MAKOTO Handmade Shirasaya Samurai Katana Sharp Sword Burgundy Red

Rosewood may not be a "rich mahogany," but it would work well enough for the burgundiest of Burgundys.. It is straight, sharp and to the point, just like a News Anchor should be.. Mine is all burgundy, with no black stripes painted to mark the divide between katana and Saya. The entire assembly is one single color of matte burgundy, and it appears featureless. Even the Mekugi peg has been painted over with burgundy - evidence that Makoto has responded to customer comments. The 28.45" Bohi blade has a significant Sori angle of about 7/8" which is a bit more curved than most Siwode and HMS katanas are. The edge is sharpened enough for most sword tasks, but I wouldn't describe mine as being any kind of a razor blade.. This is NOT a heavy sword. It does NOT weigh anything close to 4 pounds.. According to my Wheeler trigger-pull scale, this particular Shirasaya-style katana has a comfortable weight of 2lb & 3oz without the Saya installed. This sword might FEEL somewhat hefty because the distal taper is minimal, and the Point Of Balance is almost 7 inches forward from where the Tsuba would be, which is rather far down the length for a Bohi style of blade. A traditional Tsuka handle and Tsuba would go a long ways to help bring some of that balance back rearward, but then it wouldn't be any kind of a Shirasaya. A good magnet confirms the tang extends until the last 3 inches of the 11" handle. The Saya on this particular sword does not fit tight and the katana can fall right out of the Saya, if extra care is not taken - until I shim it tighter. The Saya will not fall away from the sword without a light shake, but that's not what most owners are looking for.. ADDITIONAL - - - I did glue some tiny wood vernier planks (4) inside the Koiguchi (edge side), and this appears to have fixed this particular gripe. 4 months and counting.. I believe mine fits perfectly now. Go slowly, one piece at a time. Be sure to give each additional piece a good 24 hours (at least) to finish drying before resheathing the katana, or you could end up fusing the entire assembly into one single piece of highly-frustrating wood.. The entire katana exhibits no rattle or wobble throughout the whole assembly - it appears (and feels) like one single piece of lumber, until the katana blade is drawn. Durability hasn't been completely assessed, but my initial impressions are pretty good. I would have been just as pleased with the sword in the pictures, with the glossy finish, black stripes and the bare, protruding Mekugi peg, but I understand why Makoto changed their sword - I doubt it cost anything extra to appease all of those "horribly unsatisfied" customers.. But Makoto should update their pictures to match the decorative changes made to their current product. I would not recommend ANY shirasaya-style katana (as a first sword) to new sword owners because they require more care and effort to use them safely - there are a dozen other katana designs that a new owner could try before choosing one of these. There is so much more risk involved for any distracted user, without a proper Tsuba handguard on your sword. True Shirasaya were intended primarily for storage, and to move a blade (as cargo) safely through the streets - they were not designed to be used as live katanas. This Shirasaya-style (or Faux-Shirasaya) is probably more popular than it should be, these days. Maybe it is the minimalist appearance, or maybe katana buyers are fed up with all of the sloppy, loose Itomaki wrappings on most (mass production, Chinese made) Tsuka katana handles that have been based on the traditional design.. Because (honestly) most of them are not made to endure any SERIOUS, working use. The Shirasaya design is purposefully smooth and featureless, and (unfortunately) handling any Shirasaya could get complicated if it becomes wet or if handling with wet hands. Historically, sharp and wet have never mixed very well.. I added some hockey stick tape to improve the gripping surface on mine (katana & Saya both). This may take away from the appearance and overall aesthetic of this piece, but it does help with handling, and it allows better tactile control of the live edge. Daniel Lopez the blind samurai (Youtuber) made a few videos on the use of Shirasaya katanas where he remarks as much, and more. Daniel Lopez also makes the point of not recommending a Shirasaya-style katana to any new sword owners. But if these Shirasaya-type swords do appeal to you, and you absolutely must own one, I recommend trying one of these things out to see if this style of katana works well for you, because the price ain't bad, and these swords can be a lot of fun as long as that extra care is taken. Always remember folks, you can get little cuts from little mistakes with smaller blades, and BIG cuts from little mistakes will large blades, so be careful handling ANY (live, sharp) katana blades because these (purposefully) dangerous tools will ALWAYS keep you just one "quick little mistake" away from an emergency room visit..

It's a heavy sword, it weights 4 lbs a little heavy for my taste other wisw it's ok.

I feel in love!! This is Incredibly made! Strong but not sharp. Feel so real fits perfectly in my hands. Balance is a bit off an heavy in the blade end. The sheath gets stuck as well I need to self adjust for ease. Strong blade well made not bends . An amazing decor peace

This sword is definitely a wall hanger. It looks nice and has the real feel to it. However it isn't something you would want to use like an actual sword. The blade is not sharp, however for cosplay and decoration it is great.

The craftsmanship on this blade is stunning. the blade is remarkably sharp and fits perfectly in the scabbard for a seamless fit. I love the burgundy finish. Well worth the money

What is not to like other than the wooden peg sticks out too far on either side but can easily be trimmed down. The fit and finish of this blade shows the fine level of craftsmanship. I am proud to display it on my wall in my office

Nice package,sock,sheath.Good thick blade,sraight spine,blood groove the length of the blade,sharp but not really, it needs to be worked on to be "razor" sharp( I can put ordinary pressure on it(not too heavy) with my thumb and not get cut ,but if you swipe it you will be cut.You can easily sharpen it.I gave it a 4 for sturdiness as I don`t know if its trully full tang.It has one wooden pin in the handle,I would like to see 2. Dirty, but Worth 50.00 bucks.The wooden sheath and handle is very good.

Bought for my daughter for Christmas. She likes to display her swords, not use them. It looks great on her wall!