mantis assemble yourself katana by Masahiro

by Harry Fletcher
(Flower Mound, Texas, US)

I bought the Mantis assemble yourself katana from Swords of Might for $39.00 plus shipping. SOM shipped my order promptly and when I opened the box the Katana was unassembled as advertised. The blade was straight (looking down the Mune, not refering to the sori) but the edge was really screwed up which is probably why it was discounted and marketed at so low a price. The edge looked like a trainee had done the sharpening and the company who made it didn't want to waste time fixing it.

I worked on the edge which took over two days of (two hours each day) labor and worked the edge into a reasonably straight edge and almost razor sharp. I then assembled the katana and it looked and handled well. Once I get a really keen edge on it the katana should make a good cutting sword since the blade is without a bohi which is why I ordered it.

The only gripe I have is that whoever the manufacturer was, "China" was stamped on the blade so deeply that it would cause an indentation in the blade if it was buffed out. I also am not sure if the mekugi were bamboo or some wood substitute. The tsuka was covered in synthetic ray skin but for $39.00 what the heck.

I had previously bought a Musashi Bushido for $59.00 from Real Armor of God and the blade was crooked as all hell with a really screwed up edge and I am still working on getting it straightened so the Mantis was a real steal for the money by comparison.