Ryujin Fujiwara Series 41" Hand Forged Iaito Training Katana Samurai Sword 1045 Carbon Steel Shinogi Zukuri Blade Blunted Edge

TLDR: A bargain price on a solid, well-built iaito for advanced training. Not for beginners.I normally train with live steel, but recently found myself in need of a good iaito as I'm learning some advanced iaijustu kata which involve a higher potential for self-injury from mistakes. This blade serves that purpose quite well. You should be aware, however, that it is quite blade-heavy, stemming primarily from the fact that there is no edge at all, thus the blade retains significantly higher amounts of steel than a live blade. I've been practicing iaijutsu and iaido for many years, and I work out daily with both weights and cardio in order to maintain my strength, and I find the extra weight of this sword a moderate challenge when performing more energetic kata -- especially at the full extension of chiburi, where the weapon exerts significant stress on your wrist.For an experienced swordsman this is a good thing, as it gives you a better workout than a perfectly balanced blade. By requiring greater strength and concentration to perform kata smoothly and stop the blade precisely at extension, it has the effect of improving your control tremendously. After two weeks of practice with this, a traditionally forged katana with a well-balanced live blade feels like a feather.Note that while this blade is safer for learning advanced techniques, it is NOT safe: it retains a very sharp point, and even one mistake during noto (very common among beginners) can result in piercing the inside of a finger on the off hand, potentially nicking or even severing a nerve sheath and causing a debilitating loss of feeling in the hand. I do not recommend this sword for beginners; that's what bokken are for. Too many beginners think iaito are "safe" because they don't have an edge and get sloppy with them. They also lack strength in the hand and arm muscles which experienced swordsmen use to precisely control a blade, and starting out heavy is not a good way to learn control and precision. If you're an experienced swordsman, however, and want a good workout or something to use while learning advanced techniques, this is a great buy at the price.

Note: I have definitions for Beginners or people who may not know all the Japanese names for parts of the sword, so bear with me...Needed my own iaito after starting in Iaido earlier this year, this seem like a good bargain at $50. And it is! The sword came in great condition, no scratches, no looseness or shakiness. It did have some oil residue, so I needed to wipe it off. Blunt, but the tip is sharp enough to puncture, so be advised. Good weight, just enough to work your arms, but still light enough to give you that nice swoosh on your kiriotoshi (vertical cut). Cord material for tsuka (hilt) and sageo (cord used to tie to belt) has the consistency of a wide shoelace for boots - thick and sturdy, not slick so helps with gripping. NOTE: the gold casing in the kurigata (loophole for sageo) does fall out from time to time, so you may want to glue it down or remove it. Also, the saya (scabbard) is not lacquered, more like painted. You may find paint residue on the habaki (base of blade) when you draw. Lastly, the tsuba (guard) is not completely black, you can see the metal slightly upon close examination. That said, the tsuba is sturdy and stable, no shaking at all.I would not recommend for cutting (it's blunt, anyway) or making contact with other swords (because it's $50).As most Japanese sword enthusiasts know, price and quality tend to go hand in hand. It's a great, solid sword for $50, but it is $50. If you're starting out in Iaido or Kendo and need an affordable sword that won't fall apart on you, this is good investment.

I bought this as an iaito blade. Sheerness is rated high for this purpose, because it's not sheer at all, so no injuries from the ha or blade part when performing repeated iai and noto. The tip is still pointy, so there is some element of danger to practicing with this sword.I've found the weight and handling to be nice and quick, and have been able to practice for long sessions. The tsuba is classic and simple and the saya is of a matte type of finish, so not a lot of fingerprints there. It's been a solid working blade for the dojo and home practice.

Weird white sticky powder inside the sheathe that cannot be fully removed and sticks all over the blade and your clothes etc. Hilt is way too fat. You get what you paid for literally.

It's heavy and not balanced very well, but sturdily made. As a starter sword, I think it's fine for being only $50.

So first of all, the shipping, packaging and craftsmanship of this katana are top notch. The only issue I have is that it's a bit heavy compared to the average $200+ carbon steel (sharp) katana. Very solid and feel good in the hand, just be ready for a bit of heft while working out ;-)

this is a great starter Iaito. The tsuka-maki (handle wrap) and sageo (scabbard cord) is kinda trash and feels like ratty shoelaces. I recommend buying a replacement and learn to wrap it yourself. Aside from that, the structure and balance feels great. Held up just fine in stress tests. Keep it oiled.

The katana came exactly as advertised with no major flaws.