Custom Made Katana by Hanbon Forge Reviews

4.8 Rating 48 Reviews

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How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“I am very impressed with Hanbon Forge and the custom katana they created for me. I chose the 1095 folded/clay tempered steel so that I could have a hamon. The yokote line and hamon are both subtle but visible, perhaps because I only selected the standard polishing. I imagine the Hazuya polishing option would have resulted in a clearer and more distinct hamon line. The fittings are nicely done and sturdy with no rattling or looseness at all. The designs on them are clear and you can tell what they are. I would not be surprised if they are just stamped onto the metal, but they are well done nonetheless. The silk handle feels nice and it's tightly wrapped and well done. The rayskin on the handle is indeed genuine and looks great; I opted for the fully wrapped option. Overall the sword feels sturdy and good in hand while swinging. I have not used it for cutting yet as I want to get better while using my less expensive blades first. This particular saya was actually what attracted me to Hanbon Forge, as they seemed to be the only ones who offer it on their custom sword maker. It may not be anything special in terms of material, but the design is gorgeous. It appears to just be a standard wooden saya. The design on it does not appear to be painted on but I believe is underneath the clear coat or top layer. It did have some small scuff marks in one area but it was not on the design so I'm not worried about it. The free sword bag was also a nice bonus, the one I chose had a gold and red phoenix and dragon design on it. The stitching line that brings the two portions of the bag together did seem a little off on certain parts. The one criticism I have is how the blade sits in the saya. I am new to owning and cutting with blades so I may be wrong in my assessment. The saya appears to be the appropriate length for the blade when I compared it to my other swords. It also seals lightly and doesn't fall out if you turn it upside down, though it will fall out if you shake it while in that position which is something my other swords do not do. Also, while the blade sits in the saya you can move it back and forth a few centimeters by holding the saya in one hand and moving the handle with your other hand. The other four swords I own do not do this in their saya so I don't believe this is normal. Finally, because the seal is not as tight (compared to my other blades) you can very easily push the blade out of the saya with only your thumb pushing lightly; my other swords require far more effort from the thumb and sometimes even require the other hand to very lightly draw while pushing up forcibly with the thumb. Do note that I do not practice Iaido so perhaps this looser seal between the blade and saya may allow for an easier time practicing those techniques. That being said, I doubt the saya are made specifically for each blade unless you choose a non-standard length. My only regrets are regarding the Mei and the Hamon. I wish I would have paid the $20 for the Mei as I would have loved to have the smiths signature on the tang, something I thought about way after placing the order. The sword did come with a Certificate of Authenticity that has the smiths' name on it, so at least I have their name. My next blade will have the Hazuya Polishing as I would like a more distinct hamon, and I think this polishing would create that. Overall I am happy with my purchase and would recommend Hanbon Forge for anyone wanting a comparatively inexpensive custom blade. I will definitely be getting a Nodachi from them at some point as my next blade.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 2 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“I ordered a 3 Shaku katana to push myself to improve. I had no idea that this katana would be so... Effortlessly smooth to use. With almost no time spent acclimating to this katana, I simply opened the package, cleaned the blade, and spent 10 minutes and I was shocked. In our school's online lessons the very next two mornings, nobody noticed the katana, or any change in my techniques during our Zoom calls... until some of us were being examined closely at the end of day 2, where we had more focus individually. Someone noticed the new length, and my techniques were called "slippery", as if the sword fluidly fell from the saya and i caught it. It is a joy to handle. It really is.”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 months ago

Miguel A. Diaz Lopez

Verified Reviewer

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How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“Me ha sorprendido mucho la calidad de los acabados. Además de montarla con todas las variantes que solicité. El montaje es refinado y ajustado. La he desmontado y vuelto a montar y sigue igual de ajustada. El afilado perfecto, se nota la diferencia con otras marcas similares.”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“It was made very well to what I sent in and they answered any questions I emailed about the process and delivery”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“The customer service at Swordis.com was top notch, the step by step customization process was intuitive and easy to navigate (it was also fun), and the sword itself - made by Hanbon Forge - is truly a masterpiece in quality. I have absolutely zero complaints about the entire process from start to finish. 10/10 will buy again.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 3 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“I am very happy with the sword I received. I love how customizable the swords are. Beautiful craftsmanship, good price, and very fast response time. 10 out of 10, would buy another.”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“The sword looks really good and feels well balanced”

Helpful Report

Posted 3 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“I asked for a very custom sword. It was better than expected. Only issue was a loose Saya which was easily addressed. The Tariff drama made for an adventurous trip. Definitely recommend.”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 3 months ago