Shinwa Makaku Katana / Samurai Sword

I have had both the Katana and Wakizashi for a few years, the grips feel great and the blade are beautifully crafted. Now I'm just hoping for a Tanto blade version to make my collection complete.

This Katana and the matching Wakizashi are great cutting practice weapons. Both stay sharp and handle well. There is no "Bling" to worry about, just a very basic, durable weapon. Shinwa Damascus blades have been around for a while now and they have been very dependable.

I was really impressed with this sword. It's exactly how it was described on the site and even came with a cool display box. It was super sharp right out the box and fits very snug in the scabbard. A very traditional looking samurai sword but not too fancy that I want to keep It in wraps all the time. I will get some use out of this bad boy for sure. Definitely will be ordering more items from BudK seeing how they hold true to what they advertise. Thanks guys very satisfied.

Really cool box/Great bogo deal!! sharp as he!! right out of the case /nice fittings/ Thanks again!!!!!!

Extremely nice high quality katana to go with my matching Wakazashi.

This is a great katana for the price. Since it’s only $70, don’t expect high end quality and nitpick every little thing. There were some little things wrong with the sword obviously but the katana fittings were tight and feels pretty solid in your hands. A great buy to have a blade that looks pretty cool!

Came in excellent condition, except the box it was a bit damaged and the blade was a bit dirty

I purchased one as part of Budk's BOGO sale so mine came to be $50 after splitting the tab. At even $70, this is one hell of a damascus katana. It is real 1024 layer damascus due to the fine patterns that are ingrained and NOT etched (1045 & 1060 high carbon steel from what I've researched.) The ha rests close to the handle, indicative of genuine, ancient, traditional crafting methods from Longquan, China. Mine came with a sori of 1". This is desireable for me because extreme curvature swords are usually custom-made. Tsuka: 10.75". Nagasa (blade): 29". Overall in saya: 40.625". The tsukaito is somewhat loose, the saya secures inclined towards the ha, and the tsuba is 1 degree from sitting straight but I didn't pay for the furnishings I paid for the traditionally forged blade! The blade is straight but a little front heavy. Passes the paper test. Cuts sugar cane easily. For a future sword such as this, I recommend an 11.5" or even 11.75" tsuka tang for improved balanced. Final thought: 4.4 stars at normal price but I paid $50 so 5 stars all the way YES!

This is my first Shinwa and my first damascus steel blade. The blade is beautiful! I cut up the cardboard box it came in and none of the damascus pattern came off. Which means it's real damascus steel. It's very light weight as well. The handle is tight and well made. The only con is that the habaki is slightly loose, but it doesn't affect its functionality. The sword came in a beautiful red wine colored storage box. Looking forward to purchasing more Shinwas. Thanks BudK!

I've bought a lot of knives and weapons from bud-k and this is by far the best. I know shinwa isn't always a good brand, being more mass produced than most, but this sword is spectacular. The tsuba is a very cool design, the habaki is fit nearly perfect to the scabbard, and the kashira is fit perfectly to the handle. Also the wrapping of the handle is VERY tight and has a great grip, and I love the look of the black ray skin. I also love the double bamboo menuki pins because of the added stability. The blade is also definitely full tang, stable as hell, and pretty without being over-the-top. I'd recommend this sword to anybody that wants a budget katana that's at least worth twice as much as you actually pay. Best sword purchase ever.

Best sword for the money. Real folded steel, nice pattern. Fully functional sword. I'd bought the Regal Damascus Wakizashi and HAD to get the matching Katana. You will not be disappointed.

I like the look of the blade and also the way it feels in my hands, the blade is very sharp and strong definitely a great buy. I will continue buying from this company in the future and would recommend this company to anyone looking for working swords at a low price. Over all, the presentation of the decorative box and the sword is the best I've seen. Thank you for good quality at a low price.

I sharpen the blade to a razor edge cause that's how I keep all my blades" you can shave with my blades! Any questions that this is Damascus steel" I can assure you" it is being a welding inspector for NASA the steel has a great hardness it took 3 days for me to get the razor sharp edge" 24 hours a day less it took me to sharpen my buck knife" my buck knife has kept the razor edge for a year I expect this Tan Katana will do even better! You can't mess up with this great Kantana! A great buy! At a great price!

A great sword everything was tight well made" very impressive" Sharp" very pleased" I don't do bottle cutting but I know there would be no problem" all my blades are razor sharp I only use them if I need too! Thanks BUDK" For an awesome kantana our business together has just begun! Thanks again! Beautiful!

At first sight the sword looks and feels great then...I tried to cut a water bottle. The sword didn't even come close to breaking the integrity of the plastic bottle, it merely dented it and tore the paper label. This sword is no more than a decoration please set your expectations accordingly.

This Shinwa katana is my favorite sword in my entire collection. I have numerous Musashi, Ten Ryu and Masahiro katana swords, but this one blows them all away. you can just feel the hand-made quality of this one compared to the others. It's razor sharp and has no problem cutting through limbs, rolled mats and even two liter bottles filled with water. This is definitely a quality sword and I recommend it to anyone looking for a functional katana with a traditional handforged blade.

I love this sword. I sharpened it a lot, now I can make banana splits the real mans way. If you are thinking about getting this sword get it you will never regret it. it is also sharp out of the box but I just sharpened it more for good measures. when the zombie apocalypse happens I'll help the zombies with my sword since its the best way I know how.

i just got this sword and its beautiful, and sharp. i couldnt be happier!

My first katana ridiculous I know your not supposed to hit a solid block a wood but I did wow blade went in came out not a scratch ridiculously sharp I let the weight take it and cuts little flimsy weeds

I think its a very nice sword, reminds me of the WWll Japanese soldiers sword.

Really wow! First off let me say this sword doesnt look to pretty but in person its beautiful! Its super sharp too! My only minor stick out was the tip was almost flat but its an easy fix. Other than that great sword came in two days the handle is wrapped tight all the fittings tight every thing about this sword breathes excellance!

My first Katana arrived in perfect shape in spite of some rough handling in transit. The tsuba had been pushed through the bottom of the gorgeous silk lined display box, making a hole in the box. The fit and finish is excellent. If you doubt it is full tang, simply pass a strong magnet over the handle and you will feel the attraction all along the length. No need to disassemble! Mine is very sharp along its entire length including the tip. The workmanship is top notch! The Menuki are dull black and mostly covered by the cord wraps, so they are scarcely visible. I think they should have been gold or silver colored to lend contrast to the rayskin. Nevertheless, it's a handsome piece and a lot of sword for the money. Color me happy!

Bought these on a BOGO for my son, he LOVES them. Nicely packaged, weighted and detail. Wrap looks more like cotton shoelace than "ray" skin, but overall great quality, feels very sturdy. I would recommend for beginners and for form practice and competition. Can't say yet how they hold up in sparring.

This sword is a fully functional, well made & a beautiful sword. Good, sharp edge right out of the box. Been a sword collector for many years and this sword is the real deal. Once again, bud K delivers. As a repeat customer of bud K , the deal i got on this purchase was exceptional. Bravo Bud K, & thanks!!

I just received my sword today great delivery time. I'm recommending BudK to many of my friends. The only reason I rated this at 4 stars was the last inch of the sword was literally flat where it should of been sharp. Not sure why. But I will definitely be making further purchases.

I was very satisfied but the one I was sent was straight blade no complaints on the quality, I requested standard delivery but mine arrived in 2 days with supposedly standard shipping, this was a buy one get one. If you want them for the best price use the bogo deal they run them about every 6 months. First off to all who wish to buy them, you get what you pay for swords such as those you don't use them to hack apart trees if you want to tackle a tree you use an ax or a hatchet or a saw. Swords are meant for combat or use in kata for martial arts don't buy a sword expecting to go out chopping down everything in sight like so much wheat and chaff, I you think your going to cut through trees like your a warrior than your an idiot and wasting your money. Once you get your sword keep a good coat of oil on it, if you can't find sword oil pick up 3 in 1 oil or go to your local grocery store for mineral oil, just a light coating on the blade and wipe on with cloth. Next get some lessons on how to handle a blade and respect it, don't stick the tip of the blade into the earth when you remove it from its scabbard, another is don't try filling up jugs of water and cutting through them as a test for the blade, invest in ballistics gel or a pig carcass, that will simulate actual human flesh for combat, finally these blades are not meant for cutting through another sword or a gun or even a chainsaw you will end up chipping the sword and breaking the chainsaw blade if not offsetting it. Use common sense a blade is a tool for fighting and war but it doesn't make you invincible get some training and don't become too over confident in your small amount of skill with just that one thing a beginner with a sword is easily defeated by the intermediate with a walking stick and there is always someone out there with more skills than you and in the end might take your weapon from you, pick your battles wisely not foolishly. And if you've never fought invest in armor.

This is my first katana and I absolutely love it

Very pleased. Sword is very solid, well balance, and flawlessly crafted. Haven't been able to try it yet so I couldn't give it 5 stars.

Not true Damascus you can't see the pattern off the bat like that you have to see it under a reflection of light it looks acid etched

Nice looking sword Blade is no good and was not sharpened as others have said I hope you know how to sharpen it It will take a lot of sharpening.