08/07/2026
Wisdom from a real Master
WHAT IS THE COST OF STEEL?
Today I received a telephone call from a former Special Forces soldier.
Years ago, after completing his military service, he continued training privately with me. Like many practitioners, his interests eventually expanded into collecting swords.
His question was simple.
"Should I buy a single-edged sword or a double-edged sword?"
Then he mentioned the price.
Over twelve hundred dollars.
I smiled.
Not because of the sword.
Because I realized he wasn't really asking about steel.
He was asking whether owning an expensive sword somehow made it a better sword.
My answer surprised him.
I told him to forget the price.
Forget the advertisements.
Forget what everyone else says.
Pick it up.
Feel it.
Balance it.
Move with it.
Does it fit your hand?
Does it index naturally?
Can you control it?
Does it become an extension of your body—or does it simply become an expensive object?
Steel doesn't care what you paid for it.
When the moment arrives, only one question matters.
Can you trust it?
Then another thought occurred to me.
Perhaps the greater question isn't...
"What does the steel cost?"
Perhaps it is...
"What has it cost you to become worthy of trusting it?"
Hours of practice.
Mistakes.
Discipline.
Responsibility.
Judgment.
Emotional control.
Owning fine steel is easy.
Learning when—and if—it should ever be used...
That is where the true cost begins.
A sword can be purchased.
Trust cannot.
Years ago I wrote that the best knife is simply the one you happen to be carrying when you need it. I still believe that.
The quality of the steel matters—but the quality of the person holding it matters even more.
Owning fine steel is easy.
Becoming worthy of trusting it is the difficult part.
ksw
08/07/2026
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