Cold Steel Warrior Katana Question

[cziv]

Uhmm...excuse me if I missed something in the thread but I have to boogie out of here in a second.

I would like to purchase a Katana, that would be safe to cut something - like a sapling in my yard or whatever for kicks.

I was watching the Cold Steel video for the Cold Steel Warrior Katana 88BKW. Available for about $295:

Weight: 41.4 oz.
Blade Thick: 5/16"
Blade Length: 29 1/4"

This is about what I have now (size wise) in a cheap knock-off, but I'm sure mine would not cut like this or would snap and possibly injure me. The cut 500 1 inch ropes, 500 4" tatami mats, slammed it full tilt into a steel table and bent it back past 90 degrees and it went back to "almost true."

This one:
[YouTube]u3nAuowwqhI[/YouTube]

I am not a Japanese swordsman but would like to own a safe and reasonably priced Katana.

STeven Garsson mentioned someone getting thrown off of the training floor for having a dull one. I believe him naturally but wonder how could one cut all of this stuff right before our eyes and not be considered sharp enough?

Is this an okay katana (version of one) to own and have some fun with or is it over-priced, over-rated, not a great deal?

Your advice would be welcome. Thanks

 

[Kohai999]

I am not a Japanese swordsman but would like to own a safe and reasonably priced Katana.

STeven Garsson mentioned someone getting thrown off of the training floor for having a dull one. I believe him naturally but wonder how could one cut all of this stuff right before our eyes and not be considered sharp enough?

Is this an okay katana (version of one) to own and have some fun with or is it over-priced, over-rated, not a great deal?

Your advice would be welcome. Thanks

When I got the Cold Steel...it cut awesome...as in award winning cuts. I handed it to a newbie cutter at Bugei Trading when they were cutting while I was visiting one day, and he over cut and nailed the concrete floor with the tip...minimal damage.

Then, while attending the West Coast Tai Kai a few years ago, I had sharpened the edge on a diamond steel to paper slicing perfection....next day....Hataya Sensei could draw it across his thumb with weight behind it and it didn't cut anything.....this scenario repeated itself over a number of different occasions before I retired it, and presented it to a knifemaker.

It was durably constructed and cut well for years, until it stopped.

I don't have an explanation for it....other cutters I have known had similar results wrt edge holding.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[cziv]

When I got the Cold Steel...it cut awesome...as in award winning cuts. I handed it to a newbie cutter at Bugei Trading when they were cutting while I was visiting one day, and he over cut and nailed the concrete floor with the tip...minimal damage.

Then, while attending the West Coast Tai Kai a few years ago, I had sharpened the edge on a diamond steel to paper slicing perfection....next day....Hataya Sensei could draw it across his thumb with weight behind it and it didn't cut anything.....this scenario repeated itself over a number of different occasions before I retired it, and presented it to a knifemaker.

It was durably constructed and cut well for years, until it stopped.

I don't have an explanation for it....other cutters I have known had similar results wrt edge holding.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Thanks for your input Kohai999,

I can kinda read between the lines that probably for the $$ and for just a "joe" like me to own and play Samurai with a few times a year it would be a "safe" sword but not for a serious practitioner of Japanese sword arts like yourself. :thumbup:

 

[Kohai999]

Thanks for your input Kohai999,

I can kinda read between the lines that probably for the $$ and for just a "joe" like me to own and play Samurai with a few times a year it would be a "safe" sword but not for a serious practitioner of Japanese sword arts like yourself. :thumbup:

It could be safe.

I inspect every sword that is considered for purchase, and reject over 60% of the factory blades I review, for a variety of different reasons including excess movement of the sword while resting in the scabbard.

The reason that my Cold Steel was ultimately rejected had nothing to do with construction and everything to do with lack of expected performance.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[cziv]

Thanks again Kohai999, tricky business buying a solid sword then. Maybe I'll just forget about it. After all, my art form requires more practice in the sai, bo, kama, tonfa, etc...traditional "te" from Okinawa. Your ancestors were always picking on mine!! In a martial arts parody kind of joke.

 

[Kohai999]

Thanks again Kohai999, tricky business buying a solid sword then. Maybe I'll just forget about it. After all, my art form requires more practice in the sai, bo, kama, tonfa, etc...traditional "te" from Okinawa. Your ancestors were always picking on mine!! In a martial arts parody kind of joke.

I could probably select one that has a very good chance of working for you if you want...have access to a distributor that lets me pick through the products.

PM me if you need to.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Bigfattyt]

That is interesting that the edge was fine for a while, then no retention after a while.

Wonder if it was a heat treat issue or something.

On a normal knife I would ask some one if they had used a belt sander and burned the heat treat out. No possible issues like that with a diamond stone or stick.

I have always considered buying a CS sword just for the price point and "beater" appeal. The Dragonfly version really draws me, just for the extra Beef that it packs. But I have always spend the money on other knives first.

I would say go for it, and give us a review.

Out of 10 years + buying and using CS products, I only have one I have not been happy with. (repeated lock issue with a black rhino, which seems to be a design flaw with a locking spring that won't stay put, and the pivot hole appears to be peened).

 

[GeorgeSPatton]

I have one of their Chisa's and it's a pretty good sword. I used to do a lot of martial arts but retired after a while, now it's mostly decorative. Fun to cut water bottles with tho.

 

[dingy]

cs worrier sword is a little bit too heavy and too long , compared with traditional swords.

but very strong , very tough, i mean tougher and stronger.

dingy

 

[Jac The Slayer]

Cold steel's 1055 is very tough. I wouldn't worry about having a catastrophic failure unless you are trying very hard to break it.

 

[Kohai999]

Cold steel's 1055 is very tough. I wouldn't worry about having a catastrophic failure unless you are trying very hard to break it.

There are people who think that you can cut steel pipe and concrete with katana without a problem.

That behavior will cause catastrophic edge failure extremely quickly.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[JRR85]

There are people who think that you can cut steel pipe and concrete with katana without a problem.

You have Hollywood and Japanese Anime to thank for that.

 

[Jac The Slayer]

There are people who think that you can cut steel pipe and concrete with katana without a problem.

That behavior will cause catastrophic edge failure extremely quickly.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

I meant under normal use for a sword(well...as much as "normal use" as you can have in this day and age).

In all honesty, if you think cutting steel pipe and concrete is normal or acceptable, you deserve whatever injuries you recieve.

 

[hammerfall]

from the price of the sword, the look and the details of the blade, i could guess it is 99%made in southeast coast of China(all companies seems like to taking advantage of the cheapest laber there) and made from a chinese si-mn type spring steel(55si2mn most likely, similar to american shock resistance s5).

anyway, it is cheap, thick, heavy, but very durable and funtionable. compare to most of katana in the market, this thing worth double its price.

 

[SShepherd]

from the price of the sword, the look and the details of the blade, i could guess it is 99%made in southeast coast of China(all companies seems like to taking advantage of the cheapest laber there) and made from a chinese si-mn type spring steel(55si2mn most likely, similar to american shock resistance s5).

anyway, it is cheap, thick, heavy, but very durable and funtionable. compare to most of katana in the market, this thing worth double its price.

and what do you base this on ? weight? Paul chen and hanwei are it's market competitors.

 

[hammerfall]

i have handled some swords made in shanghai without any tradmark. however their weight, balance, thickness, edge geomotry, polishing...everything of it reminds me the cold steel katana. and look at price of cs katana, only india and china can offer such cheap laber for this low amount and still be profiting. however, it just my guess.

hanwei is sort of different, hanwei products her own goods. when you buy a hanwei sword, its made by hanwei. for many other companys, chinese and indians make the production, then the company put the trade mark on them.

anyway, as a customer i like both cold steel and hanwei.