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Recognising a genuine katana
How to recognise an authentic Japanese katana:
If you are a lover of genuine samurai
swords and know that they cannot be bought for a few hundred dollars,
you will probably have some difficulty finding them on the internet.
There are too many imitations on offer. You could end up spending
$300 or less and still only have a cheap imitation.
Therefore, you
should remember a few rules of thumb that will point you in the right
direction to an authentic samurai sword:
An authentic Japanese sword, made by a blacksmith according to ancient tradition, has a handle made of high-quality, seasoned hardwood. It must be light and durable at the same time.
When checking the handle, also make sure that it is fitted with a mekugi. This is a small peg that holds the handle and blade together.
A real katana has a wrap around the handle; this is called tsuka ito. The binding must be tightly wrapped around the handle.
Below the tsuka ito is the samegawa. It serves as the first cover for the wooden handle. You can see and feel it through the spaces between the bindings.
Authentic katanas have a samegawa.
There are only a handful of families
that have retained the traditional method of making a katana. Now you
can imagine that a samurai sword made by these master blacksmiths
cannot be had for under $1,000.00, a real samurai sword usually costs
more than $1,000.00.
For a genuine samurai sword with special
scabbards, fittings etc., you will have to invest even more.
The
hamon (the line that runs along the blade) is one of the most
important features for recognising whether a sword is genuine or not.
Poorly made katanas often have a straight line or a regular line,
which is how you can recognise a cheap copy made of simple steel.
However, if the blade was made by a real swordsmith, the hamon will
have a unique and irregular shape.
It's not just about having
a cool-looking weapon like the ones you see in films, anime and other
media. Owning a real katana is also about owning a piece of history,
even if the blade was forged just last week. It is about being part
of a lost but not forgotten culture.
Each katana is considered a
work of art, and the process of making it is equally revered. This
tradition can be compared to a painter's masterpiece, and the value
of a genuine samurai sword (katana) also increases. How nice would it
be to know that you have a katana in your home that was made with
high craftsmanship, care and love?
Even if you will probably never
use your katana as the samurai did, it is a deep satisfaction to know
that you are part of a noble and timeless culture.
WOLF-Blade not only offers genuine
samurai swords for sale, we also provide detailed information about
Japanese swords and how you can distinguish genuine swords from cheap
copies. Historical and collectible katana as well as other types of
blades are not only steeped in legendary history, but are also
beautiful works of art.
WOLF-Blade shares your passion and
offers you genuine samurai swords.