I need an unsharpened practice katana

[HeadCheese]

As the thread title indicates, I'm looking for an unsharpened, preferably blunted training katana for disarming techniques. We could really use one at the dojo for more realistic training, as our bokken don't have tsuba, and all Nidan and higher rank-exams require live blades for tachi-dori and tanken-dori. I'd like to be able to train without serious risk to my digits and limbs.

SOM lists one, but is currently out of stock at last check. I've seen that Musashi makes a carbon-steel model that appeals to me for weight/balance purposes.

Any inexpensive suggestions?

[Mako]

There are 3 Iaito on this page which appear to be in stock...

http://www.swordsofmight.com/search.aspx?find=iaito

...or I have read of some people making one of these blunt...

http://www.swordsofmight.com/assembleyourselfkatanas.aspx

:-?

[the blade master]

hello h.c.
i own the chen gorin iato so i know which i'd choose

[Caliper]

damn, I have two Ryumon unsharpened "training blades" taking up space, with a lot of spare fitting, if I could I'd assemble one and give it to you...

the links posted by Mako look good, worst case, take the crappiest katana you have and blunt it :-O

[knightkat1]

H.C., I have this one: http://www.swordsofmight.com/assembleyourownkatanadragon.aspx
(sidenote, I didn't get it here from Jason)
I think it should work fine. Just make sure when assembling to file down the burrs on the nagako from where they drilled the mekugi-ana, be sure to clean out the metal shavings out of the inside of the tsuka, and you might have to file the tsuba to get it to fit. It's carbon steel with no bo-hi, and has decent weight to it. The edge (at least on mine) has a secondary bevel much like a knife would, so I see no problem with taking a file to it and blunting it even more for safety.
Mine was the first "real" sword I got, as a christmas gift from my mother. All she knew was it was carbon steel like I had been talking about, and was cheap in price. I still have it to this day, and am using it to practise some customization. Hope this helps.

[HeadCheese]

Caliper, are you offering to donate? I'd gladly pay shipping, of course.

All the other suggestions are great, but some are much more than I really want to pay, considering that they cost as much as some nice, functional swords - and the limited use this training piece will receive.

[Caliper]

I'd gladly donate you the training blade if I could, this things are taking up space, but the shipping cost from where I am is probably more than some of the stuff Mako link you ~X(

[wolfhound]

I normally use a bar shaped sharpening stone to take edges off as it dosn't damage the geometry of the blade that much, or you could just get hold of a decent Iaito.

[zentredi]

any of the inexpensive assemble your self one that Jason sells would probably work with a little tweaking i have a couple that i use as beaters and a couple more that i use as test blades. the weight and balance varies from sword to sword so its kind of a pot-luck buy but at under forty bucks a blade they are great for all types of practice be it working forms or customizing

[HeadCheese]

I'd gladly donate you the training blade if I could, this things are taking up space, but the shipping cost from where I am is probably more than some of the stuff Mako link you ~X(

Well, I do appreciate the offer, in any case.

It looks like I might just go with one of the build-it-your-own-dang-self models, then.

Thanks for all the help!