A Cold Steel Horor Story

by Sean Brown
(Markham Ontario Canada)

So Im all excited my first real Wakasashi,After some reasearch I decide on Cold Steel Imperial series Wakasashi"For The Real Thing" I bought it on ebay from an outfit down in Texas and had herd some great things about this company Cold Steel from friends, after about 2 weeks or so in shiping the sword finally arrives at my door (I ordered it from the U.S & I am in Canada after all) so no biggie I unwrap the sword and i'm so excited when I see this wonderful looking Wakasashi WOW! I say to my girl friend look at this, She only replies "Your Gonna Kill Yourself Dummy" lol. Everything seems ok so I head to the backyard for some "Tree Devistation" with my new blade, I'm just slightly out my back door when ooooops! I stumble and the Saya flies of the blade (the fit wasnt all that great anyway) and drops on my back lawn(yes thats right grass) can you immagine what happens next! the Saya cracks about 5 inches down the mid section and to add insult to injury I swing the sword around abit not in anger but I thought I might aswell im already outside right! What happens next trully bogles my mind the Tsuba and tsuka seem to come loose in my hand and start ratling around.Guess my girl friend was right and I get more then my fare share of being laughed at once I return inside the house "Told Ya So" she says lol. Now I'm really angry so I contact the company I bought this sword from and I'm told politely to go to hell the Waranty dosent cover up and above normal wear and tear,I dont see how this was outside the realm of "Normal Wear & Tear" but anyway I wind up shiping the sword of to Fred Lohman Company probably one of the only legitimate custom Samurai sword fitters in North America or atleast the only one I know of,Now my Wakasashi is first class & it better be after 900 dollars U.S of customization ,and I can finaly take it into my backyard or the Dojo with some confidence and peice of mind

The moral here is watch out for Cold Steel Swords Great blades not always such great fittings.....