Traditional Handmade Tachi 9260 Spring Steel Japanese Samurai Sword Full Tang NO BI Blade Combat Ready

The blade arrived earlier than the seller promised, about 10 days after I placed the order. It shipped from China and the box showed a bit of travel wear but I am happy to report these guys know how to pack a blade. Inside the box I found a sword in a solid black stretchy bag (feels like nylon) wrapped in plastic. When I removed blade from the bag I found most parts of the scabbard and hand guard sealed in shrink wrap. After removing the shrink wrap I found the fit and finish excellent. The “ray-skin” looks a bit like rubber but the cord on the handle is nicely done and feels great. Everything fits well and nothing rattles. The steel blade arrived wrapped in oil filled plastic so no rust or corrosion. It is really nice, sharp and straight. There is no hamon pattern and no Bo hi (blood groove). Everything is simple and clean as described. The weight is heavier than a cheap alloy blade but feels great when doing cutting practice. Don’t expect to swing this sword around like a toy. It is very sharp and heavy enough to be dangerous if not careful. All in all, this is a really nice looking seemingly functional sword. I would definitely recommend this seller. However, I have not cut live bamboo or any tough materials, and don’t plan to do so. I have no idea how well it would hold up to real cutting.