What is katana? Production and photos

Very often you can meet the question: "What is katana?". Many interested can not find the difference and believe that this is a simple samurai sword. In fact, the katana is a very interesting and difficult weapon that you need to know a little better.

Distinction

In Japanese, this word is used to designate a sword with a curved shape with one blade. Katana can be called a blade of any origin, but it has some differences:

1. One blade.
2. Subtlety.
3. A square or round arm protection design.
4. The handle is long enough to hold the sword with both hands.
5. Very high sharpness.
6. The blade has a special bend, which simplifies the cutting.
7. A large variety of blades.

History of creation

In order to fully answer the question, what is katana, it is necessary to study the appearance of the legendary sword. The blade was coined as a competitor to the direct Tati and originates in the Kamakura period.

In those days, to win the battle, it took a split second. Therefore, the katana has become widespread due to the speed when removing from the sheath.

The length of the sword practically did not change. It became slightly smaller in the 15th century, but by the end of the 16th century it returned to its size (70-73 cm).

Today, real katans are a serious weapon that has a deadly sharpness.

Manufacturing

To understand how to make katana, you should carefully study the process of its manufacture. It consists of a large number of stages:

1. The choice of steel. Traditionally, the blade is made of refined steel (tamahagane grade). Not every brand can have the properties that are necessary to create a real weapon.
2. Cleaning of steel. During the manufacture, separate pieces of metal are taken, which are forged into ingots. Then they are made up among themselves and again, when heated, they are returned to their original form.
3. Slag removal and carbon distribution. Pieces are added and poured with a solution of clay and ash. When unnecessary additives come out of metal, pieces are heated and re-forged. The process can be repeated up to 12 times. After that, the carbon will be distributed throughout the plane evenly, and the number of layers reaches 30 thousand. When specialists are asked what is katana, the master first of all indicates a large number of folding pieces of metal.
4. Adding mild steel to resist dynamic loads.
5. Forging. May take a few days. At this time, the one-piece block diverges in length. To prevent excessive heating and protect against oxidation, liquid clay is applied.
6. Drawing on the cutting part of a special drawing, which is called a jamon.
7. Hardening. It is performed differentially. The front part is subjected to a stronger heat than the rear. As a result of heat treatment, the blade receives a bend and a high hardness.
8. Vacation. Removing internal stresses by heating steel and slowly cooling.
9. Polishing. It is first made rough, and then thin stones. The work takes about 5 days. With its help the Japanese katana is sharpened, it is given a mirror shine, the jamon is allocated and small defects are cleaned.
10. Decoration of the handle lasts several days.

Use and storage

Real katanas are a formidable weapon. They are unique in their sharpness and require very careful handling. There are several techniques of fencing for this blade.

• Kenjutsu. It occurs in the 9th century and coincides with the appearance of a separate class of warriors in Japan.
• Iaido. This technique is based on sudden attacks and lightning counterattacks.
• Battojutsu. The emphasis is on exposing the sword and reflecting the impact during a quick exposure.
• Iaijutsu. It is based on the techniques of an outstretched arm.
• Shinkendo. The youngest technique, which appeared in 1990.

Keep the blade is only necessary in the case and in a certain position, at which the blade is pointed upwards. If the blade is not used for a long time, it should be polished, covered with oil and powder. The sword does not like long storage, so it must be periodically extracted.

By tying together all the positions discussed, one can answer the question, what is katana. This is a powerful and formidable weapon that can be fatal to any person in skillful hands. You need to be careful about the sword, and also understand that without experience and skill, he can not only hurt, but even maim the common man.