Samurai Swords, often known as Japanese swords (Japanese: 日本刀) or Nihont in Hepburn, are one of several traditionally manufactured swords from Japan.

In mediaeval Japan, the title "Samurai" was reserved for a select group of men who belonged to a privileged class. They were the military's governing class and ascended to the top of the Japanese hierarchy. These Samurai warriors used a variety of weaponry, including bows and arrows, firearms, and spears, but the sword served as their primary weapon and emblem.

Japanese swords come in a variety of styles that vary in size, form, function, and forging techniques. The Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto, Odachi, and Tachi swords are the five important types of samurai swords. Japanese swords have been created since the Kofun period (300-538 AD), although contemporary Japanese swords with curved blades did not appear until many centuries later in the Kamakura Period and the Edo Period.

Katana is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and a long grip to accommodate two hands. Katana was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the blade facing upward. The official term for katana in Japan is uchigatana and the term katana often refers to single-edged swords from around the world.

A full tang Katana or Sword means a part of the blade that is left unsharpened and extends down almost the entire length of the Tsuka or handle, making the blade and the handle the same piece of metal.

It provides the sword with certain rigidity and makes the blade an excellent and lightweight piece in combat and training. Depending on the carbon concentration, a full tang blade may be made from various steel types. Japanese swords or Nihonto are great art pieces and are often full tang blades.

Tachi (太刀) is a traditionally crafted Japanese sword worn by feudal Japan's samurai elite. Compared to the katana and other Japanese swords, tachi often refers to a longer, more curved sword. Tachi was loosely hanging on the left waist, with its edge facing the ground instead of facing up, so samurai could draw it quickly to chop down warriors on the floor. Authentic tachi must be hung on a leather device or two hangers to ensure it lies flat against the body.

Clay Tempered Katana are swords created using a specific blade reinforcement procedure, one of the most complex arts in sword-making techniques and the pinnacle of Japanese sword design.

Clay tempering is so named because the swordsmith will employ "clay" to insulate the blade's spine. Although each swordsmith has a unique list of secret ingredients, they often consist of clay, water, stone powder, rust, and maybe some ash. A thin clay coating is carefully applied along the cutting edge, while a thicker layer is applied to the body and spine. A pattern will be drawn in the clay, often appearing like an undulating wave flowing down the length of the blade. The differential hardening process allows the sword to acquire beautiful curves, and the heating-quenching process forms a distinctive natural temper line down the blade known as Hamon, which is typically observed as a frosted wavy line down the length of a polished sword blade.

Folded Steel Katana is usually known as Damascus Steel Katana. Folded Steel Katana involves folding the steel repeatedly to remove impurities from the iron, resulting in a grain texture (Hada) on the blade and quality steel.

Modern steel is already of high quality, but the folding process is said to boost toughness and resistance, as well as the beauty of the blade due to the folded steel pattern, which makes it not just a piece of artwork but also a gorgeous present for a friend or loved one.

Wakizashi, a shorter and smaller "partner" sword to its katana counterpart, was worn on the left side, fastened to the waist sash (Uwa-obi or himo), with a curved, single-edged blade between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 in) in length.

On the other hand, Wakizashi Swords are not always a scaled-down replica of the katana; they may also be forged differently and have a different cross-section. Japanese bladesmiths usually made the wakizashi with a narrower cross-section to make it a sharper, more lethal weapon.

A tantō (短刀, "short sword") with a single or double edge and a length of roughly 30cm is one of the most revered Samurai swords in Japanese history, worn by feudal Japan's samurai class. The tantō was designed in the Heian period. Some tantō have exceptionally thick cross-sections, and Samurai primarily utilise it as a weapon to penetrate and pierce through enemy armour in close-quarter combat.

Our swordsmithing workshop is in Longquan, China, and our master swordsmiths all have over 15 years of experience in the art of swordsmithing. Longquan is a city in China with a rich history dating back over 2,600 years. Longquan swords are often hand-forged by skilled artisans who follow traditional techniques passed down through generations. They are primarily made from high-quality carbon steel, with a focus on achieving a balance between hardness and flexibility. The unique crafting process involves heating, folding, and shaping the metal to create a blade with a sharp edge and a distinctive, elegant curve. Longquan swords are treasured as collectibles and cultural artifacts, representing the rich heritage of martial arts and craftsmanship.

The legal framework surrounding the possession of such traditional swords can be complex, particularly in Japan. Japanese katanas with high collectible value often come with certificates, such as NBTHK certificates or NTHK certificates. At KatanaSwordArt, we collaborate with renowned Japanese "Token shops" (刀剣店) and swordsmiths (刀匠) to bring authentic katanas to our customers. Feel free to reach out for inquiries.

Katana was originally a samurai weapon, which was worn thrust through a belt-like sash (obi) with the sharpened edge facing up. Samurai could draw the sword and cut the enemy in a single motion, the quicker reaction in combat the better, which increased the popularity of the Katana among samurai in Japan.

Thanks to Japanese movies and anime like Demon Slayer, Akame ga Kill, Naruto, Blue Exorcist, Gintama, Samurai Champloo, Rurouni Kenshin, Bleach, Samurai Deeper Kyo, etc. The Japanese Katana sword has become increasingly famous with the re-acknowledgement of its value as a work of art.

Making a katana includes sever steps, such as preparation of raw materials, forging the raw steel into workable blocks, configuring the inner core structure of a sword, drawing out the steel block to the blade length, heating and hammering to make the final shape of the sword, straightening and flattening the blade, applying clay and heating to create the Hamon on the blade, correcting warps and bends, carving grooves and engravings.

Firstly, heat the clay-coated katana blade in the furnace and plunge the glowing red blade into a cold pool of quenching liquid (either water or oil). Through rapid heating and quenching, the spine and cutting-edge cool at different rates, making the cutting edge extremely hard and the spine durable and flexible. If the blade survives,  it will become a live blade, and Swordsmith will do hand polishing. Through polishing, you can see the difference between hard and soft metal since there is a visible temper line on the blade, also known as the Hamon.

Traditionally, Maru steels are made by using tamahagane as the raw material, Tamahagane is a type of steel made from iron sand, it's known for its high quality and is considered a premium steel. The iron sand is heated in a clay furnace. This process removes impurities and leaves high-carbon steel.

Anime katana refers to the depiction of traditional Japanese swords in anime, like Japanese animated television shows or films. Katana swords are often portrayed as powerful weapons wielded by characters in anime, manga, Japanese comics, and are often associated with samurai and ninja characters.

To maintain a katana blade and prevent rust, here are some steps you can follow: Keep the blade dry, Avoid touching the blade with bare hands, Use a rust inhibitor, Store the katana properly, Clean the blade regularly, Handle the blade with care.

Yes, we offer the Express Shipping service if you need the Katana to be dispatched urgently. The service areas include New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania. You can expect a quicker delivery if the destination is a capital city like Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin. The ETA is around 1-3 business days. For more information, please check Katana Express Shipping Page.

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Yes, we ship swords all over the world. Please Contact us for delivery times and Shipping costs.

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Yes, we can engrave letters or names on the blade and tang of the katana to reflect your personalized elements. We also offer unsharpened katanas if you prefer. For simple engravings, we do not charge an extra fee. Please contact us for specific requirements.

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