We're sometimes asked about the advantages of Swordstore product quality over our competitors or to mix and match and even repair the swords and iaito of other companies.  We don't like to break the golden rule but would ask our clients to consider some of the comments below:

Swordstore is sometimes asked by a client to use a tsuba reproduction procured elsewhere.  We're happy to do so in most instances but we can't take responsibility for the construction methods of other makers. This piece made by another company actually shattered.  Close inspection also revealed that the casting marks were crudely exposed.  

Some ways in which a good reproduction is judged is by the level of detail in the pattern as well as the absence or care given to finishing the product with the removal of casting marks.

Some clients wish to make their own tsuba designs.  As long as the pattern meets with Japanese convention for tsuba design we are happy to work with the client on this kind of project

Not easy to show in a photo is the fact that the quality and weave

of the ito was very poor.

These two views show a disturbing trend as makers in Japan move to cut costs, move construction to other countries and fail to 

let the client know.  Plastic though less expensive then honoki wood is a poor choice for construction and makes the "feel" of the sword

very different.  Plastic texture can look surprisingly like same' which properly used has a nap that served as ancient man's velcro to keep 

Ito in place.  In short, though the client saved money on purchase, ultimately the quality and durability weren't there to sustain serious daily training! 

SWORDSTORE.COM PROVIDES ONLY THE FINEST GRADES OF MATERIALS IN OUR IAITO, SHINKEN, AND STEEL IAITO.  WE DO NOT CUT CORNERS ON QUALITY!!!

 This famous Japanese maker uses honoki and good quality silk but chose to cut corners by trying to make a tsuka extension incorrectly.

 We realize that some of our clients prefer very  long tsuka and there is a proper way to use mortise and tendon techniques should it be decided to

be better than just replacing the tsuka.  Fortunately the client wasn't hurt when this Brand X tsuka gave way.

SWORDSTORE.COM PROVIDES ONLY THE FINEST GRADES OF MATERIALS IN OUR IAITO, SHINKEN, AND STEEL IAITO.  WE DO NOT CUT CORNERS ON QUALITY!!!

The fact is that metal and lacquer don't bond well and shock at the seam can crack the seal and the lacquer can begin to flake.  Swordstore makes sure that the kojiri is embedded into the saya and suggests a rough finish for a greater chance of success for protecting the seal.  It is a great look but no maker can guarantee long term durability.

SWORDSTORE.COM TELLS THE CLIENT AS HONESTLY AS POSSIBLE WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THEIR DESIGNS AND REQUIREMENTS.  WE DO NOT PLACE MARKETING AHEAD OF QUALITY!!!

This is another view of a kojiri, again made by a famous Japanese iaito assembler.  Rather than shape the saya to embed the kojiri the metal mouth was just placed over the saya to save time.  This is not a good way to fit a kojiri.  Clients too demand that fuchi, kashira  and kojiri fit varying lengths of blades with varying demands for width and depth dimensions.  Sizing for kojiri can be problematic.

SWORDSTORE.COM TELLS THE CLIENT AS HONESTLY AS POSSIBLE WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THEIR DESIGNS AND REQUIREMENTS.  WE DO NOT PLACE MARKETING AHEAD OF QUALITY!!!

This Brand X blade is actually a "kazarito" or decorative sword.  It was never designed nor intended for daily use!  Swordstore.com does not provide kazarito to our clients although some less reputable makers do to cut corners with unsuspecting clients in Western markets.  We at swordstore believe that this is very wrong.  We understand the needs of our clients to find the best value and to save costs but sometimes the savings really aren't there.  A good iaito should provide years of training with proper usage.

The reader can see that the level of detail in the tsuba is very poor.  The habaki not only sits well above the mune but has rough edges that might've contributed to cracking the saya.  The saya itself  was not made of honoki and did not have a koiguchi ring to reinforce the rim.

SWORDSTORE.COM PROVIDES ONLY THE FINEST GRADES OF MATERIALS IN OUR IAITO, SHINKEN, AND STEEL IAITO.  WE DO NOT CUT CORNERS ON QUALITY!!!