Why are katanas folded

Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp. You may also like. 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 What is the Hamon Line? August Why are katanas curved? Katanas are usually folded between 8 and 16 times. There is a specific reason why people say that their katana is folded over times. Read along and we will unveil the myths about folded steel katanas.

Our hand forged folded steel katana is a colorful steel sword made through the traditional Japanese process. This blade has been folded 13 times, resulting in over 8, layers. This folded steel katana is ideal for dojo students, as it is durable enough for cutting tameshigiri and bamboo. A folded steel blade is typically made from high carbon steel. The difference is that a folded steel blade is just like it says; the steel is folded over and over again until the smith believes that it is adequate.

Aside from its aesthetic beauty, the purpose of folding the steel was to bring the impurities to the surface and removed. This was done during blade forging and set the foundation for some of the toughest swords ever to be wielded by the Japanese samurai.

The Paper Crane Tamahagane Katana is without doubt, the greatest achievement in sword making artistry yet available from The Orchid Katana is as quick as it is beautiful with a relatively light blade of folded KC and striking koshirae.

Bushido, or Way of the Warrior, defines the code of conduct an honorable Samurai must follow and the Hanwei Bushido kata This produces the soft metal to be used for the core of the blade. Folding sword steel, known as shita-kitae, can occur anywhere from times. Bladesmiths fold some of the purest blades so many times they have up to a million layers of steel.

The steel used and the tempering process are much more important for the functionality of the sword. The downside of folded blades is the possibility of weld failures between layers. Not as good at cutting as specialised cutting swords, and not as good at thrusting as specialised thrusting swords, but it does both OK.

Lacks reach compared to swords designed for lots of reach, but it makes up for this by being lighter and easier to wear every day. This was the standard Japanese fighting sword or katana for convenience the ninja would choose a blade that was shorter and straighter than usual. Katana are illegal to own throughout most of South East Asia — with only Thailand and the Philippines allowing their citizens to freely buy, own or sell Katana though as with everywhere else, open carry or brandishing them in public outside of organized events or demonstrations is, of course, an offense.