Difference between types of Steel for katana swords

Hi!
Need to know the difference between these materials:
1)polished stainless steel
2)heat tempered steel
3)stainless 440 steel 4)heat tempered carbon steel
And these two manufacturings:
a)half hand forged and fully hand polished
b)Full tang construction
I'm asking as I'm buying a sword to expose it in my house. Don't need it for laido or combat or what.. Can you tell me?
Thanks, John

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:
  Quoted Text Here  
It sounds like you've read an advertisement. ;) Where was it?
Alvin in AZ (cross-posted to rec.knives)

snipped-for-privacy@XX.com wrote:
  Quoted Text Here  
Sounds like a decorative sword. So pick one that is pretty. (in best Billy Crystal imitating Ricardo Montalbalm) "Is better to loook good than to feel good"

If buying for looks only, go cheap. Of your list, I think the heat tempered carbon will be cheapest.
Just don't hand it to anyone to play with.. beware of rusting.
  Quoted Text Here  
-- Ted Bush
"Pain is my form of self-expression"

wrote:
  Quoted Text Here  

Is it really so easy that an Heat Tempered Carbon Steel blade gets rusty?
Does it need particular attentions?

Keep a light coat of oil on it and it will be fine. If you get it wet, be sure to dry it and oil it again. I may patina or darken over time, but that's usually a good thing. If you don't like it, any sort of metal polish will quickly get it bright again.
-Will
  Quoted Text Here  

I've heard HTCS (heat tempered carbon steel) it's better. 440 Stainless Steel is preferred cuz it can b polished. It's a lie? HTCS is stronger than 440? They told me it's 440 a, or b so I think it's not worth the difference. The stronger and better between the three 440 is C, or am I wrong?

  Quoted Text Here  
If it's stainless, don't bother worrying about the strength. It's only strength is in not rusting. I suppose that's a good thing if you plan to hang it on the wall. NEVER do anything else with it though. Carbon Steel is better for a sword that will actually see use but a lot depends on how it was heat treated too.
GA

I think 440c is definitely better. See http://www.wisconsinmetaltech.com/guide/type-440.php and scroll down to the charts. C has more carbon, is stronger and can be made harder. I don't know about swords, but at a hardness of 51c, 440a would make a pretty sorry knife. Also, both carbon and stainless can be polished. I've never polished stainless, but carbon steel polishes very well.
-Will
  Quoted Text Here  

I won't get into the relative merits of different stainless steels as knives but you're talking swords here. The only thing a stainless steel sword is good for is hanging on the wall - I don't care how much carbon is in there. It's the chromium that wrecks everything. A sword needs to be able to flex and still hold together. You won't get that from stainless. Nobody in their right mind will mess with a stainless sword. Period.
GA
  Quoted Text Here  

Yeah! Think you're right. Know what: just wanted to buy a medium-quality blade at a low price...but maybe it's impossible! :)
Thanks.
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

Just lookin 4 swords on eBay :)

  Quoted Text Here  
Buy a Paul Chen. Most decorative swords aren't even good as fire pokers. I know, I've melted 2 of 'em. Steer clear of anything that claims to be antique. Unless you know what you are looking at you'll be taken for a ride.
Fraser

Thanks! To both :)
Another question: does 440 j2 exist? or is a mistake? I've read about 420 j2, but 440 j2... Can't find it...

In rec.knives snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:
  Quoted Text Here  
Could be either way. In the long run it won't matter tho, they'd both be stainless steel. ;)
  Quoted Text Here  
Prob'ly a typo.
Alvin in AZ