katana identification(nothing special so dont get exited)

You're right in that it was probably inexpensive but that doesn't make it a bad sword. Construction doesn't look terrible to me. No wirebrushed hamon or anything that sets off any warning bells. You could always put on some safety glasses, fill a jug or two and give it a shot, probably best to keep any onlookers a good distance back until you know it's up to the task you set it to. I'd say it's carbon steel, the question is how good the heat treat was done and what's the exact steel composition. You may never know that without testing it. Others on here can probably narrow that down more for you, but I'd say your assessment of it as an "entry-level cutter" is pretty spot-on. It's not a wall hanger..it reminds me of a "build your own sword" or maybe a lower end Musashi.

 

you can tell it is a newer sword, without a maker on the tang who knows, but the tang is not rusted and tarnished, and you can see grinding marks on the tang at the top instead of file marks this tells me it is most likely massed produced

 

With brass fittings, two mekugi and alternating tsuka maki, toss in a good saya finish; It is a bit above floor sweepings or sub $100 class. Might be an SBG special, with the red choices.

Cheers

GC