Samurai were the military nobility of Japan from 900 A.D. to the end of the 19th century. They followed a strict code of honor, and carried the best swords that Japanese sword makers could produce. Although some of the original samurai swords are still available for private collectors to purchase, most collectors cannot afford expensive originals. High quality replica samurai swords provide the sword collector with a realistic, but more affordable, copy of these originals.

Samurai swords come in a variety of sizes. The smallest is the Tanto, usually under a foot long. The next in line is the Wakizashi, which usually measures between 12-24 inches. The Katana is the most of common of all samurai swords, and what most collectors are seeking. It's at least 24 inches long, and is distinguished from the nearly identical Tachi by being worn with the blade edge up. The Tachi is made for use on horseback, and the blade is worn edge down. The O Katana is a longer or larger Katana, but shouldn't be confused with a Nodachi or Odachi, which both refer to any sword significantly larger than the O Katana. The term Daito simply means any Japanese blade over 24 inches.

The term Daisho is also important for the samurai sword collector. It literally means "Long and Short", and refers to a matching set with a Katana and a Wakizashi, which are often sold with a sword rack for display purposes. These are the two blades all samurai wore, and are what most sword collectors are looking for. The Katana was usually removed when seated, but the Wakizashi almost always stayed by the samurai's side.

There are also many options when buying a samurai sword when it comes to the handle wrap material. Choices include sharkskin, leather, and for decorative swords, wrappings of paper. The material is mostly up the collector's taste, but if the sword is to be used, a leather or sharkskin handle is preferable. Functional swords, that will be used to cut targets, need to be made of steel and designed for use. Decorative swords come in steel and aluminum, but are not designed to cut and may bend, no matter how sharp they are. Practice swords are made of aluminum or steel, but are not sharpened so they can be used safely in training.

Samurai swords come in a variety of styles and sizes, and can be a beautiful display piece in a home or office. They also come in functional models, which can be used for martial arts training if not sharpened, or for cutting targets. Most sword collectors would thoroughly enjoy owning at least one beautiful samurai sword.

Replica Swords