Equipment recommendations

This page is broken in sections: Training Gear, Repairs & Alterations, Cleaning Supplies, Shinken sub 1k, Honorable Mention Shinken, Non-recommendable Shinken, Shinken 1-3k, Shinken 3k+

Training gear:

V-cut white, black, grey, or blue undershirt (helps soak up sweat in the summer and adds a layer for warmth in the winter, also it fits the V neck of a kendogi)

For stainless steel iaito and other Skyjiro iaito (I own a 2.50 shaku version), please email before ordering: https://www.mountainteachings.com/store/c5/Swords.html/

For keikogi both standard and light, must email for non EU shipping: https://www.urufu.com/shop/urufu-budo-gi/

For sword carry bags, the small one works great for jodo or aikido with the Jo slot. Must email for non-EU shipping: https://www.urufu.com/categoria-producto/bags/

For solid color kaku obi (especially for longer XL length ~175″), they can do custom colors, widths (2″, 2.5″, 3″, 4″), & lengths as well: https://www.kataaro.com/Products/Iaido-Belt__4993.aspx

Bokken: https://www.e-bogu.com/Master-Series-Oak-Bokken-1-m-NATURAL-p/yut-ken-bok-mq1-natural-.htm

Jo: https://www.e-bogu.com/Master-Series-Oak-Jo-50-127-cm-KANASUJI-p/yut-wea-jo-tqjo-kana-50.htm

For Hakama: https://www.e-bogu.com/Hakama-Kendo-Uniform-Bottom-s/8.htm

For traditional kaku obi: https://www.e-bogu.com/Obi-for-Iaido-s/64.htm

For knee protectors: https://fpinsoles.com/product/lo-pro-protector-sleeves-knee-pair/

For tabi: https://www.e-bogu.com/Japanese-Kimono-Black-Tabi-Socks-p/twt-acc-tabi-black.htm

Kendo half-tabi: https://kendostar.com/collections/protective-pads-protectors/products/kendo-half-tabi

Ryansword 1336 (2.7 shaku), 1339 (2.7 Shaku), 1340 (2.7 Shaku), & 1414 (2.43 shaku) can all be ordered as iaito.

Boylan sensei’s preferred iaito maker: https://www.nipponto.co.jp/english/iai_e.htm

Kendo Bokken with saya: https://www.e-bogu.com/product-p/ebg-com-iai-boksaya-set-w.htm

For a longer bokken with tsuba (will need to use golf tube as saya): https://hickoryarmsonline.com/product/bokken_japanese_-long_-sword/ You can get these cord wrapped (red or black) or with wood inlays (three options), I own one of each.

https://www.yarinohanzo.com/buy-tachi-long-bokken-for-sale-oak-bokuto-shop.html I own one.

https://kingfisherwoodworks.com/products/kenjutsu-bokken,

https://www.little-raven.com/product/kenjutsu-bokken/ I own one.

Preferred leather tsuba maker, I have several. https://www.facebook.com/people/Leather-Tsuba/100064351525007/

The “Hidden Movements” of Iaido (DVD and streaming options): https://www.mountainteachings.com/store/p30/The_%22Hidden_Movements%22_of_Iaido.html

San Shin Kai Shindo Munen ryu DVD: https://www.mountainteachings.com/store/p5/Shindo_Munen_Ryu.htm

For used gear please check FB Marketplace, Cragslist, Ebay, Kendo Buy/Sell/Trade: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kendomarket , Used/New Kendo/Iaido/Budo Gear: https://www.facebook.com/groups/485997684843842

If you need dojo arts I have a kendo painting and several budo prints from: Ivan Pesic https://www.ipartstudio.com/

Secure luggage for traveling with iaito & shinken: https://www.harborfreight.com/9800-weatherproof-protective-rifle-case-long-tan-56862.html

Repairs and Alterations

Uniform Alterations: https://www.thepamurai.com/maker-mender?fbclid=IwAR2rn_yNQfikY9lH5t9IDUn2xW44-DiXDpPAQ2P97LWcTRHsni4inSorazQ_aem_AYtHB3S16P0yhIpaoYMaV0JfqDVpnFQFHRvhjxSaF0NSd4FCJfeqk6j6qw5YxjhRH5

Shinken and Iaito repair: https://www.instagram.com/iaidoboy/?hl=en

Shinken and Iaito cleaning supplies:

3 in 1 Oil, I use this on all shinken and iaito: https://3inone.com/product/3-in-one-multi-purpose-oil/

Remington Cleaning Cloth, the cloth I use to wipe blades after practice and oiling: https://www.remington.com/gun-care/cloths/29-19947.html

Handbell cleaning cloth: https://www.jwpepper.com/Shino-Polishing-Cloth/9507393.item

Traditional Cleaning kit: https://rva-katana.com/products/sword-cleaning-and-maintenance-kit

For rust repair and prevention:

Flitz Polish & Cleaning kit: https://www.kultofathena.com/product/flitz-polish-and-cleaning-kit-for-swords-knives-armor-and-guns/

Mothers Mag: https://mothers.com/products/mag-and-aluminum-polish-05101

Production Shinken:

This list is broken into section based on price points: up to $950, $1000-4,000 , & $4,000+.

29-33″ nagasa recommendations aimed at the practitioner community in the production sub $950 market. I am looking at 90% kata and 10% tameshigiri in use. I own, have owned, borrowed, and more importantly trained and cut with all katana listed in this category.

I prefer a 11.75″ tsuka as standard for 30.5″ nagasa.

To order any Skyjiro iaito or shinken please email Mountain Teachings: mtteach@ptd.net

To order a Dragon King, Moritaka, Cloudhammer Forge, or Legacy Blades please email: rva.katana@gmail.com

Yes, I am a Skyjiro fan but for very, very good reasons. Very tight ito, excellent balance, amazing bohi, best bang for your buck, does not use shitodome, good long sageo. Practitioner focused. Ordering through Mountain Teachings means you get customer service!

Dragon King is the only company that glues the shitodome in place and they do it well!!!

People to follow on youtube for sword reviews: Matthew Jensen, Mr. Excalibur, Skallagrim, Scolagladitoria, & Katanafanboy

(Own three and assistant instructor owns another, have used all models.) Skyjiro Ashigaru Class (Best 2.50 shaku/30″ nagasa on the market! Very tight ito and excellent bohi.) Ordering via Mountain Teachings you can specify nagasa length, tsuka length, ito color, and bohi or nohi: https://skyjiroforge.com/?product_cat=ashigaru-class-foot-soldier-series Ask for reversed menuki and the fuchi on the Hanabira and Takachigai help with finger placement.

(Own) Skyjiro Tenku Mokuroku Class Ancient Iron Warrior (29″ nagasa & 11″ tsuka, I prefer this over the Ronin Dojo Pro #14 and Dragon King Autumn, tight ito): https://skyjiroforge.com/?product_cat=mokuroku-class-middle-level

(Borrowed) Skyjiro Tenku Deshi Class (29″ nagasa and 11″ tsuka, these are their entry level shinken, very tight ito and VERY Plain, there are some parts I would like them to use available to budget companies that would keep it a Skyjiro theme.): https://skyjiroforge.com/?product_cat=deshi-class-entry-level

(Own) Ryansword 1336 (32″ nagasa with bo-hi & 13″ tsuka, very good for kata and light cutting, very tight ito. Only complaint I have is shitodome are loose, I cut mine off, and the kurikata had to be reglued. This is my go to 2.7 shaku teaching sword) Update: newer version has a 11.8″ tsuka: https://www.ryansword.com/O-Katana-Folded-Steel-Iron-Tsuba-Full-Tang–Ryan1336-p-1183.html

(Own) Ryansword 1414 – Choji Hamon, Koshi Sori 1095 (29.1″ nagasa with bo-hi & 10.3″ tsuka, 3 cm sori, tight ito): https://www.ryansword.com/Choji-Hamon-Katana-Koshi-SORI-1095-Steel-Full-Rayskin-Tsuka-Ryan1414-p-1341.html

(Own) Ryansword 1340 (32″ nagasa with bo-hi and 11.8″ tuska): https://www.ryansword.com/O-Katana-1095-High-Carbon-Steel-Copper-Tsuba–Ryan1340-p-1187.html

(Own) Ronin Katana Dojo Pro #31 (32″ nagasa with bo-hi & 12″ tsuka, heavy cutter that you can do kata with and better balanced than the #9, ito tightness could be tighter. Re-wrap in order if keeping long term.): https://roninkatana.com/dojo-pro-katana-model-31-musashi-o-katana/

(Own) Ronin Katana Dojo Pro #14 (29″ nagasa & 12″ tsuka, heavy cutter, ito could be tighter. Re-wrap in order if keeping long term.): https://roninkatana.com/dojo-pro-katana-model-14-30-inch-blade/ If you want to avoid the possibility of a rewrap look at Ryansword 1414 or Dragon King Autumn. Or pay slightly more get a Skyjiro Tenku Ancient Iron Warrior.

(Own) Moritaka L6 O-katana (31″ nagasa & 10.75″ tsuka, medium sori, tight ito. Shitodome are loose. One hell of a tatami cutter!): https://rva-katana.com/products/shinken-swords-signature-l6-o-katana?_pos=1&_sid=741438f6e&_ss=r

(Sold) Dragon King Savior (29.5″ nagasa with bo-hi & 12.25″ tsuka, tight ito. Shitodome are glued in! Not bad I just like my Skyjiro Takachigai with bohi more.): https://rva-katana.com/products/katana-dragon-king-savior?_pos=1&_psq=savior&_ss=e&_v=1.0

(Own) Dragon King Winter Sun (30.5″ nagasa with bohi & 13″ tsuka, only 2.55 shaku on the market, tight ito, sageo is meh. This is what the Hanwei Raptor Nanbokucho zukuri should have been! Shitodome are glued in!): https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=rva+kataan+winter+sun&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

(Borrowed) Dragon King Winter Sun Forged (30.5″ nagasa and 13″ tsuka, has bohi and hamon, gloss saya.): https://rva-katana.com/products/dragon-king-katana-winter-sun-forged-5160

(Sold) Dragon King Autumn Leaf (29.25″ nagasa & 12.25″ tsuka, smaller Winter Sun, tight ito. Shitodome are glued in!): https://rva-katana.com/products/katana-dragon-king-autumn-leaf?_pos=2&_sid=6352d0954&_ss=r Compared to Skyjiro Ancient Iron Warrior and Ronin Katana Dojo Pro #14 its just meh overall.

(Sold) Cloudhammer Forge O-katana (Only 31-31.5″ nagasa production option currently available, leans more towards a heavy cutter with a deeper sori but some options are suitable for kata. Very nice leather itomaki.) https://cloudhammerforge.com

Honorable Mention:

(Sold) Bugei Dragonfly with bohi (29.5″ nagasa with bo-hi & 11″ tsuka) Feels better than the Dragon King Savior but heavier and slightly bulkier tsuka (oval shaped), very tight ito. Fit is good but finish is alright on mine. Many ledges and I can see hishigami sticking out in a few places. It is one of the better offering from them but for the price point a Skyjiro Takachigai is even better. No longer being offered in this configuration. https://bugei.com/collections/bugei-katana/products/dragonfly-katana-5160-steelk-with-bohi

(Sold) Thaitsuki Shoshin Katana https://rva-katana.com/products/thaisuki-shoshin-hana-katana-1095-clay-tempered?_pos=1&_sid=2f8e221ec&_ss=r Waiting on Gen 3, very pricey for what you get. The habaki and leather ito are quite nice.

(Own) Sheng Swords (Doesn’t offer anything in the blade lengths, but does offer Hanjiro, Yagyu, and a neat four iron slab tsuba. Shitodome are loose. QC is toss of a coin.)

(Sold and borrowed) Sinosword (Excellent super tight ito but meh everything else, can be heavy and not great bohi.) Toss of a coin if you get a good or meh sword. The two custom iaito and one production shinken were meh overall.

(Borrowed) Yomikuni Kenshin Katana (Company closed and out of production. Was their most interesting offering.) Minimalistic tsuba. RVA Katana now offers something similar.

(Would like to borrow!) Cold Steel Steven Seagal Signature Edition Katana (Need I say more?! They say 33″ but that includes the habaki, in reality 32″ nagasa with bohi and 13″ tsuka, heavy cutter.)

(Borrowed) Huawei (This is their longest production katana, custom order is the way to go for longer.): http://www.huaweiswords.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_27&product_id=56&sort=p.price&order=DESC

RVA Katana Geisha https://rva-katana.com/products/katana-red-spring-steel-unokubi-shape-geisha-oiran-theme?_pos=1&_psq=geisha&_ss=e&_v=1.0 Based off a project I did with them.

Skyjiro Black Sea (If you want something different, 29″ nagasa & 10.5″ tsuka, very tight ito): https://skyjiroforge.com/?product=back-sea

(Would like to review) Reliks Chorui Katana. Out of production but looks neat. https://www.reliks.com/functional-swords/reliks-chorui-katana-released/

(Sold) Cold Steel Gold Lion At its MSRP or dealer pricing you have much better options, but it has a lighter blade compared to their other offerings so with a rewrap might make a good shinken for kata. This “might” be the blade remounted for someone who uses a light iaito. Buy used and under $400 shipped if possible. Quality control issues, so be cautious. Decent extended kashira.

I do not recommend, I have not used all of these. Some are based off of reviews by others:

  • (Sold) Ronin Katana Dojo Pro #9 (#31 without the bohi makes it heavy)
  • Cold Steel Tachi (Very underwhelming for the price point, lengths include habaki. Much, much better options at similar price points offered at either MSRP or dealer pricing.)
  • Cold Steel O-katana (Big nope.)
  • (Sold and borrowed) Dynasty Forge Musha 1060 O-Katana and Tristeel O-katana (Meh ito, meh sageo, and problematic saya. Blade is a wide heavy cutter profile. Feels very heavy even with bohi, not very suitable for kata. I did not feel comfortable doing noto with either one.)
  • (Sold) Hanwei Raptor Nanbokucho Zukuri (Has one of the worst tsuka I’ve ever held.) The Dragon King Winter Sun is what you want to get instead.
  • Hanwei Classic Tiger (29 3/4″ nagasa with a 13 3/4″ tsuka! Need I say more?)
  • Bugei (Tsuka lengths on all 29-31″ nagasa models are stupid long. Shi Shi has a 31″ nagasa with a 15″ tsuka! Even worse is the Bamboo Katana 5160 with a 27.5″ nagasa with a 14″ tsuka!)
  • (Sold) Ryujin Kengo, 31″ nagasa version. (Stupid heavy and feels like swinging a crowbar plus the saya was cracked in two places on mine. Cheap short sageo and loose shitodome.)
  • (Sold) Ryujin O-katana (Meh saya and cheap short sageo with loose shitodome, 14″ tsuka, and they advertise it as a 33″ nagasa but that includes habaki. 32″ nagasa in reality.) Just order a Ryansword 1336.
  • (Borrowed) Hanbon Forge (Doesn’t offer anything production in the blade lengths. I have tried two custom 2.45 shaku iaito they made, they rounded the kissaki on both a little too much.)
  • (Owned) Brandon Sword (Defunct and meh, had four 29.5″ nagasa offerings but all were just different koshirae sets, saya was very cheap ie balsa wood feeling and the kurikata was way too low. Bohi was very uneven and lots of ridges.)
  • Yes Katana (Has one offering but….very short tsuka as in 9 inches! I dislike the leopard habaki.)
  • (Borrowed) Balaur Arms Byakko (Meh, fit and finish isn’t that great, and I dislike the leopard habaki. Reminds me of Sinosword.)
  • Mini Katana (Does not offer a 29″ nagasa or longer.)
  • Forge Direct O-katana (Out of production, 2.8 shaku but unsure whether they are measuring to habaki or tsuba.)
  • Cheness O-katana (Defunct and out of production. Supposedly not well balanced nor well built.)
  • (Sold) Ryansword 1339 (32″ nagasa no-hi and 11.8″ tsuka leather itomaki, heavy cutter okish) https://www.ryansword.com/O-Katana-1095-Folded-Steel-Clay-Tempered-Full-Tang–Ryan1339-p-1186.html?fbclid=IwAR2aZvc_FxsiQYZ-fNeY1nno5ANBRzCYnDtUH_eEvPaf9iSqWZlk9HIt7I4

For the $1,000 to $3,500 price point:

(Own) Skyjiro Hota-tegai https://skyjiroforge.com/?product=new-hota-tegai-scallop-green-polished-2018 (This is a light cutter that is excellent for kata.)

(Borrowed) Skyjiro Kumo https://www.mountainteachings.com/store/p52/MT-3_Kumo_Folded_Steel_Blade_%284800%29_Layers.html

(Borrowed) Motohara by Evolution Blades (Semi-custom production): https://motoharablades.com/

Citadel Imperial (Good luck finding one!): https://casiberia.com/product/imperial-citadel-katana/sc4040

Huawei Swords (Custom, must email): http://www.huaweiswords.com/

Honorable Mentions till I can review them:

(Would like to borrow for a review!) Hanwei Tiger Elite Katana (29″ nagasa and 11″ tsuka.)

(Would like to borrow for a review!) Bugei Armourer’s Katana (29″ nagasa and 12″ tsuka version.)

(Would like to borrow for a review!) MAS Kuroyori (29″ nagasa and 12″ tsuka.)

For the $4,000+ modern new and used Gendaito Nihonto aimed at practitioners overseas:

Tokensho & their Americas rep: https://tokensho.com https://www.yugenswords.com/

Paul Martin https://www.thejapanesesword.com/ I highly recommend working with him over Tozando if you want a Gendaito Nihonto.

For antique Nihonto $1000-40,000:

RVA-Katana also deals in antique nihonto: https://rva-katana.com/collections/authentic-nihonto