The Katana, the signature sword of the Samurai warrior, is renowned for its beauty and power. It was worn with the edge facing up, thrust through a belt-like sash (obi) so the samurai could quickly draw the blade and cut enemies in close combat.

The heart of the katana is its unique steel composition. Traditional Japanese steel, known as tamahagane, is produced from iron sand and charcoal in a clay tatara furnace. The mixture of high- and low-carbon content in the resulting wrought iron allows the blade to be made both hard enough for a razor sharp edge, and tough enough for shock absorption. The varying carbon content creates a distinctive wavy line, called hamon, that differentiates the sword’s hardened edge from the softer, more malleable body and spine.

After the smith removes all of the slag from the tamahagane, he heats the harder, higher-carbon steel to form a long bar, then he shapes the softer, lower-carbon steel into a channel that fits snugly into the middle. The smith then welds the two together. The resulting combination of hard, brittle steel on the outside and soft, tough steel on the inside gives the katana its unique strength and flexibility.

The katana is then tempered to achieve its final shape, and it is finally polished to a mirror finish. The hilt, or tsuka, is wrapped in a layer of cotton, leather or rayon called ito. The ito, when properly cleaned, draws away moisture and prevents the tsuka from slipping during use, offering greater control and precision. It also provides a surface for the addition of modern ornaments, called menuki, that give each sword its identity and character. buy demon slayer katana online