Table of Contents
What are straight bladed katanas called?
It’s called a chokuto, which means “straight sword.”
What steel is used for katana?
Steel production The steel used in sword production is known as tamahagane (玉鋼:たまはがね), or “jewel steel” (tama – ball or jewel, hagane – steel). Tamahagane is produced from iron sand, a source of iron ore, and mainly used to make samurai swords, such as the katana, and some tools.
How much does an original Katana cost?
How much is a real katana sword? Authentic katana swords are difficult to come by and can cost anywhere from US$4,000 up to US$10,000 and even higher.
What makes a Japanese straight sword different?
Besides the curvature, a feature commonly associated with Japanese swords is the careful steel folding during the preparation of the billet. However, Japanese straight swords that preceded curved blades were made of unfolded steel. A Japanese straight sword represents the beginning of the blade craftsmanship that would develop over time.
What is the difference between a katana and a wakizashi?
Many warriors carried the wakizashi sword in addition to the katana, as it was a more lightweight, shorter sword that could be wielded by just one arm. Wakizashi swords are between 30-60cm (12-24 inches) in size – the average size of the sword is about 50cm.
What is the difference between a katana and longsword?
The original katana had its sharp blade measuring about 70-73 cm (28 inches) and a handle of 20-25 cm (9 inches). That means just under 100 cm in total. It weighs around 1.1-1.3 kg. On the other side, a longsword blade can reach 90-100 cm (35-38 inches) and then add an extra 15-25 cm for the handle (8-9 inches). It weighs between 1.2-1.5 kg.
What are the strengths of the katana?
Another strength of the katana is its unique curved blade. It was sharp enough to break through Samurai armor (light leather plates, bamboo, and iron splints). The curvature made the drawing motion smoother and faster… A curved blade is easier to glide out of the sheath.