MAKOTO Handmade Sharp Katana Black Samurai Sword 40"

The pics shown for the tsunami sword DO NOT SHOW it with this made in china stamp, I mean come on, a samurai sword of all things reading made in china of all places, could have hid it or something, not that I want it reading made in USA either just simply the brand would have been enough honestly or at least show pictures true to what is sent.

I should start by mentioning that I have no expertise with swords. Considering I'm reviewing a budget katana, you probably already knew that.This purchase was a gift for a friend. However, after opening the box and inspecting the item prior to gifting it, I have to say I wanted to keep it for myself. I found the sword rather hefty (but not overly so) and seemingly well put together. The sword seemed solid and, judging by the two bamboo pegs holding the handle together, I'm assuming it is full tang as claimed. The blade was straight and well polished with a fairly sharp edge (sharp but not razor sharp). The hamon was wire brushed on but what do you expect for a $50 sword? The sheath was made of a lacquered wood which did not appear to have any flaws or cracks and fit the sword well when inserted. When I inverted the entire thing, the sword did not fall out.I have no doubt this sword is nowhere near the quality of higher priced katanas, but it's not meant to be. It's an ornamental decoration that could probably be used to finally achieve your dream of becoming a real life fruit ninja.. However, for its price, it is much more refined and well built than it should be. Needless to say, my friend was pleased with his gift.

UPDATE (4-24-2019):Been using the Makoto for cutting practice since purchase. During a bad swing, the blade hit the stand (1 1/2" PVC) and chipped. Only noticeable on examination, but noticeable. The blade also bent slightly, almost imperceptibly (did I mention it was a BAD swing?). It's a reminder that 1045 steel isn't as tough as 1095 or T10. I still maintain the current rating as it is a fine, low cost blade for cutting practice.UPDATE (2-11-2018): Did some fun noodle cutting. The blade did fine (total of 15 cuts), not as dull as I thought (see presumptive remark below). A couple of good strikes almost went clean through cutting the noodle in half, but that's not the blade's fault as much as my poor technique. Seriously, for the price, this is a far better blade than I originally gave it credit for. I am surprised at how nice this blade looks and performs. Hopefully, with proper care it will last a while. The only concerns I have are the overly tight koiguchi and loose fitting over it. If those came correct, this would have easily been a 5 star review.--Nice sword overall (TSUNAMI). I bought the sword for practicing proper sword drawing. Packing was good. Box within a box. Sword in a simple cloth sword bag with styrafoam riser support.I've seen many lower cost katana with beautiful, ornate designs, but more than my conservative tastes. This one seemed simple, understated and functional for my purpose. The koiguchi fitting was very loose, it actually came off requiring reapplication of adhesive to keep it in place. The koiguchi is nearly a perfect match for the blade. Nearly because it is REALLY snug requiring more effort to draw than it should. I prefer this over it rattle around in a "one size fits all" kind of cut. A few flaws in the generic ray wrap, but none that detract from the overall appearance. The tsuka ito is tight, no visible issues. The pieces are assembled quite well, with a nice fit, nothing feels loose. The saya is matte finish, not glossy, but a well made. The fittings in the shitodome were secured, not loose as you may see in other productions katana. The sageo is a braided threading that seems very solid, not cheap, but not high-end. Kind of reminds me of a flat shoelace. The tsuba is nice and solid, and the design on it is well done.The blade came oiled. As for cutting, the upper 3rd is sharp enough to cut paper, but not without some feathering so it is definitely not razor sharp. The rest of the blade doesn't seem it could cut a wet napkin. Should I begin doing cutting (mat and fun noodle slicing!), this blade would need to be sharpened. Will try to include photos later.Overall, for the price, it meets my needs, looks great and I'm pleased with the quality of the Makato Tsunami katana.

Nice sword at a great price. I used it to practice disassembling and maintaining. Everything was really tight. The sword was stuck in the Saya (so much) I almost had to return it. I finally managed to pull the sword out and immediately shaved off some of the Saya to fit properly. Disassembling the sword also took great effort and needed a block of wood and hammer to separate the blade from the Tsuka.

Gonna cut to the chase on this review. You get what you pay for at this price point. The hamon looks like it was grinded on and not heat tempered as traditional swords are. I don't hold it against it because this isn't a 4k katana but I would have liked the grind marks to atleast match. Right when I opened the sword the Koi-Guchi on the Saya fell off which was a little disappointing. That's the metal piece on the sword cover that interfaces with the sword (I had to look it up what that was). I fixed it up with a little epoxy. As a show piece this thing is pretty cool and well deserving of 4/5 for the price point. If the consistency in quality was there then this would have got 5/5.

My son asked for this sword for his 16th birthday. I read about it a bit, and decided to get it for him. He’s very much into Japanese culture and history, and is old enough to understand that it’s not a toy. It sits on a rack in his room like a decorative piece. When it was delivered I was absolutely floored at the quality. The reviews saying otherwise are just unfair! For the cost, this thing is actually a legitimate weapon. It is solid constructed, not like the costume swords that the blade falls out on if you shake it too hard. It comes sharp! I mean sharp enough that I almost reconsidered gifting it to my son. I trust him, but watching him wipe off the oil the blade was packed in made my wife and I cringe. If you order this, beware of how serious this thing actually is. That being said, this is probably as close as you can get to owning a sword that came from a legitimate sword smith at this price point. I’d highly recommend this incredible sword.

The blade is balanced plus also light for the given lenght, the two mekugis with the black handle wrap got decent grip, and the saya looks tasteful.

Its a nice katana. Its clean looking and well made. Its fair for the price. The blade is nice and it came fairly sharp. I'm happ that I got this katana. If you're looking for a cheap katana to do practice cutting with then this is the sword. Light cutting only though. I don't recommend heavey cutting.

En tiempo y forma.