How The Katana Became King

As we mentioned before, prior to the appearance of the katana, the tachi was the flagship weapon of the samurai. It is a particularly lethal sword on horseback. The problem, however, is that cavalry confrontations became increasingly rare.

When the civil war broke out, battles were no longer fought only on vast battlefields. The enemy was no longer just that general guarded by hundreds of men, but you could find him going to collect water, at any corner, inside the palace or in the alleys of the town.

Confrontations became more diverse, and a sword made only for great battles was not so useful anymore.

Unlike the tachi, the katana was compact in size, so it could be used even in enclosed spaces.  Also, its lesser curvature and greater mass made it more versatile when fighting- you don’t need a horse if your sword is heavy enough to execute powerful attacks.

As the years passed, the tachi was put aside and relegated only to cavalry. The katana became the default weapon of the samurai class. At first it was combined with a tanto, and then it was used with a wakizashi.

The Katana Today

The katana has become a symbol of samurai culture. Japan has adopted the famous sword as a national symbol, and to this day it continues to pay tribute to it.

It is a weapon so iconic that it is possible to find it everywhere; movies, anime, video games, and more.

Here at XXX we are dedicated to preserving samurai culture. We believe that every samurai has the right to own their own sword, so we created the first APP to design your own sword in 3D completely online.

Once you design it, with the parts and styles you want, you can order it and receive it at your doorstep in just days. All our swords are 100% functional and ready for battle; they are as effective as the samurai swords used throughout history.

1 – The Katana is the Only Sword That Can Be Quickly Drawn

The main advantage of the katana is its quick-draw technique. Thanks to its semi-curved design, the samurai were able to develop a technique that allowed them to draw and attack in a single movement.

This ability to draw and attack in a second makes it one of the most versatile swords.

This movement is so important for the katana that there is even a martial art dedicated exclusively to it. It is called iaido, and it specializes in forming warriors capable of responding to attacks in milliseconds.

Whether it is at a tea ceremony or walking down the village streets; no one can surprise you when you carry your versatile katana with you.

How sharp is a katana?

The sharpness of a katana depends on two factors: the hardness of the steel and the structure of the edge.

Here we distinguish two types of edge structures: the Niku and the Ultra.

The Niku is the default edge, strong and reliable. The Ultra, on the other hand, makes the cutting edge of the blade as sharp as a razor blade. Both have different uses which we will explore below.

On the other hand, there is the issue of steel.

If the steel used is hard (like T10), the katana will be able to maintain a sharp edge (Ultra) longer. If you use a lower density steel (1065), then it will be more difficult to maintain such a sharp edge.

Is the katana stronger than a longsword?

This depends largely on the steel from which each sword is forged. But suppose both swords are made of the same material.

In that case, one point to note is that the katana is thicker than the longsword.

A longsword weighs almost the same as a katana. However, the longsword is considerably longer and also usually has a heavy knob at the base of the handle.

With this in mind, you can imagine the difference in the blade of both swords.

The longsword is often very dependent on its flexibility to withstand shock. The blade is thin, and that’s why it bends so much when you hit it.

The katana, on the other hand, has a hard and thick blade that rarely bends. And if it does, it is not usually very much – unless it is made of a particularly flexible material such as elastic steel (ringspun steel).

Can a katana cut through bone?

A katana can cut through bone without problems. Not only that, it can go through several bones at once.

In feudal Japan, for example, katanas were used on several occasions to cut through the body parts of criminals. There are records of katanas that were able to pass through dozens of bodies piled up in a single movement.

This practice gave rise to the modern Tameshigiri, in which objects are used and not people.

Can a katana cut through armor?

Yes, a katana can cut through armor without problems. In fact, it can cut through it so easily that its wearer would not even notice what happened.

There is only one small detail: it has to be leather armor.

Can a katana cut through steel?

A katana can cut through thin sheets of steel. There are videos on youtube of professionals performing this feat.

Unfortunately, that is all the steel that the sword can cut.

Katana Handle

The katana has one of the most complex and beautiful handles in the world. Creating a handle for a katana, with all the materials and designs that go with it, is an art in itself.

But, let’s take a look at how the handle of these samurai swords is shaped:

– Tsuka: This is the core of the sword handle. It is a wooden structure that wraps the tang of the blade. They also have holes that are aligned with the tang itself, through which the Mekugi will pass.

– Mekugi: These are small wooden pegs with a starred design. They go through the holes in the tang and the Tsuka, securing both and keeping them steady.

– Samegawa: This is a wrap made of ray skin that completely wraps the wooden Tsuka once it is secured to the tang. The porous surface of the Samegawa allows it to adhere perfectly to the fingertips, preventing the sword from sliding out of the hand. The Samegawa, along with the Ito, are key to providing the exceptional grip so characteristic of samurai swords.

– Ito: The Ito is a strip that partially wraps around the Samegawa, providing an excellent grip for the palm but still leaving room for the fingertips to come into contact with the ray skin. The Ito can be made of cotton, silk, leather, or other types of materials pleasant to the touch. It can also come in a variety of colors. Wrapping the Ito around the Samegawa is a difficult feat, and requires the mastery that only an expert is capable of achieving.

– Fuchi: Fuchi is the necklace on the handle (not to be confused with Habaki, which is the necklace on the blade). The Fuchi is found just below the hand guard (Tsuba), and usually has a series of engravings that match the Kashira.

– Kashira: The Kashira is the base of the sword handle (some call it a pommel). This piece, like the Fuchi, usually has an artistic design, full of Japanese symbolism. The Kashira can also be used to execute strong blows at short distances. It is known that many samurai have cleanly finished with their opponent with just one blow with the Kashira.