7. Mounting: The Samurai sword has many specific characteristics that make it what it is. The scabbard (saya) is made of wood. The opening has a water buffalo horn ring that reinforces the wood which helps prevent splitting at the area. A water buffalo horn part is attached to the saya allowing for the cord (sageo) to be attached. The metal fittings (tsuba, fuchi/kashira, menuki, and shitodome) should be of the authentic materials including steel, copper, silver, and gold. The handle (tsuka) should be a proper length to balance the blade and be held with two pins (mekugi). The under wrapping material should be ray skin (same�) with proper cording (ito) or leather wrapping the handle in a traditional pattern.
A Samurai sword is vastly more than the sum of its parts. It is not enough to have a decent blade with cheap fittings, or a nice blade, but poorly executed tsuka. A Samurai sword is a synthesis of the blade, habaki, tsuka, and saya. With all the fittings matched in such a way as to ensure a proper flow and function. Everything needs to be of good quality to make it a good sword. Any one part not being of good quality and the entire sword suffers.
The overall success you have with your training will be a direct reflection of the mounting of the sword and the materials used.
8. Testing: Your seller of swords should have a working knowledge of the swords they sell. Have they tested the actual sword? How do the swords stand up under cutting and practice? How will you know if the sword you purchase will perform to the highest standard? Make sure that you purchase your Samurai sword from someone who knows the swords they sell, someone who makes thousands of cuts each year with each and every style of blade. This type of seller will take the input received from cutting back to the smith with this direct feedback from actual use allowing the smith to refine his technique. This will ultimately benefit you, as you will receive the benefit of years of refinement.
9. Quality Control: Your seller should provide extensive quality control. All steel blades can have imperfections. Does your company find these imperfections before the buyer? Many times, sellers will be in a hurry to deliver you a product to �finish� the sale. Demand that your Samurai sword be inspected. Your seller should make sure the saya fits, the habaki seats, the wrapping is tight, the fittings don�t rattle, and the steel is properly forged with no cracks or blemishes. There is a difference between some �sword loving� fellow inspecting a sword and a professional swords craftsman doing the same. The synthesis of all the parts is a subtle balancing act. Hence, for someone to properly inspect a sword, they need to understand how all the parts work together, how these things are built, and how they should be built. The average Internet sales outlet doesn�t know much about Japanese swords. Therefore, even if they do �look� them over, what value does it add?
Demand professional and experienced quality control.
10. Unconditional guarantee: Your seller should support the confidence in your purchase by providing you with a written warranty. You should ask your seller about the warranty against manufacturing defects and what policy he the seller has.
Sometimes we as buyers discover that the product we purchased was not what we expected or that it was more than we could handle. Does your seller have a short term (7 day) �no questions asked� policy if this should arise? Allowing the customer time to be completely at ease with their purchase, or to return it in original condition for full refund, is a reasonable expectation that your seller should provide.