Here is my 10 things to consider (Answer each one honestly then proceed):
1) Why do you want it?
2) Why do you really want it?
3) Can you use it?
4) Could you really use it for practice?
5) Do you live with your parents or alone?
6)Do you find yourself regularly excluded from groups and have you ever been called a weirdo by your peers?
10 things to consider in practical real world terms, here you go.
1. First, what kind of steel is it, this is rather important actually.
2. Will doe's it have a full tang, a push tang, or a rat tail. Is it penned, how is it held together.
3. What will you be using it for. Cutting siolids, cutting air, what exactly?
4. Do all the parts fit aolidly together, no rattle.
5. Does the blade fit securely into the scabbrd, without excess rattle.
6. Is the blade able to pass several flex tests without staying bent, this tells you if it is heat treated properly or not, very important.
7. What is the grip made out of, hardwood or soft. Avoid hard wood, doe's not absorb vibration nearly as well as a softer wood.
8. Edge angle. How sharp is this sword, and what kind of edge angle does it have. Is it heavily beveled, or not at all, or somewhere in between. This will greatly effect both the sound as well as the overal cutting of the sword, so pay careful attention to this. If it is not beveled at all, like many Japanese swords are, your not resharpening it yourself, so keep things like this in mind.
9. Blade length, and over all length. Is the sword too long for you. If you can not hold it parallel to the floor without the point clearing it by at least two inches, then the blade along is too long. Some people say one inch is enough, until they see sparks flying from where it scraped along concrete. Two to three inches.
10. Look at the blades balance, is it suitable for cutting, and for what you will be doing? Typically 5 inches is a good balance point for cutting. Lower, down to 4, is also acceptable. Any lower and it's cutting abilty decreases really. How doe's the blade feel, this is important, looks are largely irrelevant.
11. Weight. Most people use a sword far too heavy. Weight is one of the major things with a sword that throw off ones technique and control. too many think it is macho to use a big swod, and kep trying and trying to master a blade, even though it may be far too heavy. Lighter is better, to a point. That point being as long as it has enough meat to it to stand up to cutting bone, and meeting other steel, if necessary.
There are actually more categories I could list, however I wil leave it at 11. Basically chosing a good sword includes many factors, so you shoudl not take it lightly, or do it quickly. Take care.
7) Do you have a counsellor, probation officer, psychologist or social worker?
Have you taught yourself to use nuchuku at any time in your life?
9) Do you eat, sleep and breathe martial arts and have a bruce lee poster on our wall?
10) Do you make a "WAAAAATAHHHH!!!" sound twice a day and carry a pained expression or furrowed brow for no rational reason whatsoever?
answers:
1-5 = please be responsible and do not practice in the livingroom next to expensive ornaments and electrical goods.
5-10 = why not save money and order the 'rickety bamboo baby cart' with flip-out spears and darts. Those assasins intent on your demise wont know what hit em! Go on, listen to the voices in your head and order today!
