Katana swords are very special. Some people never get to own any in their lifetime, and for those that do, some end up with just one. Whether you’re a katana sword collector or you use one for martial arts purposes, it’s always a great thing to own one.
Now, most people have no idea how katana swords are made. In feudal Japan, they were mostly given to people who had high honor and prestige in the society or those engaging in combat.
Nowadays, most people buy them from handmade swords experts but don’t know how they are produced. We are going to look at the process behind the manufacturing of katana swords.
Are you excited?
Let’s dive in
What are Katana Swords?
Before we look at how katana swords are made, let’s look at what it is.
For those who don’t know what katana swords are, they are very attractive and sleek. They have curved single edges and are sixty centimeters or more long. They are used by a lot of people because of their strength and sharpness.
It is composed of three parts:
The blade
The Katana blade is usually made up of folded steel or high-carbon steel. You must choose swords based on these blades as their cutting ability depends on them.
Most professional ninjas or martial artists prefer katana swords blades that are made of folded -steel to ensure durability and strength. If you choose a sword with a high-carbon steel blade, they may become brittle over time depending on how you use them.
Furthermore, when the Katana sword uses folded steel, its entire appearance is changed. Beginners are often advised to use swords with high-carbon steel blades.
The Saya
This protects the blade. It is made of light wood.
The Tsuba
This is the round guard located at the end of the blade. You can find it just before the grip. They protect users from cuts.
Now, that we know what a katana sword is, let’s look at the process
How are katana swords made?
The ancient type of katanas was made from a steel called jewel steel. For manufacturers to create this steel, they had to hammer several layers of iron ore at about 1300 degrees Celsius for 3 complete days.
When the hammering is done, the iron ore contains not more than 1.5 percent carbon. This procedure leads to a soft low carbon core. This core is allowed to cool and then covered with metal that contains very high carbon so that it can have distinct and unique curves.
Note that this metal has to be folded at least a dozen times at the initial stage because it’s going to form the blade. It can even be folded up to fifty times for enhanced strength. Once the final sword is assembled, it’s so strong that it can cut a man into 2 pieces with a single slash.
There are lots of imitations in the market, so you must buy one from a handmade swords expert to avoid complications later.