Ace Martial Arts Supply Unsharpened Carbon Steel Iaito Practice Katana Sword

I've been a practitioner of Shinkendo for three years now and I have owned this particular iaito for almost the same amount of time. Fortunately, this iaito has and continues to serve me well within these past years. My sensei was actually surprised that my iaito was only $50.00 as it was incredibly well-balanced, the ito wrap was solid and (at the time) there was no wiggle whatsoever in the saya. Though the ito has become discolored over the years and I had to re-shim the saya so that the blade will no longer wiggle within it, I don't see the need to replace the actual blade anytime in the near future.As other reviewers have pointed out, this iaito is definitely heavier than most other iaito on the market (in fact, the weight is actually double that of the shinken I own). As such, I would definitely recommend this product for strength training using slow, controlled movements. I would not recommend this iaito for batto/iai training until you have become very comfortable with the weight.The grip itself is rather comfortable, though don't expect the smoothness of a silk ito; honestly, it first felt like thick shoelace, but over time, it began to soften (though this may be because I simply got used to the feeling). Also, the ito wrap is still rather solid, but I did have to retie the ends through the kashira as it did become loose after 2 and a 1/2 years.Aesthetically, it isn't the best iaito on the market, but given that this iaito is within the $50.00 range, you can't expect too much. The hamon is definitely wire-brushed, the saya is a plain black matte color, the ito diamonds are uneven, the ito wrap itself does not alternate, and the fittings are rather plain. However, as this is more of a training tool than anything else, none of these things detract my overall training experience with this iaito.I'd like to point out is a fellow classmate of mine had ordered the same iaito on Amazon as well, but oddly, his iaito was more unbalanced, with much of the weight being directed closer to the kissaki. I've heard similar complaints from other reviewers as well, so I guess it's 50-50 chance that you may end up with a lemon if you order this iaito.Overall, I would definitely recommend this product so long as you receive a well balanced one. It may not be the best looking iaito on the market, but it is definitely a welcome addition to anyone who is looking for a reliable strengthening tool for years to come.

Very good quality practice katana. Sword is about same weight and balance as real katana. It may be a bit long if you are not used to 27" blades.Update 2016-04-25After owning and practicing with this Iaito for over a year, I noticed that the Kashira (pummel) was loose. I decided to remove the cord and to inspect the Mekugi and other parts. That's why I noticed cord was not even tied at the end, but instead just glued together and left inside the Kashira. Then I noticed that the sword is not even full tang. The fake ray skin was not even a full piece that went around, but instead just 2 pieces. On one side, the skin was not the correct size, so they cut another 1 inch square and glued it to the end to cover it up. Overall the quality was abysmal. I should have disassembled it completely when I first received. Now it is too late to return this piece of junk.I would not trust this toy to use in a real practice session, because the blade could fly loose and cause serious damage, even if it is unsharpened. There are plenty of good quality Iaitos on the market. Do not be fooled like me. Save your money and buy from some other place.

Weight,balance and dimensions feel just like the live ones. Excellent training tool. The ito is cotton though, so it doesn't wear any better than one should expect for cotton. This is the second one of these I've owned, due to a housefire. Other than the wrap the first one was still going strong until that event. If you want a realistic feeling kat minus the sharp edge this should meet that expectation. Its basically a blunt sword of 1045 steel. The tip is sharp so exercise caution doing noto or poking anything unless you intend to impale it.

The product made poorly and can cause safety issues. the handle of the iaito is cracked. It was broken by a person who assembled the sword. The stingray skin planks fell off the handle due to a low quality of a glue used. The rope that goes around the handle is glued on sides to a handle and it is not put properly on a handle. The sword supposed to have only one pin. I guess due to bad craftsmanship the manufacturer put two pins. I'm very disappointed

After only a minor surface cleanup to remove a few minor scratches, I used gun blue to give this steel sword a deep black color. The steel is obviously of a good enough quality that no discernible color differences were noted along the blade after treatment. This is an excellent practice sword that probably weighs a few ounces more than a sharpened counterpart that would be very unsuitable for safely performing practice exercises. The heavier blade profile means you should NEVER attempt to sharpen this Iaito. Most of this style practice sword are made of cheap alloy or aluminum (due to Japanese legal restrictions) so it was a real pleasure to find one made competently and out of real material. The saya (sheath) isn't the best in quality but is quite adequate. The sword itself is excellent, especially for the price - costing nearly a quarter of some of the competition.

This sword is a TANK! It is much heavier than a sharpen Katana. However, I realized--it is also a weight--a resistance. So, I use it as a strength building device. I perform each movement slowly, following straight lines--at least trying. That's where I see this swords benefits. I fill ripped after a slow movement drill--with this sword. This device demands that you remain in control else you could ruin your elbow, shoulders, and back. For quickness--I will train with a aluminum Iaito. BUY THIS TO GAIN STRENGTH. USE IT IN SLOW CONTROLLED MOTION. My scarab required filing, BUT for the price of forged steel, it was a happy and mindful task. BE mindful: this blade is great to build strength with slow controlled motion.

Really good build and great for practicing Iaido... a little heavier than the ones I'm used to and due to its shape and weight I can't get the swoosh as easily. Sensei approved but it's not an authentic one... For it's price you can't find better

I have been self taught after my Master moved to the country, i find this practice sword practical and reliable for the unorthodox methods i was taught.

Aucune preuve d'authenticité sur le Iaïto que c'est un Musha pas du tout conforme aux photos de la publicitéTrès déçu