Shinwa Blood Dragon Katana And Scabbard - 1045 Carbon Steel Blade, Genuine Rayskin, Brass Habaki, Cast Metal Fittings - Length 39 1/2”

I like the blade. Perfect for new learners as far as sharp blades. Louder tachikaze than most bo-hi blades, with the loudest tachi kaze of my all swords. Very good for hearing edge alignment. But, I vinegar etched, and the hamon did not get brighter. I did this twice. It did dim. This is almost certainly because it is acid etched on, but this is not a flaw. If my assumption is true, it is not clay tempered, but that is not bad if that actually is the case. Maybe I'm just etching wrong... But I feel it is probably etched faux hamon. It looks a lot better than wire brush, but lower maintenance than actual clay-temper (real) hamon. Easier to take care of than clay temper hamon, while still looking just like a real hamon. It also survived my etching well for a fake hamon, so it could still be real, but regardless it does not easily rub out, even after cuts. Well worth the money, regardless of what the temper meathod actually is. Withstands a lot for 1045. One of my widest blades, while still pretty fast and comfortable. I have little else to nit-pick. They unokubi type geometry has a lot of character, also the long kissaki (tip). Beautiful proportions, no ripples, smooth edge planes, good kissaki polish contrast. It has made stabbing forms easier, as the narrow tip flows through targets. Very reasonable for price, great fitting patina on gaurd and pommel, etc. Rivals some of my 300 dollar blades on cutting Would recommend

I’ve purchased dozens and dozens of Katanas from Bud K, True Swords & OTE’s other company names for the last half a year or so now. I had never heard of Shinwa before shopping here, but I’ve been very impressed with the items I’ve picked out and had shipped to me in California. The quality seems to be getting better and better and it was nothing short of being very solid to begin with. This Blood Dragon Katana I received today, has been the best yet and I’ve purchased more expensive Shinwa Katanas before and not been this impressed. Nothing was wrong with the more expensive either, I just can’t get over the quality of this. Everything is so tight and perfect from the Kashira to the Kissaki(end to end), this thing is tits over and over. The Unokubi-Zukuri shape is flawless and the blade is the thickest and toughest tempered 1045 High Carbon Steel Katana I’ve ever used. End to end, this is in my opinion, Shinwa’s best sword yet. At least out of the 8 that I’ve used anyway. I wouldn’t hesitate to get this if your curious or a little uncertain. If you receive what I did after ordering this Katana, there’s really only one answer that I can imagine someone could say about this. It’s a “Devastatingly Beautiful Beast”!!!