Technically, it is illegal to own any assault weapons in Malaysia but Unsharpen/blunt ones are normally known as Decorative sets and deemed harmless so the authorities will not be too strict with it. Nevertheless, Carrying any objects that looks like an assault weapon and possesses a scare to te public safety is still illegal. So a summary will be NEVER TO SHOW your blade off in the public eye and should always keep in it house to avoid any unseesecary matters.
A Replica Katana looks exactly like the real thing (of course it has to be a high graded katana) the difference are normally.
1. How the Blade is made as the real katanas are 100% hand made. Replicas maybe machine made or 1/2 manmade 1/2 machine made
2. the compound of the steel but nowadays due to technology you can still fine very high end steel compounds for katana but will not be cheap.
3. if the Hamon is etched or natural. Hamon is a Japanese word. Google it as i dont know how to explain it
Nowadays, there is no such thing as a real katana unless its an antique or its worth RM10K or more with a certificate to authenticate that it is handmade. So the only thing to look for is
1. the Compound of the steel.
2. the hamon, it should tell you if the blade edges are harden or not and also how the blade is roughly made.
Professional shops? Dude, Shops are the ones that will slithe your throat as they need to pay for bills/rents, so dont hope to see cheap stuff in shops unless they are like tesco or carrefour that buys and sell in bulks. Besides, its Malaysia, and base on the law, selling it publicly is still illegal.
And as for sharpening your Katana, its a NO NO. Never ever sharpen your katana unless you know how to do or unless you are not intending to use it for practice because a wrong geometry of the katana will cause the cutting to fail and by sharpen your katana the incorrect way, you actual spoils the Hamon and cause the blade to expose itself to the air which will rust the blade.
Oh... did i mention that GOOD KATANA blades rust?

because of the compound "carbon". exposure to sweat and air and not wiped will rust the blades.
Lastly, for many of us who likes katana but dont know the law, this was what i found
ACT 357
Corrosive And Explosive Substances And Offensive Weapons Act 1958 (Revised - 1988)
SECOND SCHEDULE - (Sections 2 and 12)
1. Any knife, sometimes known as a "flick knife", which as a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife.
2. Any knife, sometimes known as a "gravity knife" which as a blade which is released from the handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force and which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever or other device.
3. Any whip manufactured from bicycle or motorcycle chains, or from any similar kind of chainwork.
4. All kinds of knuckleduster.
5. Any blade or other instrument attached to or forming part of a bicycle pumpu, metal pipe or stick, and concealed therein, which is capable of being used for cutting and stabbing.
6. Any knife-like instrument with three sharp edges and a sharp pointed tip, sometimes known as a "bearing scraper".
7. Any small axe normally used as a weapon and commonly known as "kapak kecil".
8. Any sword, kris, parang or other knifewhich on any part of it is written, embossed, inscribed with or which otherwise bears any verse, word or character conected with or relating to any religion or belief.
9. Any sword or parang which is normally meant to be used as a weapon and not as an agricultrual implement or household or garden tool.
10. Any spear or spearhead.
11. Any crossbow.
12. Any Patrolite, Stun Gun, Taser, Control Club or any such similar instrument, device or equipment operated by battery or electricity or any form of power.
(Am.P.U. (B) 131/89, P.U.(A) 23/92.)
QUOTE(advocado @ Sep 20 2008, 08:14 AM)
Is it legal to keep a Katana? Don't you need a license for it?
I remember when I was very small there's a weapon shop in Johor Bahru Holiday Plaza where they sell Nunchucks, Swords, Sais, you know those you see in Ninja Turtles. Real Stuff man!
BTW other than blunt/sharp, what other difference between Replica and real Katana? If it's only blunt i don't mind i can always sharpen it.
So come on any professional shops that sell them at reasonable price?