Would this be good for a costume sword? They don't allow metal swords at anime conventions. Can the blade be painted silver to look like metal?
1819493
It could be painted and kind of look like metal. It is thicker than a metal sword obviously but silver paint would make it look more like a real sword. It is a great quality product and has withstood the abuse of a 10 year old with no problems.
1819494
This is a "show" sword - there is no blade. There is a finish on the wood. You could paint a fake blade on it I guess but that seems to be a waste of a perfectly good weapon.
1819495
It could work. I don't know what metallic paint would look like on top of the stain, but it's worth a try. And even if it doesn't work you get a light boken out of the deal
1819496
Yes it can, and it's probably better than buying the wooden models you can get at anime cons because it's more durable than those extremely thin wooden models. It's about a third the thickness of a standard bokken and a fraction of the weight. I've sparred with it and it didn't, however I do not recommend you spar with it. If you wish to spar use a full weight bokken or a foam sword. It can look terrific painted and the blade is about as thick as a more traditionally made katana. I've seen it used as a prop in a video and I thought it was metal. All you need is a paint that will look good over the finish. Yes it can, and it's probably better than buying the wooden models you can get at anime cons because it's more durable than those extremely thin wooden models. It's about a third the thickness of a standard bokken and a fraction of the weight. I've sparred with it and it didn't, however I do not recommend you spar with it. If you wish to spar use a full weight bokken or a foam sword. It can look terrific painted and the blade is about as thick as a more traditionally made katana. I've seen it used as a prop in a video and I thought it was metal. All you need is a paint that will look good... » Read More Yes it can, and it's probably better than buying the wooden models you can get at anime cons because it's more durable than those extremely thin wooden models. It's about a third the thickness of a standard bokken and a fraction of the weight. I've sparred with it and it didn't, however I do not recommend you spar with it. If you wish to spar use a full weight bokken or a foam sword. It can look terrific painted and the blade is about as thick as a more traditionally made katana. I've seen it used as a prop in a video and I thought it was metal. All you need is a paint that will look good over the finish. « Show Less
1819497
Hey if your only going to be using it for show and not practice ( swinging at another person), sand or cut it into a blade shape for better effect and then paint it. Its quality wood for sure and could handle paint. Worth having anyway and practice is not about color.
1819498
I don't see why that would be a problem, the blade is all wood. There is a small magnet near the tsuba that helps keep the sword in.
779972
To be honest i haven't given the blade a chance to rust i keep the blade oil atleast once a month without use. Since the saya is wooden it will be fine, leather is what you have to worry about. Just make sure to keep your blade oiled since it carbon steel, lightly at that. If you want to store it away for a long period use vaseline or they have wax u can use on the sword or inside the saya. Checkout swordbuyersguide.com they give a good rundown on sword care.
1540826
I only got it for costume wear, but it is a solid metal sword. I suppose you could spar with it if you wanted to.
1547963
If you just want a prop, it's fine. It is also a good practice sword for Tae Kwon Do. It doesn't come with a scabbard, and it doesn't look real up close
2260195
Silver plating doesn't work very good on plain steel. If you really clean all the rust off, and polish it real good, with say. #0000 steel wool, it might be OK. If you really want the skate key to look good, I would try it. As I say, really clean it good. Good Luck!
2201586
No. Cheap display sword that looks kinda cool on the wall. I overpaid thinking it was a better sword than it turned out to be. Technically its not actually a sword at all. Even wielding it for play makes you feel goofy. Its strictly designer metal for your wall.
1645415
Yes, it's a very real and heavy metal. It's not sharp on the sides of the blade (which is good because you or someone near by would definitely get hurt) but the tip is pointed and sharp enough to penetrate an object given enough force. I bought a few Zelda swords and this is by far the best. It has an incredible weight and feel to it that you'll love. I also found a great sheild that isn't cheaply made if you're looking for that as well!
567447
The handle has a partial tang going though it, and wooden grips. On top of the wood is fiberglass and resin to hold it together sturdy. This is a Cosplay or display replica, not a functional or battle ready sword.
1949320
This sword is a good sword for display purposes, but do NOT go and try to take on the spartan empire with it. This sword is not at all something that should be used for fighting but it is wonderful to hang on your wall. I tried fighting my brother with my other sword and the thing inside the handle snapped and all the handle pieces came off as well as the pommel. So if you ask me for a straight answer, I would say not really.
1308827
Not so good for Dueling, it's definitely a prop/collectors item. You'd want to look into the custom saber builders for ones that can be used for Dueling.
113004
yes it can be used as a real sword. just feel the edges and tip and you know hand that it can
673271
It's a really nice sword, got it for my boyfriend and he loves it!... Nerd ;P Only problem (in his opinion) is that it's a dulled blade and meant to be more of a wall mount not a toy haha. I'm pretty sure it's held by one screw and could easily come apart it you swung it around too much. Besides that, it's pretty nice looking, for a sword hahah.
149608
It is a coseplay piece, just for show and handleing, not for sword fighting. U will damage it.
1374636
Well, I suppose you COULD take it to a blacksmith that specializes in Japanese swords, but because of the way the sword is made, it would be better simply to ask the blacksmith if he could make one from scratch, considering that if you actually FOUND a blacksmith capable of heat treating a reverse-blade katana, he would pretty much already have to re-grind the bevels of the sword, as it is slightly uneven in the grind,(due to the cheapness of the process used to make this sword for this price.), and THEN heat treat it, so that it doesn't warp or crack. all together, if you asked the smith to re-grind and then treat the sword, it would probably cost one or two hundred dollars for a quality job, and the sword would still be fairly weak compared to if you simply commissioned the smith to make one from scratch for probably five hundred dollars, with much higher quality steel. however, I see no need for it to be heat treated, as it is very sharp when it comes, and the wire-brushing used to make the "hamon" is fairly well done, and looks real, unless scrutinized by a trained eye. if you purchase a sword care kit with it, you can keep this sword for a long time, with a long cutting life, considering its based off of an anime. I got mine at the beginning of the year, and its still in perfect condition. as it is, this sword is still very good, and worth the money, but if you REALLY want a cheap sword with a real hamon, then you should go to http://www.trueswords.com/musashi-1060-carbon-steel-bamboo-warrior-sword-black-saya-p-4315.html for a VERY cheap, and VERY high quality katana with a real hamon. hope this helped! :)
225245
I would be very gentle if you use it on the painted sections of the blade or plated parts of the sword. This has stripped the brass color off a few plated pieces I've used it on in the past. As far as stainless steel, yes you can use it and it does an amazing job. Be forewarned though, if the stainless you are polishing has a brushed finish to it it will change that somewhat and give more of a satin finish.
1718380
I don't think it would work well for a costume. It is not a 3-D image, it is a flat, 2-D image, just like the picture.
237362
As far as if the sword was ever used in real history I'm unsure, what I can say about the anime is kenshin is based a tiny bit of kenshin usuagi a famous warlord in Japan's Edo era. The blade itself though while it wouldn't be effective in combat other than hurting someone really bad by breaking their bones or potentially killing them from a concussion or any other serious head trauma. Is not impossible to make definitely harder to make but not impossible. You would have to keep the blade consistently even with a slight taper where the cutting edge should be so it would still get the curb when quenched and then I guess either file or grind down the curved side to give it the edge..from my experience in blacksmithing with my small forge that's a way I could see making the blade by hand but I am in no means a master blacksmith or even consider myself experienced. But with machines the blade itself would definitely be easier to make