For anyone fascinated with Japanese culture and history or Samurai and Ninja films it seems a natural progression at some point to want to own a part of that world. The sword is a wonderful example and representation of the Japanese quest for perfection and mastery of detail. Over centuries that pursuit has led the art of the art and craft of the sword smith to an incredibly high level of production. Take a look at some of the swords available at on the web and at places like Amazon and you can see what I mean.

You can probably find a sword for every budget depending on how much you want to spend. Starter swords begin at around the $100 mark and anything below this isn’t really worth it – they’ll just be toys. Prices extend upwards to $10,000 and beyond. Of course, authentic antique swords from any of the recognisable classical periods as defined by the authorities could be priceless.

Not all swords produced today are going to be anywhere near the classical Japanese examples in terms of finish but there are certainly many makers and forges that strive for good quality and high standards in their work. These swords are worth having in your collection or worth starting your collection with and when you decide to buy a sword you will in a small way be feeding that desire inside yourself; that  part of you that longs for the mystery, excitement and honour of old Japan.