Cold Steel builds swords the same way they build knives—designed to perform, not just display. Every blade ships sharpened and ready for cutting, backed by the same destructive "Proof" testing that's become the company's signature. If you've seen their videos of swords cleaving through pig carcasses, car doors, and stacked tatami mats, you understand the philosophy.
The lineup spans Japanese designs (katanas, wakizashis, and the massive nodachi), European blades (the Roman Gladius and Two Handed Gim), and Filipino traditional weapons (the Memorial Bolo). Most feature 1055 carbon steel with a spring temper—tough enough to flex without breaking and hold an edge through extended cutting sessions. Traditional fittings like ray skin wraps, iron tsubas, and cord-wrapped handles appear throughout the Japanese series, while the construction remains thoroughly modern and abuse-resistant.
Whether you're a martial artist looking for a training tool, a collector who wants a blade that actually works, or someone serious about tameshigiri and test cutting, Cold Steel swords deliver capability that wall-hangers can't match.