I mean, i know friends who commonly encounter (brainless) assertions that katanas can go through everything (e.g. Teutonic Knight full plate). Too much Rurouni Kenshin.

swords are shinny
 

might i remind you that all swords are good as long as they are sharp strong and SHINNY!!!!!!!!!

Yes, although Japaneese swords were the finest ever crafted, with the possible mythical exception of Excaliber (the only sword in common legend ever to approach Japaneese legendary swords), And I have personally seen one cut through bamboo as effortlessly as a knife through butter, Steel is steel, and does not part easily.

Bah. If i were getting a sword, I'd get a nice Katana. Maybe a Bokutu.... (Bokutu is a Katana that is made of wood, and has no guard on the hilt. It just makes a smooth transition from round handel to flat edge.)

No, it's not going to cut through chain mail, but really, why would I want to? I like the wood ones because they are lighter weight than a steel sword, is just as effective if kept sharp, I could get it into many places I couldn't get a steel weapon into, and if I keep the thing well enough, it's a formidable weapon for speed, especialy if I keep the blade short. Another plus? Got a good idea for a coating the thing is some home-made napalm. Wont do anything to help me, but it will scare the bajebus out of everyone nearby.

no wooden sword is as good as steel. Wood breaks really easilly; when you move to parry, your sword will be severed or shattered. Plus, it can't be sharpened as much as steel can. And if you light it on fire, it will burn away until it reaches your hands. Depending on the type of wood, it will be damn fast, but nothing matches a rapier for speed. A wooden weapon looses the metalurgic genius of the japaneese sword smiths, the weight and power of its metal form, may gain speed, but not enough to be peerless.

The wood will not burn if prepared properly. Further more, there are more than one type of wood. Not all of it is completly breakable. Besides, you couldn't cut through a Bokutu with a parry for two reasons: First, Bokutu are thicker and denser than a normal Katana. It would be like trying to cut through a solid log. Also, the bokutu is not ment to parry. The whole point of it is speed and slashing. You need to know how to dodge, not block, to use a Bokutu.

Youre thinking of wooden weapons as if they were sticks. Crafting a wooden weapon is an art of its own. Every weapon is made to a certain degree of thickness - if you fight someone with a steel or iron blade, the worst it will do is put some chunks in your sword or other form of weapon. If you havent noticed, people have been guarding swords with spears and stave weapons for a long time; Unless youre taking an over-head chop from a zweihander or greatsword or its equivalent, your wooden weapon wont break so quickly.

But then again you'd have to be really stupid to take on someone with a wooden weapon if they had a blade, especially if you were planning on blocking every blow they make.

I know there are more than one type of wood. But as you said, a sword is a craft piece that a spear or a stave is not. I certainly would not want end up with a chunck missing out of my sword, where if there is a divit in a spearshaft, who cares. And unless you've rediscovered the fires of nazerous or however you spell it, the fire will eventually burn out, or the wood will catch flame. In which case, why not simply use an iron weapon prepared similarly and insulate the grip against getting burnt. And you have to be pretty damn fast to dodge every blow. I'm not saying you can't be, but I know I certainly would not ever be wanting to wield a blade I couldn't parry with. That's why I'd never challenge someone with a great sword with my rapier, though if it were unarmored I could still have a good chance of winning considering I'd be about 10 times faster. Dodging leaves too little room for error.

Inicidentally, historical ninjas used bokutos as weapons. The wood is quite heavy and anything swung with enough force at the right place can be lethal. As for setting it on fire... well, you'd have to hold it very oddly to keep yourself from becoming an incendiary as well.

Hey, if you smack a broadsword on the flat hard enough, you could crack it with a rapier.