Why does a katana curve

How to Disassemble a Katana? February What is Nugui Gami and its Alternatives? November July What is a Sai? Weapon Guide April Types of Japanese Swords 7.

October How many Times are Katanas Folded? September What is the Hamon Line? What can a katana cut through? Notify of. I allow to use my email address and send notification about new comments and replies you can unsubscribe at any time. Newest Oldest Most Voted. Yet, swordsmiths soon found out that integrating a slight curve enhanced the sword.

It improved the efficiency and cutting power of the blade against unarmored enemies. It also influences the balance of the weapon, making it favorable to the user. This helps in clearing the opening for the Saya with lesser effort. Swords with a curved blade is generally more effective at cuttin g. This is due to the extended surface area of the blade.

This, in turn, makes a deeper cut. With a curved sword, you will end up trying to execute the Draw Cut. This is when you attempt to cut a target and slide the entire length of the blade against it. Doing this will allow you to cut deeper compared to hacking. Curved blades are more effective compared to straight blades of the Ashigaru. This was most especially evident when wielded while on horseback.

Curved blades on horseback added to the descending force of the cutting motion. So for the cavalry to dominate the battlefield, it made sense to use a curved blade. Another piece was the Tachi which had a proportionate and long handle. It helped counterbalance the weapon for single-handed use. The East was where curved blades became most popular. This was because Central Asia, the Middle East, and India are known for having wide expanses of land. Something that is very much ideal for cavalry charges.

Recall Genghis Khan and how he dominated most of Asia with the power of his cavalry alone. That layer will insulate the edge and limit the amount of heat it receives. So, when you put it into the fire, the spine is over-heated, while the edge is under-heated. As a result, the spine will become softer. By giving extra-heat to the spine, the spine will dilate accordingly. The higher the temperature, the greater the bending. So, to harden the spine you place the blade under a hot fire, just below degrees C F temperature.

If the temperature is any higher, the sword might crack. This part is a bit tricky but necessary. Once the steel blade is fully enhanced, the bladesmith passes the sword to someone who can polish and sharpen it. This process is the longest and, as I mentioned previously, it may take several weeks or months to do it properly. Finally, artisans decorate the handle with various exotic symbols, designs, precious stones or even gold. After decoration, the bladesmith inspects the katana and delivers it to the owner.

The most amazing thing is that the creation of one katana takes nearly six months and requires about 15 skilled workers. I bet you are surprised as well. As you might have already heard, katana dimensions may vary depending on the height of its wielder. Average katana blades measure between centimeters 27 — 30 inches. This length is just for the sharp segment of the sword, excluding the handle. The total length is about cm about 40 inches. As a sword enthusiast, it is quite useful to know that katana length is traditionally measured by shaku.

This was the old way of figuring out how long should the sword be. One shaku is around The standard size was shaku. There were no exact size specifications regarding Samurai swords as every blade was tailored for the person wielding it. Nowadays, swords come in different sizes and lengths, and if you plan to buy one, check out this katana length guide.

Sometimes people fail to differentiate between a samurai sword and a katana. However, this isn't necessarily true. Katanas receive their distinct curved blade not from forging but from quenching. As we've discussed in previous blog posts, katanas are made by smelting multiple layers of steel sheets with varying levels of carbon.

This reduces impurities while evenly distributing the carbon content throughout the blade. When creating these layers, the swordsmith stretches and folds the layers of steel to create a block of steel, which is then formed into a billet.

At the billet stage, the katana has virtually no curvature. It's not until the quenching process when it receives its curvature.