The katana is the sword that made the Samurai of Japan famous around 1392-1573, during the Muromachi period. This unique Japanese sword is known for its combination of cutting power and elegance. It is a single-edged blade that combines a thicker back and a thinner, razor-sharp edge with a distinctive curved shape. The curved blade makes it highly effective for both the slashing movements typical of mounted warfare and the thrusting moves of on-foot combat. A curved blade is also mechanically superior to a straight one at penetrating hard materials with direct strikes.
Its heart is the traditional Japanese steel known as tamahagane, which is created by firing iron sand and charcoal in a clay tatara furnace. The resulting steel contains varying amounts of carbon, which gives it a blend of hardness and toughness. This composition is key to the katana’s ability to cut through both soft and hard armors with ease.
After the smith hammers all of the slag off the tamahagane, he creates a channel in the hard, high-carbon steel and forges it into place. He then hammers the tough, low-carbon steel into a matching channel in the other blade and forges them together. The resulting sword is a perfectly balanced combination of properties: the hard steel forms the deadly blade, and the tough steel acts as the sword’s core.
To achieve this ideal balance, the smith must carefully control the amount of carbon in the steel as it goes through the forging process. He must also avoid over-heating the steel, as doing so will weaken it. When the sword is complete, a Togi-shi (polisher) and a Saya-shi (sheath craftsman) add the finishing touches to the katana. buy demon slayer katana online