Samurai Sword Clay Tempered Katana Model #31

This review comes from someone outside the world of sword arts, a non-practitioner who finally decided to step into it with an entry-level katana. I discovered Ronin Katana through Matthew Jensen’s reviews and decided to purchase. This review is for the kindred spirits who, like me, always wanted a katana but kept putting it off. Maybe life responsibilities got in the way. Maybe you convinced yourself it would just be a romanticized impulse and that you’d end up looking like a mall ninja. Whatever the reason, the desire never left. If you’re like me, you just want something real enough to scratch that itch, something functional, even if not top-tier or historically authentic. Ordering, Delivery, and First Impressions: I ordered late on a Friday night. Naturally, nothing moved until Monday. But once business hours hit, Ronin was on it, quick response, quick shipping, and the sword was in my hands five days later. Unboxing was the climax to the 5 day wait. Pulling it from the soft fabric bag, the first thing I noticed was the ito (handle wrap). The fabric had that slightly fuzzy, cheap feel, like it would fray if you brushed against it. Still, the wrap was firm and the tsuba (guard) felt solid enough for the price. The saya (scabbard) was plain and functional, no extra ornamentation, which is fine by me. Then came the letdown: unsheathing. The blade emerged with wood shavings stuck at the hilt and across the blade, which meant the saya was shedding internally. Every draw repeats this issue. On top of that, the fit was loose, the blade won’t stay put if tilted downward. As for sharpness, it’s serviceable. Not razor-level, but easily capable of cutting soft targets. First impression? Does it look cheap? Yes. Was it cheap? Yes. That checks out, but it is, without question, still a katana. Cutting and Handling: Can it cut? Absolutely. But can you? On my first attempt, I thought I’d slice through grass and stalks like it was nothing. Reality hit quick: my cuts felt awkward, sloppy, more like tearing than slicing. Years of imagining the feel didn’t prepare me for actual control; the weight and sharpness don’t do the work for you. My body wasn’t in sync with the blade. The sword’s looseness didn’t help, I dropped it on asphalt within the first week, earning scratches as a reminder that you're lucky this isn't an expensive sword and be more attentive. Here’s what this sword taught me over the past week: mechanics matter. Technique matters. Safety and care matter. This entry-level katana won’t deliver some epic duel fantasy or endure heavy cutting like a higher-quality blade. It’s not “battle ready.” But that phrase is meaningless anyway if the wielder isn’t. What it can do is serve as a tool for awareness, for learning grip, swing, suburis, care, and the rhythm between sword and body. For the cost of a decorative wall hanger, you get something that not only looks good on display but can also cut and withstand some real use. Overall: For around $120 (including shipping, mine $113), this katana is exactly what it promises: entry-level. Flawed saya, cheap wrap, loose fit, but functional enough to get you snowballing. For me, the real value isn’t the steel; it’s psychological, the disruption and the momentum. If you’ve been circling the idea of buying a katana for years, like I have, talking yourself out of it every time, this purchase breaks that cycle for me. Now the itch is scratched, the hesitation is gone, and I can think about other things in that space in the back of my mind. This sword won’t be your last katana, but it’s a good first one. By momentum, I mean that now that I have the sword, I feel compelled to take classes and find ways to integrate it into my life to justify the purchase and continue progressing. I’m going to have fun with it, practice with it, and modify it, maybe even take on a woodworking project for a new saya.

It’s a pretty nice looking katana. Not amazing build quality on the handle but that’s to be expected from the entry level products. I would recommend for sure. I really like the dragon tsuba it’s unique and not to pokey.

Just received this piece and I couldn’t be happier. The fit and finish is excellent and the black rayskin gives it a very stealthy look. And the price was amazing too!