could someone who has bought on that page tell me if the quality of those swords is good?

[@Sacredshpud]

You're rather cool man

[@jonathandemydczuk5550]

Hey @cerberusarms do you think you could make one for wakizashi.

[@listerriot4577]

Sosick, does that come from where I think it comes?

[@AA-lr6pj]

Can you review geisha's blade,its an online shop based on Philippines.

[@JackHudson-rg5zl]

Try Spartan blades club very good high quality cheaper katanas and also do high end katanas too

[@sinisterswordsman25]

Yo D 🤘💀 this video made me want to chop sticks in my backyard while I wait for my macaroni and cheese.

[@Cerberusarms]

Hell yeah this guy knows what’s up 👊

[@sinisterswordsman25]

@@Cerberusarms 👊 hell ya man! If you ever see Randy Jackson, you know what to do!

[@thescreaminggallery9520]

I dont really see an issue with the habaki, youre not supposed to just pull it out of the scabbard. Youre supposed to push it out with your offhands thumb first.

[@Cerberusarms]

You physically cannot push it out with your thumb which is why I struggle so hard to pull it out.

[@thescreaminggallery9520]

@@Cerberusarms fair enough.

[@baldingbagelman]

I want to add a little clip clop to my chip chop right now

[@Cerberusarms]

Do it

[@ChetJang]

What is the deal with red-black Damascus-appearing swords? Are they real or just painted on? They have a really odd look, and websites claim that they are manganese steel, but I am suspicious. I have one from eBay a "Shinwa." I have always been suspicious of it being phony.

[@PeezyElijah-sq9xr]

Yeaa, Now I know where Allll yo Phrases come from🤦🏽‍♂️😂🙏🏾

[@JaxonWalbert-o1i]

Cerberus arms please playthrough the walking dead saints and sinners chapter two retribution

[@SoulMan165195]

Brother D always love your videos hope you been well and safe but if you be so kind would you try 3 games in VR (if you do still do VR games) and feel witch one is best gun plays for 1st time gamers or come back VR players Vail VR Contractors Showdown ghost of Tabor thank you if read this agin blessing Mr D ^^

[@Cerberusarms]

I post all my gaming content on Node. I played two of those games on there already go check them out

[@Baleur]

6:50 couldnt one just take a simple file to the inside of the scabbard and make it slightly less tight by a few widths of a hair to solve that issue?

[@watchreport]

Absolutely. It’s pretty common to do with production sayas. Most of the time they don’t fit great (you get lucky every now and then) but generally you need to file or shim for the perfect fit. That is unless you order a custom saya where the blade and saya are made to fit together.

[@marshal000]

10:36 what she say

[@watchreport]

“That’s what she said”

[@zacharycrader8973]

Elden ring really do be addicting lmao

[@parkeralley4712]

Can you do the walking dead saints and sinners chapter 2 please.

[@RyanPerez-x1j]

I would just get a hanbon forge custom katana. best for the money.

[@rubenvanniekerk4558]

bro uploaded after a month💀💀💀💀😭😭😭😭

[@TheThesector59]

Yea, he has a life other than katana’s. And he can’t immediately get the money for these swords, nor the idea’s for his videos. Soooooooo funny 😑

[@十十十-s1y]

With only $30 you can feel they care.

[@u-law8149]

Where you at bro been too long

[@DavidIvan-AC]

I know someone who should react to this….

[@MlW3331]

Try rvakatana

[@turtleturtle8870]

ELDEN RING ROCKS!!!

[@DrewishAF]

1:30 See, when YOU do this, it's fine and cool and people will stop to take pictures. But when I do it, they just yell at me saying, "WHY ARE YOU HURTING THOSE CHILDREN!!?!?!" Totally not fair...🙄

[@crisp-waffle]

commenting for the algorithm

[@gabebain6375]

You'd want a Tachi rather than katana if you were on horseback for proper Bajutsu practice I presume) ;)

[@Morocco567]

Zulfiqar is the best sword ever made

[@eddyrehman9026]

EMMYS AWARDS nominations by SHOGUN and X-MEN 97

[@NEOキャプテンちゃんねる]

刀に対する敬意が感じられない。

[@redguardgaming4625]

Bro, when your incredibly beautiful girlfriend asks you to say some goofy cringe for her, you f****n say it!

[@Sockeye1]

男、私も知りません Just kidding I live in Louisiana Cool video tho

[@BigBankNotesBuddha]

Dang your girlfriend trying to get you cancelled 😂

[@georgeaura]

I honestly thought I was going to hear a hauk Tua joke for the hawk lol.

[@DavidIvan-AC]

No, no it’s Christmas in July 20:22

[@navseal345]

👌

[@geologicalhero3870]

he's not a professional Iaito pratitioner the way he winds from behind he's neck is too dangerous he can cut he's ear accidentally but for real I bought one of these katanas and I had to change the ITO wrap into a silk standard wrapping you can learn doing that by watching youtube but make sure you have proper tools or the wrapping will be loose.

[@moelester6635]

Let’s go!

[@beanerai3236]

notice me senpai ahh katana