own a samurai sword

I’m totally in to swords and halberds and spears and all the old weapons. I recently played Dynasty Warriors and now I want my own Sword.

A Nihonto, or “Samurai Sword” is essentially any sword forged in Japan by a Japanese swordsmith using a particular process. Though the Nihonto can be subdivided into several different categories according to size, shape, intended use, and historical period, “Samurai Sword” is often the western term used to refer to all of these.
In general, a practitioner of an art that makes use of a live blade would be very particular about his weapon’s make and origin; but most are simply interested in this general ‘style’ of blade.
Because the very term Nihonto (literally Japan Sword) is geographically exclusive, almost every sword one might see for sale online or at the mall could be immediately voided from this definition. Among the weapons that are ‘real’ one must learn to scrutinize the true blades from the decorative or ‘fake’ blades.
A defining aspect fo the true Nihonto (other than its having been made in Japan) is the forging process, which involves folding and differentially tempering the steel.
The temper line is referred to as a ‘Hamon’ in japanese, which most literally means ‘turbulent sea’ this is the wavy discoloration near the edge of the blade, which testifies to the temper of the edge in relation to the ridge or ‘back’ of the blade. I will not describe the forging process in detail, though I have read about it and have even seen it done in Japan and Korea. It is differentially tempered during the quenching process using water and clay.
The hamon produced by this process exists through the steel and can be seen in cross-sections of the blade, unlike the decoratively etched ‘hamon’ of a stainless steel replica.
In general (especially with older swords and relics) the nakago or ‘tang’ (the part of the blade that extneds into the handle) is marked by the maker in some way and is never polished. The polish of the blade essentially stops at the habaki and, though maintained to an extent, the nakago is often left to its nature so that the mettle of the steel can be easily determined when the furniture of the weapon is removed.
Finally, the furnishings (handle, tsuba, saya, etc.) tend to vay with Nihonto and the style of the weapon. Though the blades can vary depending on period and the preference of the swordsmith, the furniture can vary vastly and can be changed with relative ease. Blades of higher quality are usually preserved in a pH-neutral environment inside of a Ho-Wood ‘resing mount’ known as a shirai-saya, which can be removed when the battle dress or presentation furniture is required.
Often, one can purchase a newly made Nihonto with nothing but the shirasaya in order that one might obtain custom furniture later.
With this knowledge, one might be able to find the item they seek online from various japanese or international vendors, but beware of the bottom line: a real sword is delicate, dangerous, and expensive.
So, finally – those of martial mind who wish to obtain a sword that is truly a weapon; remember the following:
A decorative sword is not for cutting, it is for decoration.
A real sword is made for cutting and it cares not who it cuts.
Fine steel is increadibly strong, but requires maintenance.
A blade can only cut that which is softer than itself.
One gets that for which one pays – (Nihonto range from $800 to Pricele$$; swinging a $50 Ebay Special at a tatami target or a watermellon is the kind of thing that gets people killed).
I hope some of my information is of assistance to whomever reads this message.
-Most Respectfully.

theyre ok. you really have no use for it unless you make movies. they are still cool to have