Looking for an Samurai Sword?

Because swords are rather rare commodities, many people prefer to shop for them online. From the pictures on the webstores we cannot wholly ascertain the genuineness of any so called authentic samurai sword and this is why we need prior information describing what a battle ready sword really is. Samurai aka Katana swords are revered for their sword blade quality which boasts a hard cutting edge and the ability to resist shock. As earlier pointed, these qualities are achievable with carbon steel. 

An samurai sword warrants its genuineness in its blade manufacture process. True samurai swords are forged i.e. the billet is repeatedly heated, hammered and folded, and in the process impurities are eliminated thus giving the blade an extraordinary cutting ability. Afterwards, the carbon sword is subjected to tempering which is a claying and differential hardening process that entails rapid heating and quenching procedures. Through these processes the sword develops both low and high carbon steel sectors and these are what make it a real battle ready sword. The lower carbon section gives the blade some flexibility which enables it to better absorb shock while the high carbon sector goes to ensure a strong and tough cutting edge. A samurai carbon sword that has been subjected to tempering bears characteristic wavy lines patterns also known as hamon. 

An authentic samurai sword, despite being a carbon sword thus implying that it is strong and shatterproof should also have stable handling. The stability of a sword mainly lies in its tang length and therefore a functional battle ready sword should have a full tang and which also conforms to the shape of its handle (tsuka). 

An authentic samurai sword is also very attractive to the eye and you should therefore look for various aspects of aesthetics such as high grade polishing, and ornamentations on the pommel (kashira), guard (tsuba) and handle wrapping (tsuka-iko). Before making your purchase ensure that you are dealing with a knowledgeable seller who is quality control conscious and who can provide warranties for the swords on sale.