I'm a long time martial arts practitioner (>50 years). I generally prefer bare hands styles, but there's always been something about a sword that is fascinating. I used to watch many kung fu movies (still do) where the participants where hacking away often severing limbs.
I finally got the one I've wanted. This is my personal preference, the Wakizashi.
The Wakizashi, besides being fun to say, is much shorter sword than the traditional Katana. This is by design to be more effective for fighting indoors or dense woods. Both were carried by the Samurai, their Katana's often left by the door, while the Wakizashi kept on their person while indoors.
Wakizashi have been used since the 15th century. They typically have a blade between 30-60 cm (12-24 inches). They were used for close-quarters fighting, to behead their opponent, or sometimes to perform seppuku. Also more the size of Ninja swords as pictured in the movies at least.
I did opt for the black blade, thinking of more stealthy ninja style. Having seen it though, I'm very much considering buffing that off to reveal the more natural Damascus pattern in the steel underneath that is barely visible.
Not an ancient collectors item or anything, but one that is fairly well-made, solid, that I don't have to be afraid to actually use to practice self-defense in case we run out of bullets, or even just as a fun way to wack weeds when making a trail through the woods vs. a boring old machete.
Mine was custom hand-made following traditional, full tang design with ability to remove handle, guard, etc. It is 1060 Steel, folded over 13 times resulting in over 8,000 layers. The blade is just under 20 inches (50 cm) long, 8 inch handle, overall length 30 inches.
I purchased from a company called "Swords of Northshire", which to me sounded like they were in the Scottish Highlands blacksmith shop somewhere, but they actually get their swords made in Longquan China. This is a small town whose name means "dragon spring".
And of course who could pass up having their name engraved on the blade? That is my name in Chinese. I like the look. If you look closely, you can also barely see the damascus pattern under the black finish. Yes I think that has to come off.
Longquan is famous for it's swords amongst martial artists and also its celadon ceramics, both often considered the finest in China. The sword making history of the primary workshop "Shenguanglong" can be traced all the way back to the twentieth year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. I don't know when that was, lol, but they've been doing this a Looonnng time!