1095&1045 Steel Sanmai Katana Reviews

4.4 Rating 7 Reviews

About Swordis:

Swordis, an online retail store, specializes in a wide array of swords, showcasing selections from some of the most esteemed brands in the industry. This emerging startup has expanded its scope by incorporating SwordEncyclopedia, a blog known for its extensive sword resources and recognized as a leading authority in this niche. Swordis' shop section offers an impressive range of over 1000 products in various categories. Their collection not only includes Japanese swords, Historical European Swords, and Military swords, but also extends to specialized items such as Technical knives, machetes, and a fascinating variety of fantasy swords and more. Featuring 19 distinguished brands, Swordis caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from historical enthusiasts to imaginative collectors.

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How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“A solid choice as an entry level katana, especially at that price point. I can almost say that every part of the sword is made with high quality materials and feels more like a 600-800 sword. I wish color options were available with choice of designs for sword fittings. I gave it 4 stars out of 5 as there was a small smudge on the blade that looked like a remnant of someone's fingerprint. Left longer, it might have caused some rusting. I also had to replace the mekugi because the habaki was slightly loose; however, they provided me with a video within two hours. You rarely find this level of customer service”

1 Helpful Report

Posted 1 month ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“Very well executed sword. The fit, and finish is top notch. The ito wrap is very tight. The casting quality of the Fuchi & Kashira is near perfect. The finish on the Tsuba is smooth, and has no burs, or sharp ledges. The Saya is nice, and slim, and light weight with an ishime finish. The blade came very sharp, and well done. It would have gotten 5 stars if the polish on the blade was a little better. That’s only area that could have used some more attention. Overall I would definitely recommend this sword. It was also a pleasure working with Swordis, and their customer service was excellent.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 2 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“The sword is beautifully polished and the lines are clearly defined. The fitment of the habaki is on the loose side but that can be remedied with thicker seppa. My real grip is with the tsuka fitment. I like to remove the handles for inspection and I noticed the mekugi is inserted crookedly. Once I was able to get the tsuka off with a rubber mallet the hole on the inner handle was drilled at a 30 degree angle with a large metal burr. If this was a higher end blade I would be upset but since this is just a backyard cutter these flaws I can live with.”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 2 months ago

Thank you for the review! I’d like to provide some context regarding this issue. What you pointed out as a mistake or defect is actually something that can occur during transportation. Traditionally made katanas only have one mekugi, drilled at an angle so it can be easily disassembled and replaced. Some parts of the katana can become loose after use, and this method gives you the option to easily disassemble and replace the mekugi, while also tightening any fittings. The downside is that during transportation, the mekugi can be crushed, which makes the habaki feel loose. However, we include an extra mekugi with every package we send. If you replace the mekugi, the problem will be fixed in less than 2 minutes. I’ll also ask my team to send you a video showing exactly how to do this. Please let us know if there is anything else you were concerned about besides this. Also, in the future, if you are concerned about this, you can request that we make the sword with two pins.

Posted 2 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“Very nice looking sword. The ito wrap is extremely tight, and well executed. Saya fitment, and finish is near perfect. The fittings are of very high quality, they even let me change the Menuki, habaki, and seppa to cupranickel. The tsuka has a defined slim haichi shape. High quality samegawa, but mine did not come with an emperor node. Extremely nice sword for under 500 dollars. You’d be hard pressed to find a quality sanmai blade for less than that. This would have been 5 stars if it had a better polish, the Kesho polish is not the best I’ve seen. None the less it still a beautiful blade, and came very sharp right out of the box. I would deffinatly recommend this katana to anyone. Working with Swordis was a pleasure, they kept in contact with me the whole time, especially David from customer service he was very helpful. I would also recommend buying swords from Swordis to other people.”

3 Helpful Report

Posted 4 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“I have 3 Shadow Dancer swords. To date, I have never been disappointed by the outstanding quality for the price. Tsuka ito is tight. Tsuka is more of a Nihonto style, and the appropriate dimensions are about 10 inches for a 28-inch blade (nagasa). This places the feel of the weight closer to the Monouchi. The Saya has a slim and slightly tapered feel and has a nice nonglossy finish (great if you do a lot of iai requiring a Shinken). The fittings are unique but not tacky. The Shitodome actually stays in place (which is rare these days), and the fuchi and kashira are simple but really nice. I thought the Tsuba would be a cheese grater and was prepared to replace it, but there were no sharp edges at all. The sword still has a nice balance and is not tooo heavy, considering it has no bo-hi. The hamon is actually quite pronounced and really nice. I am not sure what the Tsuka ito is (it does not feel like silk, nor should it be at this price)”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 5 months ago

How's the Blade?

How are the Handle and Fittings?

“This is my second shadow dancer sword, the first I had to pay around 50 for shipping to the US. So buying from Swordis is already a win for me. Like the first one, shadow dancer swords are made very well, the ito is wrapped tight and doesn't shift. One of the best features is the already included hishigami which adds stability—without having to pay extra!”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 7 months ago

SpaceGhost1822

Verified Reviewer

“Bought this shadowdancer after watching Eric husayn demo one on YouTube. Have had a Z-Sey in the past and this is extremely similar. This is the highest quality blade I've seen in the price point. Emperor node, extremely tightly wrapped into, well done set of fittings, as well as an extremely well done blade with a lot of visual activity. Swordis customer service is also incredible. They go above and beyond to ensure you are happy with your purchase. This is the only distributor I will use to purchase swords now. Blows the competition out of the water. Extremely happy with my purchase and will definitely be back for more. (SpaceGhost1822)”

2 Helpful Report

Posted 10 months ago

1095&amp;1045 Steel Sanmai Katana Reviews

1095&1045 Steel Sanmai Katana Reviews