For Reddit Visitors: Quick FAQ & Buying Guide

Welcome! If you found us through Reddit or a forum thread, this page answers the most common questions in a clear, no-hype way—so you can decide whether our products are the right fit for your needs and budget.

1) Who are we?

HandmadeSword.com is an online sword retailer. We curate and sell production swords and accessories, and we ship orders from our U.S. fulfillment location(s).
If you have questions before buying, you’re welcome to contact us and we’ll point you to the most suitable options based on your use case.

Important note about our name: our official website is handmadesword.com (no “s”).

2) Are your swords “handmade”?

Many production swords are made with a mix of handwork and machine processes. The term “handmade” online can mean different things depending on the product and price point.

What we can promise is this:

  • We list the specs and features as accurately as possible

  • We aim to provide fair value for the price level

  • We support our customers with clear policies and after-sale service

If you’re specifically looking for traditionally made Japanese swords by licensed Japanese smiths, those are in a very different category and budget than most production swords sold online.

3) Do you manufacture the swords yourselves?

We work with established production sources and partners. We are not claiming to be a small single-smith workshop.
Our focus is on offering a range of practical and collectible options, making the buying process straightforward, and providing dependable fulfillment and customer support.

4) What quality level should I expect?

Production swords vary widely. To make your decision easier, we recommend choosing based on your intended use:

  • Display / Costume / Props: focus on looks, fittings, and safe handling (not impact performance)

  • Light practice / Forms (e.g., iaido-style practice): balance, geometry, and comfort matter more than “extreme cutting”

  • Cutting practice: choose models specifically intended for cutting, and always use appropriate targets and safety practices

If you tell us your intended use and budget, we can help narrow down options.

5) Safety & “testing” (please read)

Swords are tools that require responsible handling.

  • We do not recommend testing a blade on hard, dense, or abrasive materials (including thick cardboard tubes, wood knots, metal, or unknown targets).

  • Improper targets and techniques can damage the edge or fittings and can be unsafe.

If you’re new to cutting practice, start with safe, appropriate targets and training guidance.

6) Packaging & shipping

We package carefully to reduce shipping damage. If an item arrives with shipping-related issues, contact us promptly so we can help.

Because carriers and local delivery conditions can vary, tracking scans may sometimes look confusing (for example: rescheduled delivery, temporary return-to-sender scans, or reroutes). We will work with you to resolve delivery issues as quickly as possible.

7) Returns / exchanges / after-sale support

We stand behind what we sell with clear policies.
If you need help with an order, please contact us with your order number and photos (if relevant). We’ll respond with next steps based on the situation.

8) About “certificates”

Some items may include a certificate/insert as part of the product presentation. This is not a third-party authentication document. If you have any questions about what is included with a specific model, please ask us before ordering.

9) Want help choosing the right model?

If you message us, please include:

  1. Your intended use (display / practice / cutting / props)

  2. Your height/experience level (if for practice)

  3. Your budget range

  4. Any preference on length, fittings, or theme

We’ll recommend options that match your needs and set realistic expectations for the price category.

Thank you for visiting and for doing your research.
We respect the enthusiast community and we’re always happy to answer questions transparently.