When most people think of a sword, whether they know the name of it or not, they often think of katana swords. Katana swords can be literally found anywhere; in Hollywood movies, popular video games, a magnificent collection, or even at flea markets! In feudal Japan, katana swords were carried by the samurai, and as a result, people often associate the distinct appearance of katanas with martial arts films, or Japanese films featuring the samurai.
Katana swords date back to as far as 1185, which is the beginning of what is known as the Kamakura period. It wasn’t until later that, when combat required faster access to weapons, the katana began to increase in popularity. The katana was worn by the samurai with an “obi”, which was a sash that held the sword with the dull edge of the sword facing down. The nature in which the katana is drawn allowed the samurai to, in one swift motion, unsheathe his weapon, and attack his enemy, resulting in a very quick and deadly attack. If executed properly, but opponent would die after this fluid motion. Before this, the tachi, another Japanese sword, was worn in the opposite fashion. The dull side of the blade faced upwards, and was not as lethal in a short, intense battle. In case the katana failed to do the job, the samurai was well prepared. He would often carry another sword, while shaped a lot like a katana, the secondary sword, often a wakizashi, was much smaller, and often of a poorer quality, but it still had the distinct katana shape.
Almost two and a half feet in length, and made with brilliant craftsmanship, the katana is a deadly sword that has stood the test of time. These swords can cut through many hard objects that would utterly destroy many other swords. A genuine katana sword is made from a combination of high carbon steel, and low carbon steel, the two of which form a hybrid steel that gets the best of both materials. One of the steel materials is much sharper, but as a result it breaks easier, whereas the other steel has a very small carbon amount in it so as a result it is more suitable for absorbing shock from striking objects, and this increases the durability and strength of the sword. The swordsmithing process for katana swords is extremely labor intensive, but many katana swords found today are made of poor quality materials, and without expert craftsmanship. The quality of the sword is often reflected in the price of the sword, as a sword built to authentic standards takes an extremely long time to build. The polishing stage of the creation of a katana can take over three weeks, resulting in an extremely sharp blade that has become mirrored due to immense polishing.
Due to its deadliness and unique appearance, katana swords have been in hundreds of video games. It would be pointless to try to list all of the games that katana swords have appeared in, but any seasoned gamer will know many games that feature katanas. One of the most legendary game series of all time, Nina Gaiden, features katana swords. The Ninja Gaiden games have spanned many platforms, and have been around for over two decades now. If that’s a little bit too old school for you, even the well known Halo 3 game features a katana. While this katana cannot be used, it is merely a piece of armor that you can “unlock”, it is a sought after piece of armor due to its easily recognizable appearance.
In some parts of the world, katana swords are banned, restricted, or entirely illegal to possess. Since 2008, the United Kingdom has classified the katana sword as part of the Offensive Weapons Order, and as a result, violating this law would find you with six months in jail, and a fine totalling 5000 GBP, which is nearly 7500 dollars. Some people are allowed to obtain these swords still, but the decision was made but to dozens of attacks using these deadly swords.
Katana swords can vary widely with regards to price. Some can be found at a local swap meet or flea market for less than $20, but you will not be getting a genuine, authentic katana for that price. While some katana swords are essentially priceless, there are still many katana swords available for a fairly modest price, but with great quality.
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