Difficult Decision

You could always split the diff and go with an SBG custom ko-katana, that way you combine the best of both worlds and it is has all the elements of a full sized sword for a shorter person

A ko-katana has the same size blade as a wakizashi but the handle size of a full size katana.

Got it. Baraka seems to want something even shorter tho...he mentioned the G2 Gladius which tops out at what, maybe 20" in blade length? That's pretty standard for most waki too, right?

Personally, I would go with the Gladius but that's only because I'm not a big fan of Japanese swords.

well if you love the Gladius and can afford to add $60 on top of your highest priced option you listed already then you should get the Valiant Armory Signature Line Actium. it has two fullers on each side of the blade (they realy are not blood grooves) and should be an excellent piece. here's a website with great pictures: www.christianfletcher.com/Christian_Fletcher/Actium.html

This. Go with this.

But, if it is a wakizashi you really want, you can get one a lot cheaper than Cheness or SBG "custom" models. Offering a choice of colors and so forth is all well and good but I don't personally care for any of them so I'd rather save by getting a cheaper blade that's par or better with the aforementioned and use the savings to spruce it up to my own liking, but that's just me.

Then again, the only wakizashis I have are an antique and a Rawblade... (18" and 21" respectively if it matters; tsuka to be determined )

My next blades down are knives, and they top out at 14" or so.

(get the actium)

And don't worry about any sort of coating; if it's too shiny, hit it with sandpaper for a more satin finish; if you're worried about rust, coat it with oil. If you figure a black-or-whatever coating on a blade looks super wicked awesome...to each their own.

Not difficult at all, iiibarakaiii. Of the three, I'd take the gladius. I have one and it's a good blade. Only drawback is the round grip, common in gladii that I've seen, makes it prone to turn in the hand during the cut.

An interesting point about the handle and cutting is that the gladius is not foremost a cutting blade, anyway. It's a stabber. Twist the handle all you want while stabbing, open up the wound a bit more.

Hook a finger the right way on the "guard" and you're peachy for cutting.

As to historical accuracy...didn't see that in his conditions for purchase, and it's debatable from the beginning. He merely mentioned a "love for the gladius design" and a wish to find such with a "blood groove" which we all know is actually called a fuller in common western terminology and has nothing to do with blood. The Actium is this, in a very pretty package.

Of course, the Gen2s are good, too. I imagine they've improved since the last time I had a look at them.

Depeeka, of course, is a no-go.

This may not be what your looking for but it fits a few of the descriptions you mentioned........http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/

This weapon has a shorter blade and the combat knife coating you were looking for. It may not be as pleasing to the eye, but as you can see from the videos.........it certainly gets the job done.