Originally Posted by
Paul_Green
...About production swords and blocking: Again i ask: if you have a choice, why would you train with a sword that you would not use in combat?
"Blocking," per se, is not seen much in the schools I have practiced; rather we use deflections, which are often simultaneous cuts. Any decent blade (which rules out about 99% of stainless steel blades, IMO) that can cut without breaking or bending will also handle deflections -- if done with proper technique.
As for using a different blade for cutting than for kata, some people do cutting for cutting's sake, and a heavy blade that has forward weight bias will make cutting somewhat easier than with a lighter blade with a more neutral balance.
Also, if cutting soft material only -- tatami omote without a core, for example -- a blade polished to have a thin edge without much niku makes for easier cutting, in some people's opinion, than a meatier blade, but would not be as good for cutting hard targets or for kata.
HTH.
Yours in Budo,
---Brian---