Cold Steel 88BKW Katana, Ray Skin Handle, Wood Scabbard, One Size

This review is on 02-03-15. People have given unfavorable reviews on this Katana, perhaps Cold Steel Quality has improved.Either way, here we go. The only Con I have was that the sword was delivered in a box (which was bent) and it was wrapped in a bubble bag. A thicker cloth black bag was folded inside. There was no warranty or any paperwork. Perhaps this is why it cost only 289.48 instead of 500.00. Out of the box, I was impressed. The blade is quality steel and flawless, no bumps or scratches and the blade is straight. Finish on the blade is satin not a high gloss mirror finish. No Hamon (since these are usually fake on most swords anyway). All fittings and handle are tight, no rattle. The Ito is wrapped perfect as if by hand and the braids are centered perfect. The Menuki (decorative pieces beneath the Ito) is bright with a gold finish and centered perfectly. So far so good. The blade is sharp and well balanced Some say its heavy but for me the weight is fine. Actually its kind of light (I am 5'11" and 53) Cuts halfway through the shipping box without scratching the blade. Laugh if you will but one of my test is the "swoosh". If the blade makes a fairly audible swoosh or whip sound it tells me the blade is straight and the cutting edge is consistent. Paper test. Cutting through a sheet of paper was little rough. A few passes over the cutting edge with a AccuSharp tool and "Holy ____" cut like a hot knife through butter. (if you try one of these sharpeners, start on a cheap sword first to get the hang of it. you will notice the difference)When passing the sharpener over the edge there was almost no steel shreds removed (another test of a quality steel as opposed to a blade made of pig iron that would leave large shards of metal flakes behind. To sum it up. Someone said this is a utilitarian blade. That's a great definition. She is not ugly but beautiful (in a bulldog kind of way)This Cold Steel Katana is a no BS no frills cutter and cutting is what is does! Use it for Iai kata practice, cutting Tami mats and Yes this can be used for self defense! Definitely a mans sword! Good Job Cold Steel!

I looked for a long time before I purchased this sword. I saw all the bad reviews of people saying the wrap was loos or damaged scabbard. Everything on mine was very tight. The scabbard was pristine. There was a small amount of surface rust on the guard, but a little WD40 and it wiped right off. There was a slight amoung of glue on the end cap but a little work with a razor and it flaked off cleanly. I did need a little work on the blade however, but I got it pretty sharp after maybe 30min worth of work. I got it when there was a price dip, and I was expecting something to be wrong. NOPE! I was very pleased it was nearly perfect! I can'e speak for others experiences, but as for me it was a great purchase! I don't regret it one bit!

I'm going to echo a lot of what has already been said. if you are a "traditionalist", I would recommend that you look elsewhere. This blade is heavy, for what it is, and will definitely take some time getting use to. Due to it's balance and weight it can be slow on the follow through. I read one review that compared it to a cross between a katana and a viking sword...I can see that...This sword is definitely designed for hacking. It will take strong arms to wield it properly. The "sharpened crowbar" review had it right on this one. Now, having said all that, this is a well built sword. The one I received was tight in all the right places...no loose parts or shimming needed. It is sharp but not razor sharp...more tearing paper than slicing through it. It is a thing of beauty in it's own right...I will continue to use it for katas and iaido to build my arm and back muscles, but will probably move to a lighter, more balanced sword in the future. Kudos to The Blade Shop for a good price and good packing as sword arrived without a scratch...would purchase from again. As for purchasing this product, I would have to say, ask yourself, what is your purpose with the sword?

I had to return the sword three times because what i received was used and in bad condition.1. Was not sharp2. After removing the Tsuka i found a mark from Cold Steel that i learned meant that the sword was a "factory defect" which is not covered by the lifetime warranty.3. Sword did not come with any kind of paperwork, certificate or warranty information at all what so ever. Which it claims that it does.4. The blade on EVERY sword that i received was nicked, scratched, dented or chipped.5. The Saya was loose, so much so that if you turned the sword upside down holding only the saya the sword would fall out.6. It took over 4 weeks and four replacements to receive a sword that was not trashed and that was in any kind of decent condition. A lot of my time wasted.I kept the sword after receiving a discount, however i am very very disappointed in Amazon i expected a great deal more from them, for me this sword ruined their reputation. It is a Cold Steel Katana, however IT IS NOT NEW, IT IS NOT SHARP, IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT! This sword is not up to the standards that most people looking to purchase something of this price range would expect it to be for the price that they are paying. The add misrepresents the product that i received greatly.Keep in mind that if you purchase this sword you will have to spend between $50.00 - $120.00 to have the blade refinished between $200.00 - $350.00 if you want it refinished by hand in a traditional manor instead of with a belt sander and then you will have to spend another $60.00 - $110.00 to have it hand sharpened. Even if you go the cheap route, expect to spend an additional $110.00 minimum dealing with just the blade. Your honestly better off buying from the manufacturer paying full price and waiting for 6 to 8 months to receive the sword. Trust me it would be far less disappointment, frustration and let down.

Just really awesome sword … great craftsmanship w/ every aspect pristine & flawless. Can’t wait to buy another model from cold steel. Go get one 😊😉