I received a replacement sword courtesy of karate depot, who even paid for my return shipping. my new sword is definitely an improvement. though I have not had a chance to practice with it, I can already tell that it is not only more balanced, but, more importantly, much straighter. not perfect blade but flaws so minor, only those familiar with artisan crafted blades will know to look for. I imagine the handle situation will arise again, but I plan in re-tacking my handle anyway, so not a big deal. if you want a first sword to migrate from a bokken, I highly recommend, but only for learning the feel of having a blade, as opposed to broad wood. not for cutting practice or sparring (most definitely not actual combat) this is a good buy for the money, but read the title as 'students, first sword'.  Permalink

This sword has a nice feel with the leather wrapping. I wouldn't recommend it for actual combat, but who now-a-days goes off on Samurai adventures anyways? I would recommend it for what it is called, Practical Training Katana It is very practical for training purposes only for those who train in Aikido and Laido. If you already have a special sword for such studies, this Practical Training Katana is very good for a secondary sword to practice with and the price is nice for such use.  Permalink

This Katana is everything the description says, it even comes with a black cloth case when it arrived it was wrapped in a black woven cloth case. This sword seems to be very durable, and is mandatory in any arsenal of warriors training weapons.
Thanks for the low price too Karate Depot!  Permalink