The Tetsuren Journal

Ōdachi and nodachi are one and the same sword. Discover its origins, why modern versions are shorter and how to choose between three models.

Greatsword or long sword? The grip length, not the blade, decides. A buying guide with real dimensions, weights and steels.

440 stainless is brittle at sword length. Here is why stainless katana are a poor buy, the one narrow exception, and what a little extra buys instead.

A genuinely functional katana starts at around £250 with clay-hardened T10 steel. Here is the checklist, the price bands and what to avoid.

Katana or wakizashi for a first purchase? We compare price, display space, handling and use, with a clear decision tree.

Does a £610 katana cut better than a £260 one? A side-by-side look at steel, tempering, fittings and polish shows where the extra £350 goes.

Edge up, handle left, oil every 1 to 3 months: everything you need to display and look after a carbon steel katana so it never rusts.

Demon Slayer, One Piece and Bleach swords exist in real steel, but most cheap ones are props. Here is how to tell the difference before you buy.

Owning a katana is one thing, carrying it is another. A guide to katana law in the UK and a handful of other countries, and how to stay on the right side of it.