| Of all the Japanese swords, the Samurai Sword | | | | replaced the straight bladed swords. The main |
| is considered the most deadly Japanese | | | | reason for the transformation was that the |
| weaponry. Samurai swords, known as 'nihonto' | | | | samurais' realized that a curved sword could |
| in Japanese, were regarded as symbols of | | | | be easily drawn from the scabbard and |
| samurai warriors. Samurai swords have been | | | | provided a far more effective cutting angle. |
| widely regarded as Japanese antique art. | | | | |
| | | | A typical samurai sword is made of Japanese |
| Samurai Swords are mainly of three types - | | | | steel known as 'tamahagane.' The point of |
| the Katana, the Wakizashi, and the Tanto. | | | | samurai sword is known as a Kissaki. It is |
| Katana, mainly used for outdoor combat, is | | | | the hardest part of the sword to forge and |
| the longest type of samurai sword and is over | | | | polish. To make a quality sword one would |
| 24 inches in length. Wakizashi, around a | | | | require an exceptionally expert artisan. The |
| third shorter than the Katana, was used | | | | value of a samurai sword is mainly determined |
| mainly for indoor activities due to its | | | | by the quality of the point. |
| better maneuverability indoors. Tanto is a | | | | |
| small knife and is used similar like a | | | | If you are looking to buy a samurai sword |
| Wakizashi. The Shogun samurai warriors | | | | then you need to consider several things. |
| usually carried two samurai swords - the | | | | First is to check the type and quality of the |
| Wakizashi and the Katana - with them. | | | | blade. Choosing a full tang blade (that is |
| | | | the blade and the portion under the handle is |
| The earlier samurai swords were actually | | | | a single piece of steel) will be an ideal |
| straight-bladed, single-edged weapons | | | | option. The katana sword is the most popular |
| imported from China and Korea, known as | | | | among martial art students as well as |
| 'chokuto.' During the end of the 8th century, | | | | collectors. |
| the curved blade swords known as 'Tachi' | | | | |