Katanas

If you want to buy a Katana in the medieval Zetan store , here you have them of all kinds and if there is one that you cannot find, ask us and we will look for it for you. All decorative and functional Samurai swords, Wakizashis and Tantos for practice and training that you are looking for. We also have anime and movie katanas , like the ones from One Piece , Bleach , Kill Bill, Demon Slayer,The walking Dead , The Last Samurai and many more.

DEFINITION OF KATANA OR CATANA

A saber of Japanese origin used by the Samurai. With a curved blade, sharpened tip and a single edge that is approximately one meter in size and weighs over one kilo.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE KATANAS

One of the first swords that were made in Japan were the katanas , being around 700 AD. C. when its origin is dated. They were called Chokuto because then they had a straight blade and a single edge, between 30 and 90 cm long.

The name “ katana ” as an expression for a Japanese sword is preceded by the Japanese terms ( on'yomi : ken) and ( on'yomi : tō ). The ornament is influenced by single-edged swords of Chinese and Korean origin, intensifying due to the constant wars between Japan and Korea in the 5th and 6th centuries.

FORGE A KATANA

The manufacturing process of a katana is called forging or forging the blade. This consists of heating the steel at high temperatures that allows it to be shaped using an anvil and hammer. This type of steel is called tamahagane and its main feature is its high carbon content, achieving unmatched hardness. Once the curved shape of the katana blade has been given, it is time to temper it. This consists of heating the steel up to a specific temperature and color that only the great master craftsmen of the forge know, and then submerging it in water to cool it, achieving a great hardness of the blade. The next step is sharpening, which with a stone for this purpose and a lot of time and patience is achieved manually giving it an edge capable of cutting silk or breaking a rock.

An ancestral technique in the forging of katanas to give the curvature of its blade is due to different processes in its construction, such as different changes in the steel when it is cooled in water with special salts in the hardening process, covering the blade with a type of clay and powdered coal. When taking the blade out of the forge it has a temperature of approximately 800 degrees Celsius, the thin layer of clay cools very quickly giving it an exceptional sharpness while the body of the blade has a thicker layer causing it to cool more slowly and getting more ductility in the katana blade and giving its characteristic curvature.

Due to the curvature of its blade and its unique edge, the katana is considered a saber. As such, it is more slash-oriented than lunge-oriented.

The katana was used mainly to cut, managing to produce very serious injuries, which is why it was considered a kind of "hand guillotine". It is unsheathed with an axial rotation movement and bringing the edge upwards. It can be wielded with one or two hands, the latter being the most common.

DAMASCUS STEEL KATANAS AND SWORDS

The history of blades forged with Damascus steel begins between the 10th and 12th century in the Middle East, known as crucible steel, making this technique with great skill and art until around 1750 it became known throughout the world. civilized coming to Europe.

This type of Damascus steel gave the katana such hardness that they became a legend of swords, since it was thought that they never lost their edge and were eternal. The technique used has been lost over time, giving rise to a disagreement between master swordsmiths over its origin and the procedure for its preparation. Some think that the materials used to forge the katanas came from the city of Damascus, while others affirm that their origin is from the area of Macedonia, Bulgaria or Serbia.

Today samurai and medieval swords are still forged with this Damascus steel technique, achieving great hardness and great flexibility making them unique. So, if what you want is to buy a katana or samurai sword, enter the katanas section in the medieval Zetan store and choose the one you like best.

The management of the Japanese saber or katana is an art, which in its primitive state has been almost forgotten. A set of techniques in this sword art called kenjutsu influenced the different techniques, tactics and rituals of some gendai . budō or current martial arts, such as kendō , aikidō , karate, iaidō , ninjutsu, and even judo. The traditional classical kenjutsu schools koryū are still practiced enduring over time. Some of them are Kashima Shin Ryu , Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū , Niten ichi Ryu , Itto Ryu , Kashima Shinto Ryū , Kashima Shin Ryu , Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū .

PARTS THAT FORM A KATANA

Ha: proper edge of the blade.

Habaki : piece at the beginning of the blade next to the tsuba , which in addition to being ornamental has the function of giving stability to the sword and absorbing part of the impact of blows

Hamon : wavy line on the blade due to the type of tempering.

Hasaki : width of the blade at the beginning of the kissaki .

Hi: longitudinal fluting on the blade that serves to lighten the sword. Another function is to absorb the blows and distribute the tension produced, avoiding the deterioration or twisting of the blade.

Fuchi: decorative metallic piece in the lower part of the tsuka .

Iori-mune : it is a type of nerve that is on the blade without a recess.

Kashira : pommel at the end of the handle that has some holes - shitodome - on the sides where the Tsuka-ito is tied at the end of the braid of the handle or Tsuka-maki . This goes to match the fuchi and the combination of both is called " fuchigashira ".

Kissaki : It is the tip of the leaf.

Mei : the signature of the katana gunsmith leaves a mark and that is normally on the nakago .

Mekugi : they are fastening pins from the tsuka (handle) to the nakago (tang) and these used to be made of bamboo wood.

Mekugi-ana : the holes for the pins.

Menuki : they are the decorative metal pieces on the sides of the handle, which also fulfill the function of giving strength to the grip of the sword.

Moto-bean: width of the sheet.

Moto-kasane : the thickness of the blade in the habaki .

Mune : the counter edge of the blade.

Nagasa : length of the blade.

Nakago : the tang, which is the part of the blade that is on the inside of the hilt.

Nike: it is the reduction of the nerve.

Sageo : it is the rope or cord that is normally made of cotton or silk and that is tied to the saya through the Kurigata . Among some of its uses are to tie the sleeves of the uwagi or warrior and to be able to tie an opponent who has been captured.

Samekawa : piece that covers the tsuka and is usually made of shark or ray skin and thus prevents the tsuka-ito from slipping .

Saya: it is the sheath of the katana that is usually made of wood.

Seppa : metal spacers normally made of copper one between the habaki and the Tsuba and the other between the Tsuba and the fuchi

Sori : name given to the curvature of the katana .

Sugata : type of blade.

Tsuba : it is the part that separates the blade from the handle and is usually decorated with natural motifs, they are called guards or shields.

Tsuka : it is what we know as the handle or grip.

Tsuka-ito : it is the string that wraps the handle.

Yokote : it is the line that divides the tip of the katana with the rest of the blade.

The Japanese had a very wide variety of weapons. The most famous is the katana sword , of course, an authentic work of art associated with their culture, their values and traditions.

The Japanese katana is considered the most beautiful sword ever forged.

The Katana is a weapon that has always fascinated those who observe it. In it, the combination of lethality and beauty is perfectly seen, hence its value as an art object. It is known that most bladed weapons are the product of the evolution of work tools or farm implements, however , this type of sword was forged specifically for war, and often possesses a legendary aura.

From the mythical Excalibur sword to the famous Spanish Tizona, there are also Japanese swords shrouded in mystery. The most valuable Japanese saber in the world, is the best forged katana in history, the so-called Honjo Masamune with more than 700 years old. She has been missing since 1946 when a sergeant of the 7th Cavalry (part of the US occupation forces) took her from a Tokyo police station to the weapons depot where she never arrived.

OTHER WEAPONS USED BY THE SAMURAIS

But besides the katana they had many more weapons in their arsenal:

Bo: A wooden stick almost two meters long and about 3 centimeters wide, which was generally used by fishermen, but was also used as a weapon in a very effective way.

Bokken . Basically a wooden katana , very popular in the Muromachi period especially used for training.

Eku : It originated from the fishermen's oars. Despite being made of wood, it has edges and is sharp at its end.

Hanbo : It is a rounded-shaped stick a little less than 1 meter long.

Kama: A long-handled sickle.

Naginata : It consists of a blade nailed to a long stick. It vaguely resembles a European halberd but the blade is simply curved.

Nunchaku : They are two very short sticks -about 40 centimeters- joined together by a rope or chain. Very popular today thanks to television and movies.

Sai : It is a dagger with a sharp point, but without edge and with two side protections ( tsuba ).

Tanto: Short weapon similar to a dagger.

Tonfa: A stick half a meter long with a perpendicular handle of about 15 centimeters.

Wakizashi : Short sword similar to the katana .

JAPANESE WEAPONS

Katanas are a type of Japanese sword that have been used for centuries for both functional and decorative purposes. They are known for their distinctive curved shape and sharp edge, making them highly effective in combat. In addition to the katana , there are other types of Japanese swords that have been used throughout history, such as wakizashi , bokken , shirasaya , and laita .

The katana is considered the most iconic of all Japanese swords. It is usually around a meter long and has a curved, single-edged blade. The blade is made of a special type of steel called tamahagane , which is created by heating iron sand in a clay oven. The blade is then folded and hammered multiple times to create a unique pattern and remove any impurities. The handle of the katana is traditionally made of wood and wrapped in stingray skin and silk. The handle is also fitted with a guard, called a tsuba , which is often ornately decorated.

The wakizashi is a shorter sword that is typically around two feet long. It is often used as a companion sword to the katana and is used by samurai on formal occasions. The wakizashi is also used for hand-to-hand combat and to perform ritual suicide, known as seppuku .

The bokken , also known as a wooden sword, is a practice sword used to train sword fighting techniques. Bokken are usually made of hardwood and are used instead of real swords to prevent injury during training.

The shirasaya is a type of sword that is traditionally housed in a smooth wooden scabbard. It is often used as a display piece and is not intended to be used in combat. The shirasaya is often used by sword collectors as a way to preserve and display their swords without damaging the blade.

The laita is a type of sword often referred to as a "long sword". It is usually around four feet long and is used similarly to the katana . However, the laita is not used as frequently as the katana and is considered a more specialized weapon.

In addition to swords, there are other types of Japanese weapons that have been used throughout history. These include the yari , a spear-like weapon; the naginata , a polearm with a curved blade; and the tanto, a short dagger. Each of these weapons has its own unique characteristics and is used for different purposes.

In conclusion, the katana , wakizashi , bokken , shirasaya , and laita are all types of Japanese swords that have been used throughout history. Each sword has its own unique characteristics and is used for different purposes, be it for combat, training, or display. Additionally, there are many other types of Japanese weapons that have been used throughout history, such as the yari , naginata , and tanto.

JAPANESE MEDIEVAL WEAPONS

Medieval Japanese weapons fall into two main categories: cutting weapons and impact weapons.

Cutting weapons include the katana , wakizashi , and tanto. The katana is a long, curved sword used primarily by samurai. The wakizashi is a shorter sword used as a support weapon or as a ceremonial weapon. The tanto is a short sword used for dueling or ritual suicide.

Impact weapons include the yari , naginata , and kanabo . The yari is a long spear used by samurai in warfare. The naginata is a long sword with a curved blade at the tip used mainly by women and people of lower rank. The kanabo is an iron mace used to deal damage to opponents through powerful blows.

In addition to these weapons, bows and arrows, shurikens (throwing stars) and boomerangs (boomerangs) were also used. The samurai were also experts in the use of defense weapons such as the shield (kata) and the helmet ( kabuto ).

All of these weapons were used in training and combat, and were considered symbols of power and honor. The manufacture of these weapons was an art and required specialized skills and techniques to achieve the necessary quality and precision.