Single 40" Hardwood Datio Bokken Kendo Practice Sword

by ACE

Product Features

• ? Wood practice sword patterned after classic katana swords
• ? Sturdy oak build with dark-stained finish
• ? 2-piece guard design protects hands and guard itself
• ? Comfortable cord-wrapped handle for heavy use
• ? Blade measures 30 inches; sword measures 39 inches total

Product Description

The boken is constructed of oak with a dark stained finish. The handle of the boken is wrapped in a black nylon cord, just as a katana would be. The boken has been constructed with a high detail to replicate the look and feel of a katana, with a kissak at the end of the tip and a pentagonal spine and blade.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 36 x 2 x 1 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000CDUDUW
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,572 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #4 in Sports & Outdoors > Other Sports > Martial Arts > Weapons > Practice Swords

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great idea!, February 12, 2006

By 

L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Single 40" Hardwood Datio Bokken Kendo Practice Sword (Misc.)

The cord-wrapped handle is a great idea, offering more of a real sword-like look as well as a firmer grip. My hands tend to get sweaty and slip around a bit with long practice, particularly with the sealed lacquered finish on most bokken. This wrap really helps (though it needed a touch of glue to get it to stay in place). The two-piece guard design is a nice enhancement too. Though you really don't need the guard at all for many applications it is nice looking and appears stronger than the original. It's still a fairly cheap piece of wood, compared to an ironwood version, but at this price (it was $9.99 when I bought it) you really can't go wrong. A nice enhancement over the basic bokken. Recommended.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent practice sword, March 14, 2006

By 

Loki - See all my reviews

This review is from: Single 40" Hardwood Datio Bokken Kendo Practice Sword (Misc.)

I'm pretty new to Kendo and this is my first bokken. If you are looking for a sword to spar with, do not buy a bokken. You will break it. They're just heavy sticks afterall. Shinai are better for sparring.

As far as this bokken, I love the cord wrap. I bought 2 of these (one for me, one for my wife) and the wrap on both is very secure; it doesn't move or need glue. The hand protector is a nice touch for some realism if you must have it, but considering that it's only going to be used for solo practice, you don't need it. You can also remove it very easily if you decide you don't want it.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Boken, Nice Price, September 20, 2006

By 

Tiki-Tantrum - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Single 40" Hardwood Datio Bokken Kendo Practice Sword (Misc.)

It's a nice boken, it feels nicely balanced, looks good, and has a nice price.

The handle wrap was the main reason for my purchase of this item; it keeps the boken in your hands even if they are sweaty. I was a little wary of the wrapping to come undone, so I just placed a few drops of super glue on the ends and a few of the places in-between, just to make sure it stays in place. It's a good practice sword and it serves its purpose, worth the buy in my opinion.

Another reviewer has stated that his boken broke when it was struck, this may very well be. However, it is not because of faulty craftsmanship, it is because the boken is not meant for contact. It is purely a device to help you hone your sword handling skills without chopping off your arm, which you could do with a real katana.

If you want a contact sword to spar with friends, I suggest getting a shinai. Unlike the boken, a shinai is actually meant for sparring and will not break under normal use.