Before you decide whether or not to buy real katanas for your 14-year-old, take some time to ask them why they want three swords in the first place.
There are a few possible reasons your kid might be interested. They may:
Knowing the reasons behind the request for three katanas can help guide your decision. If it’s mostly to fuel action-hero fantasies or as room decorations, you might want to steer towards other options.
The biggest issue with simply buying real katanas for your 14-year-old is that swords are not toys – they are true, dangerous weapons. Handling katanas without proper training can result in many risks:
Katanas have extremely sharp edges and points designed to cut through thick materials. An untrained kid playing around with one could easily cut themselves or stab another person by accident. Even a nick can cause serious bleeding.
Let’s say your kid thinks it would be cool to slice through some fruits in the backyard with their new swords. This can quickly escalate into accidentally damaging outdoor furniture, play equipment, vehicles, or the house itself.
In many areas, it may be totally illegal or at least highly problematic for a minor to have unsupervised access to actual deadly weapons like katanas. Carrying them outside the home would also likely result in someone calling the police.
As you can see, giving an untrained 14-year-old three real swords comes with many serious risks you’d need to think through. There are much safer ways to encourage their interests that we’ll talk about later.
If you do decide to move forward with buying your kid one or more real katanas in the uk, you absolutely must research your local and state laws first. Regulations related to manufacturing, selling, owning, transporting, and using swords vary widely depending on where you live.
For example, in Canada, you cannot sell or give a real katana to anyone under 18 years old. In some U.S. states, concealed carry laws may even make it illegal for minors to have replica swords or knives over a certain blade length. Other areas ban carrying swords around in public places.
Some key things to look into based on your area:
Doing thorough research is crucial to making sure that buying katanas for your kid doesn’t result in unintended legal problems down the road. Consult your local government sites or even speak to a lawyer to be safe.
If your kid is asking for katanas so they can learn to use them through martial arts training, that does change the conversation a bit. Many styles like kendo and iaido teach sword skills along with values like patience, focus, self-control, and respect.
However, reputable dojos almost never start beginners off with real swords – they use safer practice weapons instead. Students may train for months or years with wood swords called bokken and lightweight bamboo swords called shinai before they are trusted with sharpened blades.
So while martial arts can be a great outlet, consider starting your teen off with intro classes that use safer mock swords first. Make sure the facility is well-reviewed and offers age-appropriate instruction. You want to ensure your kid learns correct techniques and proper respect for handling bladed weapons from experienced teachers.
As they demonstrate consistency, self-control, and responsibility over time, you could reconsider gifting an actual but dulled katana intended solely for kata practice under supervision.
If the main goal is to let your kid decorate their room in cool samurai style, opt for imitation “decorator” katanas instead of functional weapons. These are made to be displayed, not used.
Decorator swords usually have blunt edges and come mounted on wall plaque stands or in glass cases for safety. This eliminates the risks of cuts and misuse while still giving that sleek, martial look.
Some things to keep in mind with decorative katanas:
With reasonable precautions, decorator swords let you nurture your teen’s interests without the risks of real weapons.
No matter what kind of katanas you ultimately decide to get your 14-year-old, close adult supervision is a must – even blunt decorator blades pose some risk if misused. Don’t assume that just because your teen is showing more responsibility and independence they no longer need monitoring around weapons.
Set clear expectations about mindful handling and secure storage from day one. For example, you might:
By frequently reminding your teen about safety protocols and consequences for misuse, you reinforce that swords demand maturity and self-control regardless of sharpness. Stay watchful – accidents only take a second.
If you decide now isn’t the right time to add actual or even decorative katanas to the mix, there are other neat gifts that can satisfy your kid’s inner ninja warrior without safety issues. Some options:
Enroll them in intro lessons for sword-focused martial arts like kendo. They’ll learn real techniques with appropriate practice weapons.
These life-like foam swords are safer for active, unsupervised play. Affordable and available in sets.
Samurai- or ninja-themed games let them wield miniature swords and battle in imaginative land.
Foster their interests through history books, martial arts guides, and even manga comics full of epic adventures. Wrap up with some classic samurai flicks to watch together.
There are lots of ways to encourage their curiosity that you both feel good about.
At the end of the day, deciding if your individual 14-year-old can handle sword ownership requires careful thought about their personal responsibility and judgment so far. Consider:
If your answers don’t inspire confidence yet in those areas, there’s no rush - revisit when they are older.
Regardless of your choice right now, have an open talk with your teen about earning the privilege of owning collector’s items like katanas in the future through consistent, mature behavior. This shows them you take their interests seriously while setting expectations around responsibility.
There is no definitive yes or no answer about giving your 14-year-old three katanas. It depends on different factors:
In the end, safety is the top priority. If that can’t be reasonably guaranteed based on the above considerations, it’s best to hold off or seek out safer alternatives for now.
However, if your teen consistently exercises caution and self-discipline in daily life, providing age-appropriate katana access with adequate preparations and supervision can certainly be considered.
The most important thing is to make sure you have open conversations about your expectations and concerns. This shows your kid you respect their interests but need to see evidence of responsible thought and behavior first when it comes to owning actual weapons.
