Scratch and Dent RK Entry Level Samurai Sword #5

The katana is perfect for what it is, a $100 ding and dent and came as advertised. There are to spots along the blade's edge where there are 2 deformations. The first one being about an inch above the habaki looks like one spot was ground a little deep but it's still sharp. The second is a ding/edge roll in the blade that could probably be stropped out. The scabbard rattles but the sword fits snugly and doesn't fall out when hung upside down. The blade has some scuffs from polishing but overall is exactly what I wanted for training.

I impulse bought this for a dojo cutter. I have no clue why it was in this sale, the sword appears flawless.

I was very impressed with the overall quality. Fit and finish are great, friction fit is snug but not too snug. Hamon pattern is flawless. I personally could not find what was wrong with it, no scratches, rust, or dents are visible. A simplistic yet effective and subtly beautiful Tsuba. Would buy again.

The sword came in maybe 3 days ago and so far the only problems I found were a small black spot on the Habaki that came out with 2 minutes of polishing and a tiny dent on the tsuba so small you can barely see it. for the money I can easily say its the best sword I've gotten

I bought an entry #5 as a scratch and dent, not knowing exactly what to expect but on the basis of good reviews elsewhere. I'll start with the blemishes, because that's what I was most hesitant about. The biggest flaw I found was a small run in the lacquer near the mouth of the saya/scabbard. There was a small scuff on the spine of the blade that came out easily with fine scotchbrite, and a pinpoint dark spot on the brass habaki. Overall I wouldn't have been too upset even if this wasn't a blem, but as a blem I was very pleased. The sword itself seems well made. The blade is well formed and differentially tempered, the edge is reasonably hard, everything fits together properly with no rattles and the sword fits snugly in the saya. The weight and balance are very pleasing. The edge didn't come particularly sharp but it's very clean and well formed, it would take very little to put a razor edge on it. The tsuba is actually better formed than the one in many of the pictures of this model, very clean casting, I purchased this sword as gift for my daughter's black belt, since other parents have a tradition of presentation swords for the occasion. I won't be doing any destructive testing but I have no doubt it would hold up well to appropriate light mat cutting and so on. Certainly very happy to have chosen this route rather than the others at this pricepoint.