FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

On this page you will find the most frequently asked questions we receive from our customers and visitors. The page is constantly being updated.

Who and where are you?

Our small team is made of people passionate for Japanese culture. We're all located in Europe, same as our warehouses, one of which is in the UK.
This way, we take care of all things customs, and our European customers can relax.

All our katanas are handmade to traditional methods, the design is ours and the choice of materials is updated continuously to follow the newest regulations and to constantly improve the quality of our products.

What does it mean when a product is on presale?

We design and produce our own products with Yarinohanzo, which means that all our products are made for us and by us, and they're exclusive.

In order to assure the best quality, we need to respect the times of production that traditional methods imply. On top of that, raw materials aren't always available in the necessary quantity and international shipping has become more slow and complex during the last year or so.

To sum up: our products are either

• available for immediate purchase (in stock) with shipment depending on the country you're ordering from and on the shipment method you choose;

or

• on presale, which means they are being made for you. If a product is on presale for the end of August, for example, it means it will be delivered by that date. We set that date with all possible delays in mind, but please consider that that may change due to unforeseeable circumstances.

Where's my order?

As soon as your order is shipped, you'll receive an email with your tracking number. You can use it to know where your parcel is at any time.

Delivery times may vary depending on preparation times, local holidays, weather conditions, logistics issues... Please always check the tracking before contacting us. If there are delays, let us know and we'll get in touch with the courier.

Also please notice that couriers won't often call you if they can't find you or your address, so make sure someone is at home and your address is easy to find.

Are the swords full tang?

Our swords are full tang unless stated otherwise.

What do shinken and iaito mean?

Blades can be sharp (shinken) or blunt (iaito). Which one you choose depends entirely on your needs, practice and experience.

Can blades be extra sharp and/or extra polished?

The level of sharpness is what we consider optimal. Please remember katanas aren't as sharp as in the film Kill Bill. If you'd like to have your sword extra sharp, we can do that on demand. However, the most important thing when cutting is your own technique and skill, that's why we always recommend to take some classes and learn from an experienced sensei.

About the polish, that depends on the type of blade you choose, but it's often possible. Please contact us directly to agree on polish and/or sharpness and the related fee.

Which countries do you ship to? Is the delivery always free?

We ship for free to most EU continental countries. Other countries may require a shipment fee. Also, some items (labeled as XL) require some shipment fee because of current regulations. The exact shipment costs will appear in your cart before your order.

Is it possible to have a custom sword?

Not only possible, we encourage you to create your own sword, in order to adapt it to your own needs and practice. You can create your custom katana on www.katanamart.com . There, you'll be able to choose between Express (faster and not fully customised) and Extreme (fully customised).

The Extreme customs are made from scratch just for you, while the Express already come with some pieces made.
Please always consider the delivery time when ordering (as stated on the website) and don't hesitate to ask questions. Our experts will be glad to find the best solution to your requirements.

What's the substance inside the scabbard?

It's wax in fact. We use it to keep the blade in great condition and avoid any rusting.

For more questions concerning maintenance of your katana, please read our article: https://www.katanamart.co.uk/content/21-blade-maintenance

Can I cancel an order?

You can normally cancel an order if it hasn't been shipped yet. Custom orders and personalised items can't be cancelled as they're made specifically for the customer.

How long does a refund take?

We refund all orders as quickly as possible. Please keep in mind that it isn't an automated process as we have to do it manually. In all cases, we always refund within the legal times (maximum is 30 days). If we confirm a refund and you don't your money back within a few days, please contact your bank and/or PayPal directly.

Can I return an item?

Please check our Terms and Conditions page.

In general, we offer a 50 days timeframe during which you can send back the article you purchased if it's still unused. Proof will be asked in form of pictures to make sure the item is in perfect conditions. Please always contact us directly before sending an item back.

Do you offer vouchers and gifts?

You can purchase a voucher on all our websites. You can choose free gifts for every order depending on its value.

Do you take orders by phone?

In order to be able to bring you the best products at the best possible prices, we currently don’t take orders over the phone. We are here to help via email and/or via WhatsApp and Telegram.

How do I choose the right size for me?

Please refer to our sizecharts here.

Is there a minimum age to purchase a product?

Yes. We require our customers who want to purchase a blade - be it sharp or blunt - to be 18 at least, even if some countries allow younger people to purchase blades. We simply want to be on the safe side.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa and American Express), PayPal and bank transfers in Europe.

Are the products on this website legal?

Products sold on our websites are legal. Please check locally when it comes to carrying the item in public places and their use.

Are there any restrictions on addresses?

For safety reasons, we are unable to deliver to schools, hospitals and post offices.

What are the shipping costs?

The cost of shipping varies depending on the weight, volume and quantity of the items ordered. Once you have placed the items in your shopping cart, the system will automatically calculate the shipping amount BEFORE you complete your order. For orders over €99.00, shipping is free.

What is the delivery time?

Orders are processed within 24-96 hours from receipt of payment and are shipped by courier that delivers within 3-5 days. In particular periods such as the Christmas period, Black Friday and the like, delivery times may be longer.
Orders for pre-sale products are shipped on the dates indicated on the product pages.

How do I know where my parcel is?

It is possible to track packages through the websites of the couriers DPD, DHL or UPS. The express couriers will automatically send delivery notifications to the email you used when registering on Katanamart.co.uk

What types of payment are accepted?

You can pay with PayPal and Bank Transfer.

Can I return or exchange a product?

Yes, you can always return or exchange purchased products under the following conditions:
1. the products must NOT have been used and must be perfectly intact as delivered
2. The products must be returned in their original, undamaged packaging.
3. We do not accept returns for custom products (custom Katana and custom-made uniforms such as the Oni Keikogi).

What does it mean when a product is indicated as NOT AVAILABLE?

A: When a product is indicated as unavailable it means that it is not currently in stock. Generally the unavailable products are re-stocked within 30-60 days except in special cases.

Can I use your Katana for "fights" blade against blade?

NO, because the Japanese sword is not designed for this type of practice/use. We always recommend that you consult a qualified instructor/master before handling a katana, even if it is not sharpened. We do not take responsibility for damage caused by improper use of blades without the guidance of a qualified instructor.

Are the katana models for sale on katanamart.co.uk suitable for martial arts practice?

All blades are forged by traditional methods and polished by hand, so each blade is unique. YariNoHanzo's handmade katanas can all be disassembled and are "full tang", i.e. the Nakago (tang) continues almost all the way into the Tsuka (handle). The assembly is a phase to which we dedicate a lot of care to avoid that the various parts of the Koshirae move during use, and we do not use bolts or welds during the assembly phase.

Are the Saya (sheaths) of your katanas custom-made for each blade?

The answer is NO. All of the sayas used for our katanas and Iaito are not custom made for the blades, it is possible that there is some space inside the Saya, which means that the blade may move and make noise.
Making a dedicated saya for each blade would increase the price of the product by more than 10 times. In some cases we use plastic as a filling to reduce the space inside the saya.

I received my Katana and noticed that there is wax on the blade and inside the saya. Is this normal?

Yes, it is normal. There is wax inside the saya that makes the wood waterproof to protect the blade from moisture. Sometimes excess wax can stick to the blade, but it does not damage it.
To prevent the wax from sticking to the blade simply keep the blade well lubricated at all times.

Can the blades oxidise/rust?

Yes, because we use high carbon steel which is NOT stainless.
For this reason it is essential to lubricate the blade every time you use it or touch it with your hands.

I received my Katana and I noticed that the Tsuka (handle) is not aligned with the blade. Is this faulty?

No, it is rather a strength. All the blades of our katana and iaito (except the Basic ones) have a particular curvature that creates an angle between blade and tsuka characteristic of the original Japanese katana.

How can I choose the length of the blade most suitable for my height?

To choose the length of the blade we have compiled the following table: