Impressed overall with the sharpness, though I did need to spend a few minutes bringing it up to "beyond razor" sharpness. I bought this as a gift, so I can't comment on the overall quality, but I did take it out of the package, and it feels solid.

All these years later the updated Bamboo Katana with its elegant black fittings and gold bamboo highlights continues to be one of our most popular swords. Inserted between the ends of the slats, under the saki-gawa, is a plastic plug saki-gomu ( 先ゴム), and under the tsuka-gawa there is a small square of metal chigiri ( ちぎり), that holds the slats in place.The blade of these Bamboo Stick Swords measures 27 ¼ inches in all and features an authentic temper line. From vigorously hammering the formless, molten steel to gingerly tapping in the tiny wooden mekugi, every step in the Bambusa's construction receives the utmost care and precise attention to detail. The holding position can be switched, however, with the daito in the left hand and the shoto in the right. It does give it a unique look, however and is very appropriate for slashing maneuvers this sword is designed for. Or better yet, a small sample thing of some oil and a little microfiber cloth with their company logo on it.

Just as engineers continue to unearth new uses for bamboo, there are always new treasures to discover in the Bambusa Katana. As always, our swords not only look like high quality swords, they also have quality of design, fit and finish that is not readily visible, like our 10" nakago with two mekugi to insure that the blade stays secure in the tsuka.Think how jealous you’re friends will be when you tell them you got your bamboo katana on TrueKatana. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. They provide you with a tracking number when the blade ships so you can follow the progress, which is pretty standard, but I appreciated having it. Our swords are made of quality materials，each sword we make is handmade with care, fully functional, and capable of test cutting.