MAKOTO Handmade Shirasaya Samurai Katana Sharp Sword Burgundy Red

I feel in love!! This is Incredibly made! Strong but not sharp. Feel so real fits perfectly in my hands. Balance is a bit off an heavy in the blade end. The sheath gets stuck as well I need to self adjust for ease. Strong blade well made not bends . An amazing decor peace

Rosewood may not be a "rich mahogany," but it does work well enough for the burgundiest of Burgundys..It is straight and sharpened.Mine is all burgundy, with no black stripes painted to mark the divide between katana and Saya. The entire assembly is one single color of matte burgundy, and it appears featureless.Even the Mekugi peg has been painted over with burgundy - evidence that Makoto responds to customer comments.I continue to be impressed with the value that Makoto delivers with their swords - you do get a fair amount of quality for your dollars.The 28.45" Bohi blade has a Sori angle of about 7/8" which is a bit more curved than most Siwode and HMS katanas are. The edge is sharpened enough for most sword tasks, but I wouldn't describe mine as a razor blade..This particular Shirasaya-style katana has a weight of 2lb & 3oz without the Saya installed.A good magnet confirms the tang extends until the last 3 inches of the 11" handle.Point of balance is almost 7 inches forward from the top end of the handle, which is quite far down the length for a Bohi blade. Distal taper is minimal, which explains that blade-heavy balance..A traditional Tsuka handle and Tsuba would go a long ways to help bring some of that balance back rearward, but then it wouldn't be any kind of a Shirasaya, now would it..?!The Saya on this particular sword does not fit tight and the katana can fall right out, if extra care is not taken - until I shim it tighter. The Saya doesn't fall away from the sword without a light shake, but that is not what most owners are looking for..---I did glue some tiny wood vernier planks inside the Koiguchi (edge side), and that appears to have done the job perfectly. Give a good 24 hours to finish drying before resheathing the katana, or you could end up fusing the entire assembly into one single piece of highly-frustrating wood..The entire katana exhibits no rattle or wobble throughout the whole assembly - it appears (and feels) like one single piece of wood, until the katana is drawn.Durability has not been completely assessed, but my initial impressions are pretty good.I would have been just as pleased with the sword in the pictures, with the glossy finish, black stripes and the bare, protruding Mekugi peg, but I understand why Makoto changed their sword - I doubt it cost anything extra to appease all of those "horribly unsatisfied" customers..But Makoto should update their pictures to match the current changes made to their product.I won't recommend ANY shirasaya-style katana (as a first sword) to new sword owners because they require more care and effort to use them safely. Without any handguard on your sword, there's much more risk involved for any distracted user.True Shirasaya were intended for storage and to move a blade (as cargo) safely through the streets - they were not designed to be used as live katanas.This Shirasaya-style, or Faux-Shirasaya, is probably more popular than it should be, these days. Maybe it is the minimalist appearance, or maybe owners are fed up with all of the sloppy Itomaki wrappings on katana handles..The Shirasaya design is purposefully smooth and featureless, and (unfortunately) handling any Shirasaya could get complicated if it becomes wet or if handling with wet hands.Sharp and wet have never mix well..I added some hockey stick tape to improve the gripping surface on mine (the katana & Saya both), for better tactile control.Daniel Lopez the blind samurai (Youtuber) has a few videos on the use of Shirasaya katanas where he remarks as much, and more.But if these Shirasaya-type swords do appeal to you, I recommend trying one of these things out. They can be fun as long as the extra care is taken.Always remember folks, you can get little cuts from little mistakes with smaller blades, and BIG cuts from little mistakes will large blades, so be careful handling (live, sharp) katana blades because you are always just one "quick little mistake" away from an emergency room visit..

Nice package,sock,sheath.Good thick blade,sraight spine,blood groove the length of the blade,sharp but not really, it needs to be worked on to be "razor" sharp( I can put ordinary pressure on it(not too heavy) with my thumb and not get cut ,but if you swipe it you will be cut.You can easily sharpen it.I gave it a 4 for sturdiness as I don`t know if its trully full tang.It has one wooden pin in the handle,I would like to see 2. Dirty, but Worth 50.00 bucks.The wooden sheath and handle is very good.

This sword is definitely a wall hanger. It looks nice and has the real feel to it. However it isn't something you would want to use like an actual sword. The blade is not sharp, however for cosplay and decoration it is great.

What is not to like other than the wooden peg sticks out too far on either side but can easily be trimmed down. The fit and finish of this blade shows the fine level of craftsmanship. I am proud to display it on my wall in my office

Bought for my daughter for Christmas. She likes to display her swords, not use them. It looks great on her wall!

Great quality, i just don’t recommend dropping it harshly. The wood is rather soft and weak

The craftsmanship on this blade is stunning. the blade is remarkably sharp and fits perfectly in the scabbard for a seamless fit. I love the burgundy finish. Well worth the money