MAKOTO Handmade Sharp Katana Black Samurai Sword 40"

This Minamoto katana is my first actual Makoto sword - Ryujin made the Geisha katana that is sold by Makoto. Overall I'm not disappointed (at all) with this katana, considering the budget value category that it represents.Unfortunately there's a lot of (outrageously priced) decorative garbage to wade through, and buyers have to sift through this pile to find a decent deal - and this one ain't bad.This sword arrived straight, sharpened and blemish free, which seems to be a bit of a challenge at this price range. Initially, everything fits pretty snug and appears to be put together fairly well, without any rattle or wobble.This 28.5" Bohi blade has more of a distal taper than the Geisha katana has. The Sori angle is the same optimal 3/4" as the Geisha.2 mekugi pegs are used to secure the Tsuka handle to the tang. The Itomaki wrap isn't horribly loose or sloppy, but it could have been done better. A tight wrap of hockey stick tape improves the grip and keeps the diamonds from moving out of shape.The Tsuba and hardware do not attract a magnet (as expected), but the tang does until the last 3 inches of the 10.8" Tsuka handle.The Saya does have a matte surface that hides finger smudges pretty well. The Habaki fit is decent enough. Conceptually this metal koiguchi collar makes a lot of sense, but it will take some getting used to.This katana arrived inside of an inexpensive sword bag, held in place within the Makoto box with a few pieces of broken and smashed Styrofoam - minimalist but barely adequate.Wipe the blade of shipping oil and replace it immediately with some Corrosion-X (or CLP or petroleum jelly) and you shouldn't have any corrosion issues.

This is NOT a Musha.Musashi - For some reason, this sword was displayed at the top of the results when searching "Musashi Katana" and I ordered it without worrying too much about it, as it's under $50 anyway and just assumed Makoto was the distributor. Again, the brand is Makoto NOT Musha!That being said, I'm very satisfied with this sword. It came pre-oiled and looked a bit nasty, but simply wiping the blade with a very soft cloth made it shine beautifully and kept enough oil on the blade to not require re-oiling before display.Full Tang, very sturdy, nothing loose, sharp blade - though not razor sharp, this blade could still EASILY end an intruder's life, much better for home defense than a baseball bat (though I still suggest a firearm over a sword).I'm using mine mostly for display, so I can't say how it holds up against actual use, but I highly doubt the blade will easily bend and if cared for correctly won't rust (just clean it well after use)It arrived inside of a sword-bag and the entire sword was held in place by Styrofoam. Not the best packaging, but unless something severe were to happen, I believe the packaging is good enough to protect the product in most cases.Overall, for $45, it seems to be a very great sword.

I should start by mentioning that I have no expertise with swords. Considering I'm reviewing a budget katana, you probably already knew that.This purchase was a gift for a friend. However, after opening the box and inspecting the item prior to gifting it, I have to say I wanted to keep it for myself. I found the sword rather hefty (but not overly so) and seemingly well put together. The sword seemed solid and, judging by the two bamboo pegs holding the handle together, I'm assuming it is full tang as claimed. The blade was straight and well polished with a fairly sharp edge (sharp but not razor sharp). The hamon was wire brushed on but what do you expect for a $50 sword? The sheath was made of a lacquered wood which did not appear to have any flaws or cracks and fit the sword well when inserted. When I inverted the entire thing, the sword did not fall out.I have no doubt this sword is nowhere near the quality of higher priced katanas, but it's not meant to be. It's an ornamental decoration that could probably be used to finally achieve your dream of becoming a real life fruit ninja.. However, for its price, it is much more refined and well built than it should be. Needless to say, my friend was pleased with his gift.