Katana Like Objects

This is not a rant about how horrible cheap wall hangers are. I think most people who love katana have some level of katana snobbery. I propose to you a scale of katana snobbery that you can place yourself on. Each level includes the previous one.

Level A Katana Snob - Real Katana have hi-carbon steel blades
Level B Katana Snob - Real Katana have traditional fittings
Level C Katana Snob - Real Katana have differentially tempered blades
Level D Katana Snob - Real Katana have folded blades.
Level E Katana Snob - Real Katana are only made in Japan (excludes mass produced gunto)

I find myself at a level C of katana snobbery. While I appreciate folded blades and katana made in Japan (nihonto), I recognize that they are priced out of most people’s budget. I just can not afford to be a level E katana snob like I would like to be.

If you tell me about your full tang battle ready samurai sword, I will be polite, but put you in the category of katana under-educated. If you tell me about the great katana you got for $19.99 at the flea market, I will put you in the category of katana illiterate. You may have the basic love for katana in your blood, but you need to raise your understanding of swords.