"I give you props. Usually when a new member comes on, they scream to the high heavens "I HAZ TEH KATNAA! I KILZ TEH ZOMBEH!" whereas you actually back it up with research and even explore the copious downsides to katanas PZD.

Let's be honest, though, you'll be much better off with a TimberHammer.

http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/photo/10628214/Timber%27s+Warhammer"

"One thing I like about Katanas over medieval swords is that the katana is nicely balanced."

" Katanas, we've all seen them. These ancient Japanese swords appear often in modern day culture such as movies, games, pictures, books and in the hands of people around the world. Of course, there's nothing I'd like better than to take this brutal limb lopper and run into a crowd of zeds, decapitating everything in my way, but first, you have to take a look at the practical side of things.

FIrstly, we analyze the types of katanas. Let's separate them into two groups; Crap and not crap. In the crap section we find the cheap katanas you find on fantasy sites and sites such as Trueswords and Budk. These swords usually range from 20 dollars to 50 dollars, are made of stainless steel and usually are modeled after video game character's weapons. Let's get one thing straight; These swords are total ****. First off, stainless steel is only good for knives. Anything over 12 inches is asking for trouble. I wouldn't trust one of these cheap swords to cut warm butter to spread on my early morning Apocalypse toast. Don't get me wrong, these sites can sell alright swords, for anywhere from 70 dollars to 150 dollars. These swords are often made of carbon steel or damascus steel. While these are a drastic upgrade, I'm not sure I'd rely on them for long term use. If you're in a pinch with 1-10 zeds and there's a carbon steel katana sitting next to you, it'll most likely help you tremendously, but don't expect it to be an indestructible object.
"

"true Damascus steel for $150? not likely......"

"Technically speaking a Katana is a Medieval sword. I know you're referring to European and Chinese swords but it's still worth pointing out.

Plenty of European swords cut just as well and are just as well balanced as katanas."

"Have you ever handled a real live combat ready sword of any kind, Japanese or otherwise? I only ask because I have handled both Japanese and several Oakeshott's type blades (I own a custom 1 off Albion Next Gen type XVI-XVII hybrid) and I have to tell you, all properly made combat ready swords are well balanced, Katana or Medieval...they have to be, that/s what makes them deadly in the right hands, you see a lot of people assume because it is not a Katana that is is a clumsy unwieldy weapon, this is simply not the case, it's something you will quickly discover if given the chance to handle a quality combat ready sword, Japanese or Oakeshott, not some wall hanger that cost $150 and weighs 5ibs"