Hand Forged Samurai Sword Katana - 1060 High Carbon Steel - Display and Costume Sword for Collections, Gifts, or Straw Mat Cutting

Shipping was quick and Katana was packed well. I gave it a thorough inspection and found no real issues. The blade is dead on straight, polished well and the edge is paper cutting sharp. I was pleased to see the blade came well oiled and plastic wrapped. I am by no means able to discern if the Hamon is real, but it appears to be very well done and not fake looking. The Katana locks into the Saya well and does not drop out when upside down tested. The Saya itself is perfectly painted, almost like an expensive piano finish and not one flaw in the paint was detected. I did notice the Katana rattles a small amount inside the Saya when fully sheathed and shaken, but online forums say this is normal and the Saya actually expands and contracts with the seasonal humidity. There are plenty of videos online about shimming the Saya should that ever become necessary. I found the center point of balance exactly 6 inches up the blade from the Tsuba. Holding the Katana correctly, I find the balance to be perfect for me with the blade weighing just heavy enough to get a nice strike and then recover. I have yet to attack the large bamboo stalks on my daughters property, but plan to do that soon. The Tsuba is perfect size in my opinion and I do not feel uncomfortable thinking my hand will slip down past it during a bamboo battle. The Tsuka is wrapped professionally and tight. The Meguki pins are very tightly driven and protrude out just a slight bit on either side of the Tsuka. I have not and do not plan to take it apart unless necessary. I like the Kashira with the bamboo stalks engraving and it is also very tightly strapped by the Makidome. I researched a lot of Katana manufacturers before hitting the buy button on this one. I was drawn to the fact that this Katana was a Musashi company blade and they come with a high reputation for quality. I was not disappointed.

I've been wondering how to do this review without sounding like a weeaboo, so here goes! Haha!This is my second Musashi sword actually, to give a point of reference. The first I received as a gift quite a few years back.The Bamboo Fast Cutter is a little bit shorter and has a pretty nifty double groove down the length of the blade as compared to my traditional katana. This makes the sword a little bit lighter and balanced differently. The Fast Cutter feels a little less blade heavy, and easier to swing around. This isn't a ceremonial piece so the sword comes pretty sharp out of the box. Definitely not something to leave around for kids to play with.All the hardware is nicely fitted with no wobble or play. The guard is pretty minimal so thrusting maneuvers might be a little dangerous if your grip slips on the handle. It does give it a unique look, however and is very appropriate for slashing maneuvers this sword is designed for. The collar just in front of the guard carries the bamboo theme and is a nice touch. There are plenty of videos on bamboo cutting competitions, so look them up if you want to see what people are doing with these things.Overall it just feels solid and well made. I've played around with generic cutlery store katanas and those don't even compare. Kind of similar to a cheap car vs a luxury car. They kind of look similar, but the fit and finish are entirely different. It's a quality piece that should help you strike fear into the hearts of watermelons, water bottles, and bamboo stalks anywhere.

I was pleasantly surprised with this purchase. Unlike others, I found the balance ratio to not only allow a comfortable weight transfer during single hand maneuvers but it seemed to assimilate with strikes and parries. For me, that's not only rare to find a balance in weight and maneuverability, but a seemingly well constructed katana. The price point on this katana also makes this a viable consideration for the intermediate to advanced Iaidoka or Kendoka.Uninitiated or those lacking in the correct methods of handling should NOT purchase this blade as it comes with a sufficiently sharpened blade to cut oneself severely. Please handle carefully and do not leave the house with with a unsheathed live blade.All police departments across the US are under strict code to react to public display of katanas as though they were a un-holstered gun and they WILL shoot to kill.

This is my second Musashi sword. This one is limited edition and the alterations make the sword slightly more aerodynamic. Excellent quality and visible hamon. The only difference is this one is 1060 Carbon and my first is 1095. Other than the hardness rating being 9 smaller, at HRC 55 it is still excellent. Also, recieved it a week earlier than expected, which was a welcomed bonus. I have heard stories of Musashi giving away some decent T10 swords, but that is on my future wishlist.