[stan_hufferman]

I say, if you're going zombie hunting, you need the samurai sword from Dead Rising. That thing is awesome!

Remember, you don't have to destroy the zombie's head, you just have to destroy the spinal column or remove the zombie head from the body.

Nothing better for zombie survival!

[unholypoo]

Just make sure its full tang. My experiences with swords is that good ones are out there, you just have to find them. Most swords you'll find on the internet and cheap shaped up leaf springs from china. If you're buying off the web, read any reviews from people who have already bought the sword you are looking at. If theirs broke when they swung it at something, don't waste your money, make sure its good. Remember, "sword'' does not always equal "weapon".

[Cadaver]

This is definitely true. I've said before that my weapon of choice isn't really anything bladed, but if you ARE going to go bladed, then go all out. Something hand-forged. Properly tempered, high carbon steel. Forged tang, and not some rat-tailed job. In fact that goes for whatever weapon you decide upon. Whatever you choose, bat, sword, gun....just make sure you can depend on it.

-C

[Wookiejuice]

Cadaver said it right, whatever weapon you choose, it better be reliable. I think for the most part, the katana I have at home is pretty sturdy. I bought it a long time ago from an army surplus store. And dang, was it sharp!! I tested out the sharpness on a few of my things, with gratifying results. It seems nowadays, if you want to purchase a sword, they aren't sharpened. I suppose it matters where you purchase it from though....

[zombiephile]

See, if I was going to kill zombies with a samurai sword, I'd go straight to the source - fly over to Japan and get myself Hittori Hanzo steel!

[Wookiejuice]

LOL!! Of course! Hittori Hanzo steel will never dull!

[zombob]

How about the sword The Bride used in 'Kill Bill?'

[Wookiejuice]

Yeah baby!! That dude that made the Bride's katana had a whole wall of his created masterpieces... very sweet. He'd be well armed.

[Isabel63]

Whatever it is, it is heavily rusted. Pictures of the tang are necessary for any evaluation. A pic of the tsuba without the sword and the tip would be nice too.

The fittings aren't those of a military sword. It might be a chinese fake as well as a real 500 years old nihonto. I wouldn't raise my hopes high though (but I am a hopeless pessimist).