length: 40 3/4"
blade: 29"
blade thickness: 1/4"
grip and pommel: 10 3/4"
weight: 2 lb 0 oz

Iaito have long been the preferred training tools for safe practice of the Japanese sword drawing art - Iaido. While not designed for sword-on-sword contact or actual test cutting, the non-sharp iaito is perfectly weighted and balanced for its designed task of safe and repetitive drawing practice.

Studying the use of the Japanese sword is a very serious endeavor. Students of iaido learn the sword arts using various instruments. Most likely they will start out using a bokken / bokuto (wooden sword) and then an iaito (un-edged training sword) before handling a shinken (live sword). Iaito are an integral tool in the learning process allowing students to practice with a sword with a sense of safety for themselves and for those around them. This iaito, made by Paul Chen/Hanwei, is light and extremely well balanced. The bo-hi (fuller) takes weight out of the blade and allows for an audible "swoosh" sound when the sword is properly swung. The blade has a false-edge and is made of cutlery grade stainless steel with an artificial temper line (hamon).

These iaito are a breakthrough in design and functionality. Made of a special stainless steel, they are more durable than iaito made of aluminum alloy. Steel feels more like a live blade and is not prone to wobble when swung. Through a special tempering process these blades do not have the brittle behavior often associated with stainless steel, but retain its low maintenance rust resistant qualities.

The Tsuru series of iaito feature an opernwork crane tsuba, fuchi and kashira en suite; a black same (ray skin) grip wrapped with black silk leather ito; silver habaki, menuki, seppa, and shitodome; and a lacquered black wooden scabbard (saya) with a same-maki throat and a black cotton sageo.

These very affordable iaito are the ideal training tools for safely practicing the ancient art of Iaido.