Katana swords are well known across the globe for being the strongest and most versatile of all types of swords. With their history in Japan, these deadly weapons have actually been around for centuries now. As time has gone on, their popularity has grown, despite the fact that during this time other types of swords have emerged from all over the world. This poses the question then of why is the katana still considered to be the best sword in the world?
They are made with great precision
The production process for a genuine Katana sword is a highly difficult, methodical, and painstaking one. Whereas some swords are produced en masse in large factories where there is very little in the way of quality control, the process of making a katana sword takes many months. In fact, some of the very best ones can take as long as 6 months to be forged. This is a pretty astonishing fact given that thousands of these were produced back in the times of feudal Japan.
They are the perfect length
Different swords come in all sorts of sizes, with some having blades just a couple of inches long and others having ones that are as long as 50 inches. The blade of a katana sword is somewhere in the middle of this at 23 ? – 28 ¾ inches in length. This is not too short nor is it too long. Thanks to this, samurai warriors were easily able to withdraw them and use them for a variety of purposes.
They have the correct composition
Katana swords are made up of the perfect blend of metals. When they were very first made, they mainly consisted of steel that had a low carbon content. However, it was soon discovered by the swordsmiths who made them that by increasing the amount of carbon in them, it made the blades considerably stronger. From this came the famous tamahagane steel, which is high in carbon and is now used in the production of modern katana swords.
They are worn with the cutting edge facing up
The main difference between other traditional swords made in Japan and katana swords is that they were worn differently. In contrast to all other similar swords, the katana was and still is to today, worn with the cutting edge facing upwards at all times. This was done by the samurai warriors as it made drawing the sword that much easier and quicker.
They are treated with different heats
During the forging process of a katana sword, they are exposed to different types of heat treatment. There are several stages of heating and then cooling the edges and the spine involved in the process. This works to create a spine that is much more flexible and an edge that is super strong.
It is no surprise then that even to this day, genuine Japanese katanas continue to be highly popular swords and are purchased by individuals who appreciate their crafting from all over the world.
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