RYUJIN Hatamoto Series 41" Katana Hand Forged 65Mn Spring Steel Through Hardened Shinogi Zukuri No-Hi Blade w/Real Ray Skin Handle

Can’t think of a better buy for a solid practice or “beater” Katana and/or unassuming décor. Looks fine on a wall and endures a bit of fun well. The spring steel can take a beating, more-so than I’d want to try with a clay-tempered or other differentially forged blade. It has a nice full-tang and solid feel, that doesn’t wobble or shake or rattle any. Fist snuggly in the sheath (saya). The sharpness is roughly on par with an average pocketknife. However, unlike the typical pocketknife, it has a thorough and consistent polish of the blade-edge. Nothing to take lightly. However, not “razor sharp” or exceptional either. The handle wrap (ito) was snug for me (unlike noted in other reviews). However, I’ve noticed small separations in the laces when used, which can be easily moved back into place. Small negatives to note: - it has a surface coating on the blade that breaks into small uncoated patches near the blade collar and handle as delivered. Otherwise, this adds a nice and refined sheen to the metal, which could otherwise be polished a pinch more (not a complaint at this price). - The pegs (mekugi) for the handle and blade are obnoxiously prominent and extend beyond the handle wrapping. - An ever-so-small indentation on the blade-edge when it was received, where one would look to strike with the katana. As if tested or played with at the factory (no abrasions of the finish or coating seen).

Good steel from a company that isn't lying about that detail. Fake hamon isn't bad or obviously hideous. Not sharp but has a uniform edge. Bamboo pegs holding the tsuka are sticking out 1/8 in from handle and sharp edged - not so great but holding. Cotton Wrap is loose. Fittings are iron and are solid enough. Bought as a gift for someone to take apart, understand, study and sharpen. I'd have given it five stars for the quality vs. price but the bamboo pegs tend to show a lapse in detail that could have been better finished and they're pretty infuriating. Not a heavy katana at all but I don't have a scale and it feels like 2.3 lbs. The saya scabbard is very lightweight and is shiny black and economy. Came with cotton sword bag. No certificate from Ryujin came with mine. You can get a much better Ryujin katana for a little more. Ryujin is a great great company though and they turn out a highly unique product at various affordable price points and I appreciate that very much. They put eastern blades like this within reach of the common person. All in all and for the price -it's amazing. A fixer upper that is serviceable as is.

Most of the 65mn (spring steel) swords produced by Ryujin, available in the U.S. Market, have dull-blades for iaito use but this Hatamoto Series Katana is actually sharp and ready for practical use. I challenge anyone to find a spring steel (5260, 65Mn), tool steel (T-10) or high-carbon (1060 to 1095) sword for less than $250.00 USD. Great value for the money!

Spring steel blade for $100 is unheard of. This alone gives the sword a 4-star rating. i have purchased 4 of these swords and there have been critical errors with all 4 of them. but this is still one of my favorites. watch out for twisted blades. check the straightness of the sword. if it is bent, you probably cannot fix it, and if you can, that means the heat treatment is defective. send it back. secondly check the heat treatment. make sure there is not a spot in the blade where it will take a set. if there is, send it back. next the nakago may be bent which is less minor and can be worked around with shimming or carving on the tsuka core. this optional if you want to keep a sword like this if the only problems with the sword are a cracked tsuka, then just epoxy it and re-wrap it. i find i like a substantially lighter tsuba, to change the point of balance of the sword so it's more blade-forward. the tsuba is steel and very heavy, about 120g. often these swords come with a tsuka that is too thick. the tsuka core will need to be thinned by filing and the samegawa panel slots touched up.

Very well Heat Treated and Tempered blade....chopped down a medium sized Sand Pine (an invasive Species) and the sword took no edge damage, was still sharp. The wrap of the Handle ( Tsuka) did fall apart from this abuse, and I think the pegs might be cosmetic ( ?) as the Tsuka appears to be glued or Epoxied on. One peg broke off, and the Same (ray skin panels) are 1/2 off. But the blade, even though it' a bit narrow in profile, stood up to the punishment like a champ...impressive.

If you are looking for a show piece to hang on the wall this is not it! Buy this blade for use. For $119 you are buying a through hardened blade that can cut medium to heavy targets due to the strength of this spring steel. The saya reminds me of a Ronnin which has same week black saya. All the fittings minus the tsuba are on my Iron Tiger Forge T10 Katana which is a 350$+ katana seeing all tgis the same confirms all along that these Chinese manufacturers are all connected one way or the other. Do research before you buy a katana. I still only have one complaint the wrap on the tsuka/handle is so loose that will need to be re done eventually. This blade is worth every dollar

The ito (cotton wrapping) is indeed loose, and came a bit dirty with sawdust on it. The ray skin samegawa (white bit under the cotton wrap) is very nice but damaged. menuki (the ornaments between the ito and the samegawa) are acceptable. The 2 seppa are acceptable. Tsuba is acceptable. The habaki was scratched up. The fuchi and kashira are acceptable. Tsuka is damaged. The mekugi (bamboo pegs which hold the blade in the handle) stick out a bit from each side and damaged the wood of the tsuka and samegawa as they hammered them in. The saya (scabbard) is nice. The ha of the blade ( the sharp edge) barely has any sharpness to it at all and I'll have to take it to my japanese water stones. Through hardened 65mn spring steel should have some flex to keep the blade from bending. It doesn't have a bohi (blood groove), which i didn't want on this katana anyway even though they look so nice. The hamon (temper line) is fake. I'd have rather had this mirror polished with no hamon at all but i wanted a fully functional budget katana and got what i paid for. I'm satisfied but I'm not happy about the scratched habaki, damaged samegawa, and damaged tsuka though. That's why it gets a 2 star rating instead of a 3 star. If the habaki, tsuka, and samagawa wouldn't have been damaged it'd be a 3 star rating. If the ito would've been tighter also it would be 4 star. If the blade would have been sharp as well, it have been 5 star.