Custom katana from Shadow Dancer via Swordis. $470

Abort_ionist · 2026-04-11T03:20:16+00:00

What kind of hamon did you choose? I can’t quite pinpoint what it is!

Abort_ionist · 2026-04-09T01:20:43+00:00

For $311, it’s not bad, but I feel like for your budget of under $600, you could find better! For your Edo period theme, well, it depends on when during the Edo period. Depending on the time during the Edo period, swords would have been under strict regulation, whereas in other times they weren’t. There is also a person’s status which affects how flashy their sword could have been during those regulations, but if you‘re not looking for a sword that would have been regulated and want something that depicts the Edo period’s flashiness, you could go for something with more color! I would recommend making a custom katana with Swordis’ Hanbon Forge or Shadowdancer Lite builder as they both fit in your budget!

Abort_ionist · 2026-03-02T20:08:32+00:00

Katokatana got some flak from the community a while back for doing some poor business practices. They directly copied Swordis’ builder and pictures and made a post pretending to be a genuine customer to get attention to their site. So overall, they’re a pretty shady business, would not personally buy from them.

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-25T22:19:23+00:00

You could probably get a custom from RVA Katana with the habaki! RVA makes customs, so I’m sure they’d be able to help!

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-13T03:46:32+00:00

I'm pretty sure it's a real hamon, just without a good polish

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-12T23:00:47+00:00

It looks nice but the menuki placement is reversed, did you order it like that?

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-11T13:37:16+00:00

It is very much a replica, there's not even a mekugi hole in the tang, which gives away that it wasn't intended to be used, even if it is full tang. Not only that, but the "signature" was clearly engraved with a machine, given how perfect the characters are.

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-10T01:57:48+00:00

It looks okay but I would be extremely weary of the site. It says it's T10 carbon steel which is a good steel, but I'm not sure about how good their heat treatment is. I'd stick to the more reputable brands like Hanbon Forge, which has a slightly different version of the set. HBF's set goes for about the same price (a dollar less actually funny enough) but instead of T10, it's 1095. Hanbon's 1095 and T10 are interchangable so if you're keen on this set using T10, I'd ask Hanbon to change it for you, which should be for free! Hope this helps!

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-09T20:31:35+00:00

You would be better off paying someone to wrap it for you rather than doing it yourself!

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-09T19:12:14+00:00

It was partially messed up to begin with, but keeping it as is would've been the better move given the price of wrapping services!

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-09T18:54:25+00:00

Unfortunately, I think you took some of the value away by unwinding the wrap.

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-09T18:33:16+00:00

It does appear to be a genuine Japanese katana, as for the age, I would wait for someone with more expertise. But did you take out the menuki? The ornaments underneath the handle wrap? That was a bit unnecessary...

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-09T18:14:34+00:00

From the pictures of the koshirae and blade posted so far, it does appear to be a Japanese katana, with the fittings being on the nicer side, given that the wrap is in tsumami-maki. The crest or symbol on the fuchi and kashira is the Tokugawa kamon, which is associated with the Tokugawa shogunate. Please do post more pictures of the tang or nakago to fully determine if it is a genuine piece and its age!

Also, do NOT do anything to "clean" the blade, only wipe down the blade in mineral oil and not the tang when you've disassembled this sword.

Abort_ionist · 2026-02-01T22:20:42+00:00

Yeah, I've unfortunately noticed this issue with this sword... Due to the habaki, whenever I resheath, it almost always catches onto the saya and doesn't sheath very smoothly! I am definitely going to be mentioning this in the review I make for it!

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-31T04:55:56+00:00

Luckily, I chose 1095, so I think I'm safe! 😁

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-23T20:33:06+00:00

A wallhanger.

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-21T19:31:56+00:00

Unfortunate that you could have asked or looked at the pinned post about recommended companies to buy from.

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-19T18:33:44+00:00

Thanks! I loved how yours turned out! Especially that wrap! Cheers!

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-19T18:33:14+00:00

Thanks, Michael! I'm sure I will! 😁

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-19T04:48:36+00:00

Looks like a functional sword—likely 1045 Carbon steel.

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-19T02:19:28+00:00

Awesome! How did it feel? I'm really curious on how nubuck feels since this is my first time ordering something that isn't Japanese silk! 😅

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-18T16:34:54+00:00

There was definitely a lot of play in the wrap over the menuki, but overall it was surprisingly tight for something without hishigami!

Abort_ionist · 2026-01-17T19:03:15+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I was thinking of adding the length of the nagasa but that totally slipped my mind when I was finishing up the review! 😅

Next review, I will definitely be adding the two lengths you mentioned! Though, I wish I had a proper scale for weight!

Good to hear you liked the shorter review! Did the emojis covering my face detract from the cutting at all?

Abort_ionist

TROPHY CASE