SV Hand Forged Mini Samurai Sword Katana Tanto Japanese Small Samurai Short Sword Full Tang Sharp 16.53 Inch Various Styles Available

SV does put a decent cutter together. The blade is 9.3" long (including Habaki), about 6.5mm thick, and 27mm wide (spine to edge) at the Habaki. An interesting detail not mentioned is that this line of mid-sized Tantos has the same dimensions as that priceless, "perfect" example kept in the Japanese sword museum. The Tsuba draws a magnet, but the rest of the Tsuka hardware does not. The tang draws a magnet until the last 1.75 inches of the 5.5" Tsuka handle. The whole Tanto dagger is 15" long, or a total of 17.25" with the Saya installed. It does feel very well built, being both perfectly straight and very sharp - equal in quality to the other SV products that I've been fortunate to own. Type-A & Type-B are dimensionally the same, aside from the obvious particulars: Type-B has that Unokubi Zukuri blade, which really is a great looking design. The extra grind angles add facets that catch the light, which is much better appreciated in person. Type-B should have more pictures from different angles to show how nice it looks. Type-B has a burnished surface to the blackened hardware on the handle, giving it more of a worn, weathered appearance, which looks much nicer than the pictures have effectively conveyed. As much as I appreciate the appearance of Type-B (Unokubi Zukuri) design, my true preference is for the Type-A model. What amuses me most is that half the comments posted here complain about the artificial Hamon. True, it is the least appreciated feature, but it is clearly shown in the product pictures, and all of us still chose to make the purchase.. That detail matters less and less, the longer I own this mid-sized masterpiece, and (if I choose) it can always be polished right out. If the Hamon REALLY does bother you, Type B does not have a Hamon of any kind. Unfortunately (because all 5 Tanto models have recently been joined together) the A.I. generated description is now made ineffective, because it tries to describe all 5 models with a single paragraph - and it isn't working very well.. The 27mm blade stock tanto earns a place accompanying a larger sword (Daisho), because it occupies less surface area at the belt line, compared to any of those large-sized Tanto swords. Things could get busy with too many larger handles to reach for. Or, if a more compact version of Tanto is preferable to carry, because both options are great to have. The Samegowa used on the Type A & Type B Tanto does have grit and appears to be genuine. The Itomaki isn't loose or sloppy, but I wrap it tight with hockey stick tape to keep it looking nice as possible. The leafy (gourd and vine) artwork appears as nice as the product pictures, but so does the entire package, really. Consider yourself fortunate, if you do like the artwork, because it decorates both sides of the Saya. Traditionally Sake was kept in a gourd bottle, back in those days of Samurai, so I am somewhat suspicious of the artistic expression being presented here.. Consider looking at the pictures of ALL the different models in this series - not just the one you like best. Within the comment pictures, Frenchie from Canada presented 14 pictures of his (Dragon vs. Tiger) model "D," but all 5 of these Tantos share many of the same basic design characteristics. You can learn more about the one you prefer, from studying the rest of them.. The Saya/Habaki fit is quite snug, at first, but it does relax a tiny bit more with use, just like the rest of their products I consider myself fortunate to own. And now (after a few days of owning it), I can pop the Saya off the blade, using just my thumb at the Kurigata. SV includes a little sword bag, with its perfectly efficient packaging. A clamshell box is used to present the Tanto, that is secured in place with 4 pieces of closed-cell Styrofoam. My package had the Tsuba trying to escape from the clamshell box, but fortunately there was an Amazon box preventing that from happening - and I am grateful for that extra protection. Fit and finish of these "SV" brand Tantos is on par with Handmade Sword company (HMS) products, in my opinion, and I really do like both brands. I haven't been disappointed with anything I have ordered from SV, to include their standard length katana, their 29" Wakizashi (20.5" blade), and their "Tanto-zilla" - seriously, that thing is a beautiful 19.5" little monster.. It dwarfs this 15" mid-sized Tanto, and it should be brought back into production because it is magnificent. You will find some cheaper crap that has been labeled "SV" (available here on the Amazon inventory), but this little group of mid-sized Tanto daggers are not part of that "decorative garbage" type. A critical eye and a little due diligence will help you discern THESE gems from that overpriced trash that also carries the "SV" label.. I regularly look for their sales because SV delivers a very decent product at a fair price, and I expect to order from them again. Probably another one of their mid-sized Tanto options. These are a pretty neat way to begin the journey of katana ownership - they are well made and won't ruin your budget. They are a terrific size for a presentation in a smaller room or a smaller home because they don't require a whole lot of space to store or display.

This caught my fancy as I was scrolling. The paint work on the small saya is very appealing and the tsuka is very well done. I believe it’s nice cotton Ito over real white Samegawa. Has a good feel to it. The only place I was disappointed was the blade. It had a fake ground Hamon line. I would rather they leave the fake hamon or samegawa, or whatever, off and just charge a few bucks extra rather than cheapen the product. Makes you wonder where else they short-cutted. Is the blade really as advertised? Overall, it’s a nice tanto, but could have been just that much better.

It's a real sword, but I didn't like any of the letter openers on Amazon listed as letter openers. Then I found this and it looks and functions beautifully as a letter opener.

Very nice pretty. And sharp sharp

Great quality for the price and the saya is beautiful!

I really do like it. I do have some minor issues tho. Kinda like photo vs reality. I wasnt expecting it to be perfect tho. As someone who takes forever to choose from an extensive list before buying. I can honestly say I'm not unhappy with it. The decorations are backwards on mine. And as it is one sided decorations. It will be facing me when wearing it not outside. Tho that being said I can actually flip it via a frog that I'm going to custom make for it. Doing that will unfortunately put some of the faulty/damaged decals on the front. Again I can fix this as well with some crafty know how. And the blade itself has some knicks/spurs on it. Again I can fix this myself. Just minor things I myself can fix and make better. That being said that is why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. It most likely purchaser will use it for display. Me I'm using it for a photo/cosplay prop. So I'll have to do some work for it to look and work for me either way. As a prop it wouldn't be bad. But for practical reasons it's definitely a minor fixer upper.

You can see how the blade is poorly glued on the handle If anything it's a cool thing to hang up on wall..and just..never show the blade

Not very strong at all the case looks pretty but the wood is not good at all and the handle is a 2 out of 10 over all I give this blade a 3