Handmade Sword - Real Functional Japanese Samurai Tanto Sword, Fully Hand Forged, 1080 Carbon Steel, Heat Tempered, Full Tang, Sharp, Brass Tsuba and Fittings, Black Scabbard, Certificate

The wave tsuba tanto... Beautiful. I can only speak as a novice, as this large tanto is my first sword, but the more I look it over and research online and compare and learn, the more I'm impressed and believe I chose well for my first. The fittings are nice and tight and feel like nice sturdy quality, and has what I believe is called a hamidashi tsuba (a small sized oval guard more traditional to a tanto if/when they have one). The only thing I noticed missing, and I don't know if it was a fluke on mine or a change in the manufacturing, is that the gold-tone pieces at the holes on either side of the kashira (buttcap) are missing. But it's minor and don't mind that they aren't there. I gladly trade those for something else I found that I'll get to... (And without them I could peek into the holes and see that the handle is indeed wooden and the kashira sits over it, not just against the end of it.)The cotton ito (wrapping on the handle) is also very tight and feels sturdy and I'm pleased to see that it also properly alternates direction in the crossovers. (Many lower priced swords do not.) Likewise, the sageo cord on the saya (scabbard) came tied well and is decent quality for this price range.The ray skin by my research seems to be indeed real. Is it high end, no, the nodules are small, but for the price it's decent. The fit of it with the peg is slightly messy, but for what I paid I consider it minor.The tanto feels pretty good in hand, too. Has a good weight, I believe pretty good balance, and I love the large size of it. I don't intend on doing much cutting of things and have not so I can't accurately state on opinion of the edge, but touching it very carefully and lightly prior to cleaning and re-oiling (it arrived pretty messy, as it should to protect the carbon steel), it indeed feels like it is no doubt razor sharp.I wasn't overly sure about the "piano lacquered" saya at first, as I wasn't sure what to expect in that regard... The feel of it could be mistaken for plastic, though I noticed the underside of the knob on the saya (that the sageo ties to) appears only painted black, missing the lacquer, and is clearly wood. Mine also fits very snug together with the sword, as it should. (Enough so that my left hand thumb can't even separate it and have to use the right then switch hands.)That all said, one thing that surprised me and I'd hoped for but did not expect given that there is no hint of it in the example images (and is the thing I said I'd get to) was finding the hamon/temper line on it! Now... I believe it is likely only cosmetic, not real, as it appears to my eye that the same line is on both sides, but reversed from each other, nor see any boshi (hamon on the curved end) instead stopping at the dividing line (yokote); HOWEVER, if it is a fake hamon it is a really well done fake. I've looked at many fakes online and seen what they tend to look like... and at this point I still can't figure out how they created this one if it isn't real. (And would love to know.) To my understanding, fakes supposedly tend to be obvious and seen from any angle; they don't generally need to be viewed under the right lighting at the right angle. If this one is a fake...it behaves like it's real and it looks like some of the real ones I've seen online sans polishing or other enhancements to make them white. In the right light and angle this one clearly pops out. (I will include a couple of photos of mine.)Again, given the cost, if the hamon is fake I'm alright with that... The process that adds a real one as a byproduct can add a lot more time to the making of a sword, and therefor likely have a higher price tag than this, but I love that it's at least well done. (Though I'd be thrilled if it was real.)The sword bag it comes in is simply black with white on the inside; nothing fancy but still nicely made. (I'm guessing it's cotton?) The packaging was excellent. The sword came in a tough round tube, supported and padded inside by a few rings and circles of Styrofoam so it can't move, then the tube was placed inside a snug box that was then inside a larger shipping box. I doubt that the sword certificate is anything special or individually made, though I've had fun trying to decipher it online.

Very good tanto.

This is a surprisingly nice tanto for the money. Build is solid and on the heavy/large side, with a secure fit between the tsuka and the blade. May be too big to be practical if you are an iaido practitioner, but is quite lovely looking. Fittings are nice and the wave theme is attractive without being gaudy. Koiguchi is not horn, but wood is well fitted and there is an appropriately firm fit with the habaki.

Hello,First off, I got this as a good quality show piece, don't plant to cut anyone, but if need be, this will do the job very well.This is an awesome, fantastic, <insert more praise> piece. It really does look good.Handle is a bit longer then you expect. The blade is a bit thinner then at the end then in the beginning. It feels very solid, very well put together. It fits great/snug into the (very good looking) black sheath (there's a proper Japanese name for it, but I don't remember it).if you're looking for something pretty to put on the mental, look no further, it's about as real as it gets ...... which is a nice segway into: it's a real weapon. Do be careful, tip is sharp, the blade is sharp. Dulls a bit quickly though. It comes a bit too oiled frankly. But it's not a for-show "knife", it's a proper combat tanto, it won't slice through as well as some thinner knifes, but it will cut as well or better then you'd expect if you use it as one uses a tanto.Recommended if you are looking for quality show piece or non-standard looking combat weapon. (or a showpiece that you can use as self defense if need be).

The tanto is sharp and strong. I was able to take out my kit and take the tanto apart, there was a name and number. The people at handmade swords went out of there way to make sure I was happy with my order. thank you very much handmade swords. I am going to get more swords from you soon. If I could think of one thing I did not like is the certificate of authenticity said. did not have a english copy. I give this a 9 out of 10.

The tanto was good looking, sharp and reasonable priced. The only fall back was the cover that can with it.

not a good varity to buy a tonto sword but this is a good one. well made and sturdy

its the equivalent to a 10 and a halve inch razor