Shinwa Black Knight Katana - Hand Forged Damascus Steel, Razor Sharp, Full Tang

I love it, it's absolutely and gorgeous and sharp

After practicing with an escrima stick for a few months, this is my first real sword. Absolutely love it! I'm afraid this is the beginning of a severe addiction. I've only had this sword for a week & I'm already purchasing two more swords! What have I gotten myself into!?

Beautifully crafted and wonderfullu executed. This will be a Proud display!!

I've ordered from here before and was satisfied! I opened it to make sure I got what I ordered. It looked great & shaved hair off my arm. Haven't really tried cutting else yet, but I'm sure my son will like it & let me know how it cuts!!

Very well made sturdy in hand smooth draw from the wooden Mekugi also the blade comes very sharp ,nice addition to my collection!!!!!

Sleek design, light to draw, and all around a solid piece. The orange damascus pattern looks better IRL and in my hands.

I've wanted this sword for about 2 years, finally just said add to cart and check out. The quality is amazing, shipping was fast. When they say razor sharp, they mean it. The color and the layers of Damascus is stunning and very unique. When unboxing my buddy asked if it was rusted already, To where he was stunned by the unreal allure this sword has. So far I've never been disappointed by budk. 5 star, 10 out of 10. Fully Recommend.

Great item. VERY WELL MADE. The look is absolutely fantastic. Was a great addition to my collection.

I received the Shinwa Black Knight sword for Father’s Day. I love this sword it is beautiful the Red and Black pattern on the blade looks amazing. A little oil makes it shine. BUDK shipped it to my daughters house in three days. Here is a picture.

The overall blade is a very good representation of the Hollywood Ninja turtle and the hellfire Damascus is also very attractive in its own right however I do have one critique if any and that is that the sword handle is quite thick thicker than most of my other swords much how in the sword community we refer to hanwei as having ax handle tsukas and that is the experience that I have found to be having with this sword that it is very ax handle-like in its construction of the handle but other than that I have no real critis about the sword it functions right its edge is quite acceptable and I do find it overall to be a very good sword for the money you pay for it I would just like to see a little thinner handle and maybe a curved version of this sword at a later date personally because I like katanas more than I like the stereotypical Ninjago of Hollywood but if I had to give this sword a final rating I would say it deserves a 4.9 out of 5 just because I'm taking off that one .1 off of the full score because of the overly thick handle if it wasn't so thick it would have a 5 out of 5 perfect score across the board with me but that's all I have it's really just personal taste to each their own I hope you enjoy this sword if you intend to buy it and it's not a bad sword to either do a little cutting with or hang on your wall I personally haven't done any cutting with it but I do intend to if you wish to check it out go to outlaw samurai 47 at YouTube so I'm out peace

This Is the most high-quality sword I own by far. The blade Is very sharp and polished super well. The saya fits perfectly and Is super smooth to the touch. As well as being very well lacquered and polished. The blade Itself has a beautiful damascus pattern. The Ito wrap material Is very soft and handles well. The tsuba Is made with a good material. And the sageo Is beautifully and tightly wrapped. All In all, It's put together Incredibly well, especially for the price.

Beautifully made, solid and sturdy, "REAL" Damascus Katana! The above picture can't compare to it's true beauty and construction. I purchased its sister sword The Abyss too! Excellent sword at a great price! I am one happy camper...

I love the blade it's a beautiful masterpiece but the tsuka unwrapped while I was showing a friend of all times, overall not a huge problem I just don't know where I can get it rewrapped.

This sword is absolutely gorgeous! Everything externally is perfect and pretty and the blade and more so. Paper cutting sharp as well. Amazing sword especially for the price. First Shinwa product and definitely not disappointed. Thanks Shinwa and BudK!

Beautiful sword. You get exactly what you expect and arrives with a sharp edge. Too pretty to use but would SHRED something if needed

Exactly what I expected, and an amazing sale for such an amazing sword.

I had been this sword for a while and when i finally got my hands on it i was not disappointed. It's extremely nice feeling in the hands. Its fun to swing around from time to time and the way its assembled is very well, there is some residue in the scabbard so you'll draw the blade a few times and will have to wipe that off but over all it is very beautiful. I am not disappointed.

Beautiful sword I wanted to cut something with it but after seeing it was way too pretty to mess up Fast shipping and came in a real nice sock to protect well worth the buy...

my only problem is, it is to beautiful to use.

This sword was amazing. As my first sword for my collection as I had only collected knives previously, this is an incredible start. And for the price of $79 and 3 day express shipping, it's top quality. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a great quality Damascus sword!

Packaging & Presentation was Great Fit & Polish was Good Wow, I was very excited to receive this Katana! It came well packaged, in a black silk wrap bag, and then pulling the blade from its snug fitted "saya" or scabbard, I was very pleased with the presence of this sword. I purchased this sword for one reason, battle ready usage. It is fair to say that this is not equivalent to a thousand dollar sword or better which would be battle ready and I would expect superior strength for blade clashing. So, this katana is a distant cousin to the OG sword-smith. However, what has been created here is the fun sword in your collection. Putting it to the test for "battle ready" is the pleasure and fun you receive when wielding this blade. It feels good in your hand. It spins well as it is well balanced. This is a beautiful katana. This was good a purchase.

Beautiful sword. The Black Knight Katana is a beautiful sword. Despite the other reviews, I really was afraid I would end up with a wall hanger. Guess what, with this kind of quality, my next sword is going to say Shinwa!!!!

I had some high expectations for the sword considering the write up and images, but after holding a Musashi sword, you can feel the difference in balance and overall quality, the Damascus blade was visually nice and in great shape, not as sharp as others have said, I wipe down the blade and a tun of residue came off but the blade still kept its tone, I do like the sword and would have kept it. but my scabbard was scratched and wrapping was threading, anyone who is interested in a pretty and able sword for this price range will appreciate it...it is a nice looking sword

So I bought this for my husband for father's day in 2017. The price was perfect. In fact in my opinion it was underpriced. My husband was so happy with it he still carries it around in his trunk with him lol. He's had to have it sharpened twice and it looks like some of the Damascus is not real but it's appears it is folded some. Super strong and looks badass. My husband's friend tried buying him another sword from here that is blue that was like $75 more than this. And he still favors the 1 I got him :^) best money spent ever

First purchase from this company. Was lured in by the price. Katana images & spec write up got me hooked. Opening the good packaging w batted breath I quickly realize this will be for display & visual gratification only. Too Fabulous to use & scratch up. Very satisfied swordsman...

I’m not convinced it is true Damascus, however, it came sharp, straight and it looks cool. I have no complaints and am happy I got it. Kinda wish the hilt was round but I knew it wasn’t when I bought it so not a complaint. It is Comfortably light and well balanced. If I had to I’d use it in combat but I’d hate to damage its beauty haha. Wish it came in a box like my other sword but it does have a nice sleeve to store it in.

Swords are absolutely amazing has an edge and was perfectly straight it is a must buy!

i bought this with intentions to use it...i had to buy different one because i did not want to scuff this one. lol...beautiful, straight blade katana

Awesome beautiful sharp enough I want another one so I don't feel bad playing with this one

This katana is the best sword ive ownedi own over 50 swords and this is by far the best ive already ordered a second

It is as advertised, TRUST ME! Between my son and I we own seven Katana/samurai swords, one a Cold Steel San Mai that is an awesome weapon and demands respect! This Katana... is ONE you WANNA! Depending on your desires to own something LIKE this, whether for practical use or just to display in a collection... you might want to get this one! I was skeptical, yes, catalog photos... web or printed, don't ever show any flaws, just expectations! Once I took it out of the box and forced the sheath to give up it tight grip, I was greatly surprised! While it does have some "tiny flaws", it is striking and I have no intention of sending it back :-) As for handling... IF that makes any difference, and you KNOW what your DOING... it will perform DEADLY well in that area also! ;-) Just Sayin! :-)

The look of this sword is spectacular. Very well designed and crafted. Beautiful balance, solid weight. I've lusted after this katana for months now and the "Black Knight" did not disappoint.

I love this sword it's heavy duty. handle and blade are very well designed and crafted. I love the wicked looking blade and the sturdiness when you swing.

Got this from another site, but had to say, Shinwa has not disappointed. Been a while since I've worked out, and this blade is totally worth rebuilding the forearms. Beautifully crafted, VERY nice edge, exquisite balance. I will be getting more!

Not a collector of long blades. Have dozens of high end customs, and automatic knives. Ran across this sword and the Damascus grabbed my eye. Ive got pocket knives that dwarf this in price, so didn't expect allot. Will say, the edge felt good, the damascus looks very nice, the coating is a nice touch. While the craftsmanship has flaws, I'm pleased. I see no practical use for it, outside of being something neat to have. Might buy one of every color to put with it. Give em to the son when he gets a little older.

Usually don't comment, never have unless I was unhappy. But the sword I received was excellent tho not razor sharp and I dought battle ready but was tight and straight with a decent so for the price I highly recommend it's a nice show piece and very happy with the purchase. Now I want a battle ready full tang T10 katana! Lol

First ever katana and I could not be happier. It’s solid, has amazing weight too it, looks soooo good. Not even exaggerating this katana is just beautiful. So happy with the results. It needs a good cleaning and polish but that’s okay not a big deal at all. Blade is sharp as well be careful.!

Looks great! Very nice display piece! Great detail in the blade itself

Heavy and sharp. It is on display right now, he doesn't want to use it...it's too beautiful!!! Highly recommended for the sword lover. It is meticulous.

Fine crafted sword. It came in sharp and cut through a couple of melons for practice. It does have a light brown, orange residue while cleaning, but shines back up beautifully.

I recently purchased a Shinwa Black Knight katana (Damascus) and when it arrived I inspected it very carefully. The Damascus Katana was everything the advertisement said it is. I am very satisfied with it. I own several and for the money, you can't buy better.

The sword I got was fit beautifully. Tight, solid, and well wrapped. I wasn't sure about the straight blade at first, but this sword has a nicely balanced, traditional feel, and it took no time to get a great feel for it. It was fairly sharp, and with a bit of fine tuning, it sharpened like a razor, and it holds it's edge well. Aesthetics are gorgeous on the blade, however, every time I clean, and oil it, an orange residue appears on my cleaning cloth. I'm wondering if the fire orange color is actually painted on? If so, this blade would be even more stunning if it were polished, not painted. Over all, I'm more than satisfied with this sword, and True Swords. Shipping took about 10 days, but for the price, well worth the wait. Thank you TS, I'm looking forward to many more purchases!

Bought this and the double edge dragon for me any my brother. Both are beautiful, no issues or problems. To the other negative feedback people. Just remember u get what u pay for. These are lower end price swords. Ur not gonna be able to go out and fight or cut things continuous without it having effect. I highly recommend this for a collector. The steel is beautiful n sharp.

I love this sword but there are a few kinks with it for me this is first of all it didn't come sharp for me nothing major the handle did not fully lock the blade in place so it had an annoying raddle and worst of all the habaki (blade collar) slid back and forth nothing customer support couldn't fix though. When the new one arrived I was pleased with all the fixed components I complained about.it truly is a great sword just make sure when you get it you know what you getting into on the 50/50 train

When I got the sword the blade had wood on it from the casing but besides that it is really sharp, the case fits perfectly for the blade and everything on it was secure and does not move. 10/10

Its vary beautiful Damascus steel sword I love how the sword feels its very very very high quality

It's a beautiful sword. It would make a great addition to a wall hanger collection, but battle ready it is not. My son and I put it up against some 2 liter bottles,16oz water bottles, and a water filled milk jug. Granted, this was right out of the box, no sharpening other than factory. It made short work of the milk jug. I was impressed. The 2 liters? Well, not all that impressive. They went flying across the yard. Thrusting was effective. It passed through all of the bottles effortlessly. By the end of our cutting test, the sword had a rattle in the guard and a warp in the blade. My kid still likes it, I guess that's all that matters in the end, but as far as taking this thing up against anything but a milk jug, I wouldn't recommend it.

It was on sale so I got it and its an Amazing sword. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a real sword. The only thing I would caution people about is the fact that you have to oil it and take good care of it. Its not something you can put on a wall and neglect for a year. You need use oil to keep the blade from oxidizing. Like I said its a real sword so you have to treat it as such.

from my point of view as a machinist working with all kind of metals this is NOT Damascus steel but it is folded steel. that being said the blade that i got was in good shape although i did not like the coating they put on it. it looked like "makeup". it was brown and black and all kinds of crap. what do you excpect for chinese made blades..( not a full tang but close) The parts that made up the sword as a whole were real metal..copper plated at least..or brass..not much plastic here. some glue..i doubt the authenticity of the ray skin but thats another issue i wont bother with. didnt like the handle -soft wood...it was split..and it took me awhile to sort out the wrapping which was simple flat nylon chord. easilly removed . all in all i would have made it differently but since i dont have a forge or the materials on hand i'd say this is a decent sword.. blade metal is good..take it apart..clean it up..defeinitely change the handle

This is my first Damascus blade and I love it. I knew it wouldn't be razor sharp, so that wasn't a problem with me. Is everything I expected and more.

Nice sword to say the least. I have several authentic vintage Japanese swords and although it is not up to those standards or to those of a modern combat blade I believe it is an exceptional value for the price. My sword and it's fitting are nice and tight. The blade is sharp but not razor sharp. A beautiful display piece that would be functional in a pinch.

This is the first real sword I've ever purchased and just wanted to see I am more than pleased with this purchase. Definitely a great first sword to buy. I can't wait to learn how to properly wield this bad boy. Huge thank you to trueswords and to the masters from Shinwa. This sword is a masterpiece.

Katana arrived today and is absolutely stunning to see in the daylight. A little rattle when in the tsuba but nothing major. Arrived sharp and oiled, just as expected. The details on this piece are phenomenal.

This is my second Shinwa sword. Now im no expert and have read the reviews. The blade i got was "fecus brown" (as another reviewer wrote). It is BEAUTIFUL!! You can see layers of steel from black to bronze & brown. I thought the blade would be black layered and im sure some are. I love the blade i got!! The handle and tusba are tight. I cant tell you in words how nice this sword really is. It will be on my wall with my first Shinwa. I would also recommend a cleaning kit as it will need to be cleaned when you get it. Also remember this type of blade will need to be cleaned and oiled periodically to prevent rust. But thats just fun stuff to me. Thank you Budk. WARNING! Sword Collecting Can Be Addictive.. ;)

Very pleased with my sword. My blade also looked more like the fiery inferno blade but everything else was the same. To be honest I think I like this color more. Very happy with my purchase.

This is my first battle ready sword and I'm impressed with it. I've always wanted a real katana ever since reading the book and seeing the movie "Shogan" as a kid.

The Damascus pattern, on mine at least, is a beautiful black and red. Very good fit and finish. I don't plan on using/abusing it so I can't comment on its strength or durability.

This was my first buy. When it came in it had some sort of white chunks on the blade that felt like extra oil. (Their was a lot) and to tiny dings on the end. (I think it's called the pommel) but other that that it looks amazing!!!

i have two of these already and just ordered another one. the price is outstanding considering the quality of the sword. I love it. true work of art. fully functional. highly recommend this sword.

I got this sword as a Christmas present(made my Christmas btw:) and it feels, looks, and IS just awesome. The blade is perfectly balanced and cuts Bambo like its butter. The colors of the folded metal are visually appealing.

Mine was cheap and it wasn't that sharp. If you want a good sword, look at Masahiro, Musashi, or Ten Ryu Those are way better than Shinwa

I bought this sword about a year ago and it came extremely sharp. All the swords I have bought from Bud K have had good sharp edges with the exception of the barbarian sword which I know would not be a sharp edge. If I wanted to make the edge better and sharper I could hone the edge but as they are the edge is plenty sharp. If I was not happy with the item I bought I would call customer service and get the item replaced.

shipping was fast! Just received this sword today and it's my very first real sword. I grew up on those old aluminum alloy sword with no full tang. All I have to say is that this sword is so sharp that my index finger got cut yet there is no cut mark on my finger. I don't know what that means but I will let you know when I'm done being scared of my new and real sword which still sits inside the cool cotton black bag it came with. Thanks True Swords!

I really like this sword, it was what I was looking for. Didn't want to spend a ton to get a sharp, practical back up goto defense weapon. But great job, what a bargain, and for that 5 stars!

I own this sword and all I can say is it's is amazing. When you hold it in your hand you can feel that it is solidly built, it has a certian heft to it that the mall replicas do not. The sword gives you the impression that it can destroy nearly anything you throw at it. I love the black Damascus steel with the red accents, making the sword look as it if were forged in the fires of Hell itself. But I like the black blade because it doesnt reflect light like a shiny blade. The tsuba is both rugged and elegant. Just in case there really is a zombie apocalypse or proonged civil unrest having this sword at your side is a no brainer.

I just got mine today and for 100 bucks it's worth every penny, mine doesn't rattle at all I love it, the only thing i can say negative is they could do a better job honing the blade, while wiping with a quad you can feel it catch in some spots easy fix though. conclusion I will be buying many more swords from shinwa and this company.

Trying to come up with the perfect gift for the 16 year old son of dear friends, this seemed to fit the bill. But after researching many reviews from various sites, I had begun to question the overall quality. Sites like Amazon had reviews that spoke of the Black simply washing off the blade, the handle was of poor quality etc. But, based on what I could see in the BudK videos, and, the new price for the Holiday, it was worth the risk. All I can say is, I just received an email from this young man and I quote; I love this Sword. It is the nicest Sword I have ever seen. My Grandfather has a Sword collection (which I didn't know) and he's going to love this one. I can't wait to show him. This, from a 16 year old...you can't ask for a better testimonial. I have to assume that the complaints I've read elsewhere must have dealt with knockoffs. For me...I could not be happier with the outcome of this purchase. Great Sword, Great Price! Very Happy! Also, customer service took my questions, got answers and, called me back when they said they would. Very helpful. Excellent to deal with....As to the Black coming off the blade, the black is forged into the steel...it's not going anywhere!

I just received this sword today and I am very pleased with it. It does rattle while in the saya but not enough to for me to take away any stars other than that there is nothing to complain about.

Budk awesome shipping, arrived quickly, Out of the box sword is sharp, quick pass over my sharpening stone and its VERY sharp. Sword has good heft and well balanced. Took it outside and sliced thru two 1 gallon jugs in a single pass nice clean cut.

Received it pretty quickly. Love the feel, weight and look. I am now Zombie apocalypse ready!! My only complaint is that its not very sharp

I wanted to pick up a decent sword that I could use to practice cutting with before I invested in a more expensive collector's quality sword. I don't need a more expensive sword. This has exceeded my expectations 10 fold. I've handled $2000 swords that didn't have this weight, balance, natural fit to my grip or edge. I don't often use street vernacular, but this is one bad mofo. I've had it for 14 months and only polished the edge the day I got it. It's gone through bamboo, hog and deer like they weren't even there. I oil mine once a month so can't say that I've ever seen any oxidation on the blade as I've seen in other comments. If you take care of her, she will most definitely take care of you. Very highly recommend to all skill levels. To the young folks, this is not a toy but if there ever were a zombie rabies/flu hybrid virus outbreak.... you'd be set. 1 - 10, I give my sword an easy 11.

I have really been wanting this sword for a long time but it was out of stock for the longest but now I finally have it. I've been a collector knives and swords for 2 years now and this sword is now my favorite

Wow, what a great buy. This is truly an authentic Damascus steel sword. Very strong, and it has every element that a real katana should have minus the curve. The only thing is it's length. It's too long to wear on your back but other than that, there's no way anyone can be disappointed with this sword. This is definitely not a toy and not for the fool who just wants to swing a sword around. Razor Sharp. This is the real F*****g deal.

I find nothing to fault in this sword. It is beautiful, heavy, and sharp. Well worth what I paid for it.

Was a lil hesitant at first and skeptical after I bought It. But once it arived I quickly changed my mind! Beautiful blade and look solid, and heavy. Holding this blade makes you feel like you are a beast! Only wish it was a solid full tang. But a great buy all the same. It is currently sitting on top of my custom display wraped in the sleeve it came with. Though was hoping for the display case and booklet in the featured video. But I can understand why it didn't at the price.

Holding this blade in your hands you can feel the power surging through your body. Value well beyond the discounted price of under $100. Can't imagine a better buy anywhere else on the planet. Warning: Not for playful fools. This blade can inflict mortal injury on the novice.

This is one of the most elegant weapons I have held in a long time... The balance, feel of it in my hands and the over all splendor is superb... NOW FOR THE SHARPENING STONE AND SURVIVAL KITS!!!!!!!!!

This katana does a h**l of a lot of damage. Enough said.

It's an awesome sword. Its pretty sharp out of the box, but could be a little more sharp. All in all 10/10.

This is my favorite Katana thus far. Excellent quality and very cool look. Shinwa is a professional brand and delivers excellent quality swords for very reasonable prices. This sword could easily cost a lot more, but it is great that anyone can get such great quality for this price. Be careful with storing your Katana in high humidity areas, the wood scabbard will swell and it will be VERY difficult to take out the Katana. I had a very difficult time when that happened to me. All in All, if your looking for a COOL- FUNCTIONAL- EXCELLENT QUALITY- then get this.

I ordered this sword a few months ago as my first fully functional katana, and I was so excited. It came within three days of ordering it, I was so shocked! Although my blade was red and black damascus, I still don't care. I thought a few days about returning it, but the more I held it and kept it, the more I fell in love with it.

This sword is absolutely functional. The balance is very nice, and the "black Damascus" is a trip! However, what I think Shinwa could have left out was the item number and such on the side of the blade in bold, gold print!!! I removed it by making my own Hamon, aka "waterline" on my edge, and now the sword looks terribly awesome: Black Damascus and "chromed" Damascus Hamon!!! Fittings and furniture were very secure, and the Saya (scabbard) was very well done. I am thankful to my brother from another mother for getting me this one, and also for Shinwa and Bud K for making such swords functional and affordable!

This sword looks & feels great, Excellent Quality for the price. If I didn't know it , I would say its in the $500 price range. I would buy another Shinwa no questions asked. Editor's Note: Thank you for your comments. We have updated the review to reflect the appropriate spelling.

This really is the best katana I've ever owned. It may be a bit expensive, but it is worth every penny; trust me.

So I bought this blade when it was on sale for $74.99, definitely couldn't pass it up. But it's definitely a mid-quality sword and worth the value!

This is my first katana and I am not disappointed, especially for the price. I was lured in by the striking contrasts of the black and red Damascus, Gorgeous! Although not as vibrant red as advertised, more of a burnt orange color in my opinion. When cleaning the blade there is a rusty colored residue that comes off on the cloth but, doesn't seem to hurt anything? Mine came with 2 small indentions, one on each side of the blade in different places. I noticed this when wiping it down but, they are handmade in China; they're probably just hammer/forging marks and don't hurt the look or performance at all, they can only be seen by looking straight down the blade in the right light. Not as sharp as I would have hoped for and the tip of the blade came dinged but, nothing a little file and stone work couldn't fix. I was surprised at how well my file bit into the metal...blade might not be tempered as hard as they say? Came boxed and with storage sock! Great buy overall!

Great sword battle ready at least 100 strikes on alderwood 1-2 inch trees

First off, I purchased this sword on sale. In doing so, I didn't expect this to be a perfect sword by any means; however, I am extremely impressed with what I got versus amount spent. The sword came decently sharp, and the colors look amazing. Unfortunately there is a splotch where it looks like the black/red dyes were worn away or somehow never got stained and the reds aren't nearly as vibrant as I was hoping. I also clean my own blades and handle my own maintenance and usually redo the oil on the blade when I get it since you never know how long it's been sitting. In doing so I did notice my rice cloth seems to pull a miniscule amount of the red off when applying a new layer of oil from the official Shinwa care kit...although that's a little concerning, it didn't seem to make a noticeable difference to the blade, and it still is an excellent show piece that keeps turning heads!

My biggest problem with the sword would be the sheath every time you put it back in than take it out it gets Glue/wood shaving on the blade but that’s easy to wipe off other than that it is a great build thank you BudK can’t beat the price

The blade is amazing and very well made. The whole sword is very sold and there is no play or shifting. The handle does not have real rayskin, it is cheap imitation. Also everyone be warned for some reason they decided to ruin this absolutely beautiful sword by printing right on the blade: "Handcrafted in China" and a modle number in addition to the shinwa logo on the other side of the sword. The logo is fine but seriously no one, NO ONE wants the ugly china stamp on anything. All that said it is still worth the price $59.99 on sale. 10 out of 10 people would buy again lolz.

Great sword for the price. Only three small complaints. First, it was not as sharp as I hoped. I'm going to try to sharpen it but with only a small sharpening stone it will be difficult. Second,the hand guard was not sturdy when I fist got it. It rattled and shifted. It was an easy fix though with putting glue in it to keep it in the right position. The guard has been great since. Lastly, the wrapping on the handle is loose, it shifts around a little. Not a big problem though as it is easy to move back and it is still a nice feel and easy to grip. I really like this sword, I would recommend it to others. As I expected, it has small flaws as it is inexpensive for a nice fully functional sword, but is still very usable and very sturdy other than the guard. If the guard moves around a little, don't worry. Just try some glue. It is still a very good sword and there is nothing else to complain about. Good shipping speed too.

The blade was exceptional, but the tsuka quickly became unwrapped when the adhesive failed. I re-wrapped and will re-glue, but the adhesive was a major letdown.

went thru water jugs and thick walled shipping tubes very easy very impressed

As usual...the sword arrived in a couple of days. The katana was sharp....and battle ready. After using the sword,I quickly became a Damascus fan for life. Looking to purchase the double-edged version,soon.

Awesome sword aside from the square tsuba and being a straight blade I love it. If you plan on taking it apart from the hilt be prepared for a battle because the handle is really on there.

Very good quality sword. Better than I expected, and it is a 2,000 layer Damascus steel sword. As expected, the steel is carbon steel, so it needs good care and oil to prevent rusting. But that is how Damascus steel is, so this is not a real problem. I wonder why no one makes a Damascus steel sword using stainless steel. There may be a technical reason.

I have to say that the first thing I like is the fact that even two days after the penny shipping deal should have ended, I was still able to use the code. I also like the fact that when I first got the sword, I took it apart easily and found it to be as it was described and as any real Japanese blade should be. Full tang, real damascus steel, strong, slightly flexible, and already sharp enough to cut an 11" thick tree, and great handle wrapping.

Slices Great, tree in back yard dead, father mad, mission accomplished! threat of zombie apples neutralized

it's a good overall sword came sharp made it sharper the only thing i didn't like is the orange streak on the bottom but o well i can't complain.

Where do I begin? First off, the sword is a straight blade, perfect for me because I'm proficient at a side stance. Its lightweight and extremely durable. It doesn't rattle like some katanas I've used. I put it through a few water bottle tests before I stepped up to the bamboo test. It performed superb. However I had to use two hands the cut the bamboo fully in two, but after taking a whetstone to it and some TLC, I can now effectively cut bamboo in two using only one hand.

The sword is indeed gorgeous and well made. Mine was however not 'razor sharp' as I was hoping it would be as per previous comments. And as I sit here attempting to sharpen my sword to be so, I can see that the red and black is more of a coating than a natural color. I give this a three. It's a solid weapon for sure as far as I can tell and I will tend to it as I can, but I'm a little disappointed that I have to sharpen the dull 'razor sharp' edge, and that the color is misleading.

Alright well. I'll start off by saying that I am happy with my purchase. A blade like this at retail price would probably cost more than I paid. That being said, I was lead to believe I was purchasing a blackened blade but the one I got was orange and black. It still looks really good though. Secondly, this blade did not come very sharp. To put it into perspective, I have a 10 dollar bush knife from walmart that is sharper. Any random store bought chef knife comes sharper. I would also like to note that this is not a curved blade in any way, so slicing is not really what it will be good for. The wrapping on it after three swings shifted toward the butt even though I had initially assumed it to be quite tightly wrapped. The fake rayskin is only in strips and does not cover the whole handle which appears to not even be hardwood like stated. All in all, it's a good sword for the price. Heavy, but for a folded blade, it's worth every penny.

so, the handle was amazing, the tsuba made me happy & the sheathe was awesome... Then I pulled the blade out. For 1, the sheathe must've been badly made because every time I unsheathe the blade, sawdust is on the blade. Plus, the blade isn't black like they said... I was so excited to own a beautiful blade that resembled black wood... But it was like a feces brown. Not pleasant to look at... At all. Nevermind that the sword isn't actually Damascus steel but rather just folded steel... Damascus is stronger. But yea, I wish the sword could've at least been the right color

Not real Damascus Steel. Not sharp. Looks nice.

Revived this katana pretty quickly. It looks really nice. The only complaint is that it is not sharp. Mine was actually really dull and didnt have an edge to it at all.

When I got this sword I was surprised by how pretty the blade was. The blade is not very sharp and the overall quality is not that great. Makes a very nice wall hanger.

Sword was a beauty and very cheap but the blade wasn't that sharp out of the box and when sharpened the edge didn't hold. a great wall hanger but not as fully functional as advertised.

OK I'm a huge katana collector and the sword looks great and is pretty sharp but it is not full tang and is advertised as battle ready if it isn't full tang its not battle ready, close but not quite, it is a nice display sword, one other thing is how I received the item with no original box no shinwa tag and not even a care kit, it did come with the black sword bag. I do recall the kit mention and saw the tag in the video.

My compliments. The Blade itself is beautiful and strong, The scabbard has a polished finish that I was scared to put a single finger print on, and the handle wrap is flawless. My Complaints. The blade is upside down in the hilt, it is super dull, and cannot cut cloth, Gold lettering on both sides of the blade ruins the blades beauty, and is only a half tang blade. I hate to say that this blade will not go into my collection.

When I got this sword I was so excited, then I played with it a bit and found out it was half tang instead of full tang like it said on most Shinwa swords. So it is no more then a decoration instead of a fully functional sword. Oh well still awesome to look at.

I got this sword about a year ago as a gift and i loved it but the only problem is that the blade is only half tang on it so if u hit anything with and kind of force it is likely to break the handle but other than that it is an amazing sword.

This is a great sword. It came pretty sharp but could be sharper. It feels really good. Heavy blade and high quality though it does not have the lined look to it. The handle broke in two places first right under the guard and second at the end. easily fixed by removing the cord wrapping and then duct taping a little then rewrapping.

Shinwa Damascus apparently gets waves in the cutting edge and bends when it hits anything harder than leather. I literally bent my blade hitting the broad side of the blade against the stalk of an umbrella plant. Great show pieces, not meant for any actual use; cut things at your own risk!

Well... The blade seems stable and has a good weight to it... The metal isn't black and just painted and the blade I got had a HUGE flaw. Near the tip there was a very small nik of metal sticking out awkwardly to the side. Regardless, it can still pierce with a thrust extremely easily with almost no effort unlike a slash. So doesn't cut very well but I'd imagine that can be fixed by sharpening it which might take off some of the black paint. The sheath is made of wood and the wrapping is pretty poor... Dunno if it was just the one I got in particular that was pretty shitty... That being said... I wouldn't pay 90 bucks for it. More like around 40 or so.

Scabbard very loose..and dye comes off the sword whhen it strikes something..scabbard leaves some residue..maybe actual wood from moving around while in scabbard..blade is strong..not sharp

This sword sucks! The blade isn't sharp at all and it bent when I tested it on a 2 liter bottle of water. The fittings are loose and the wrapping on the handle isn't tight at all. I wouldn't pay 50 bucks for another one. It is the worst sword I have ever bought. Don't waste your money on it. I'm never buying another piece of **** shinwa again. They suck!