Honshu

Honshu is United Cutlery’s line of modern blades, and the range is wider than the name suggests. Japanese katanas and wakizashi share the shelf with Spartan and gladiator swords, medieval broadswords, a Scottish sgian dubh, push daggers and a sword cane. The shapes are old. The steel and grips are not.

A Honshu sword is sharpened from 1060 or 1065 high carbon steel or from stainless, many with full tang construction and textured TPR handles that hold in wet hands. The Boshin Katana is a clean modern take on the samurai sword tradition. The War Sword and Spartan Sword bring weight and reach, and our modern tactical swords show where they sit among our other working blades. If you want to train without risking an edge, the Practice Broadsword is polypropylene and takes punishment. Honshu knives and blades fill the ground between wall display and serious field steel, at prices that leave room for a second blade.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Honshu sword?
A Honshu sword is a sharpened, production made blade from United Cutlery’s Honshu line, which pairs historical shapes with modern steel and synthetic grips. The name comes from Japan’s largest island, but the line covers more than Japanese designs. Katanas and wakizashi sit alongside Spartan swords, gladiator swords, broadswords, a sgian dubh and a sword cane.

Are Honshu swords good quality?
Honshu is a value line, and it performs like one. Expect a sharp edge, solid construction, a full tang on many models and tough grips at a price well below hand forged swords. It is not a collector grade sword and does not try to be. If you want a historically accurate reproduction, our Historical Swords are the better fit.

Are Honshu swords sharp and battle ready?
Honshu swords arrive sharpened, so treat them as the real thing. “Battle ready” has no fixed standard, so we describe them plainly. They are functional blades for display, collecting and careful handling, and they are not designed for hard impact against other steel. For sparring and drills, choose the polypropylene Practice Broadsword or another blade from our Practice, Training and Stage Combat Swords.

What steel are Honshu blades made from?
It depends on the model. The Boshin Katana, Boshin Wakizashi, Crusader Quillon Dagger and Single-Handed Broadsword use 1060 high carbon steel, and the War Sword uses 1065 with a black coating. The Spartan Sword and Gladiator Sword are stainless. The Legionary Dagger, Sgian Dubh and Boshin Bowie use 7Cr13 stainless, the Large Push Dagger is AUS 6 stainless, and the sword cane spike is 2Cr13 stainless. High carbon steel is tough and takes a keen edge but needs oil to stay clean. Stainless resists rust with less care.

How do I stop a high carbon Honshu sword from rusting?
Wipe off fingerprints after every handling, since skin oils and salts start rust. Apply a thin film of mineral or gun oil and store the sword somewhere dry. Avoid long term storage in a leather sheath, because leather holds moisture. Stainless blades resist rust better but still benefit from a wipe.

Which Honshu sword should I buy first?
Choose by purpose. For a Japanese style piece, start with the Boshin Katana or the shorter Boshin Wakizashi. For heft and reach, look at the Single-Handed Broadsword or War Sword. For a lighter stainless blade, choose the Spartan Sword or Gladiator Sword. For training, the Practice Broadsword is the safe choice.

Can Honshu knives and swords ship to my state?
Some can’t. We ship only within the United States and Canada, and restrictions are listed on each product page. For example, the Honshu Sword Cane cannot ship to CA, DC, NY, RI or Canada. Several daggers cannot ship to MA or NJ, and some also not to CA.