The Katana sword was a key part of the warrior’s arsenal during the Feudal Japan era. It was so important that when a samurai was on his death bed, he would hold his katana at his side to pass over into the White Jade Pavilion of the afterlife. It was a weapon used for both slashing and thrusting combat, with its unique design ensuring that it could be easily drawn and then swiftly struck without any loss of power or control.
The katana was made from tamahagane, which was created by heating iron sand and charcoal in a clay tatara furnace. The result was a steel with varying carbon content, giving it both hardness and flexibility. The combination of these characteristics was what made the katana so effective.
After the smith removes all of the slag from the tamahagane, he heats the hard high-carbon steel to a temperature that allows him to easily forge it into its basic shape. He then places a softer low-carbon steel over the hard high-carbon steel. The two layers of metal are then welded together to form the blade. The resulting fusion between the two types of steel creates the wavy line known as hamon on the blade’s surface, which is a visual indication of the differential tempering process.
After the smith completes the forging process, he performs a number of finishing touches on the katana. He checks the Jiba (blade surface) for small scratches and dents, and then he performs a final grinding. He also drills holes for the Mekugi (fastening pin) used for securing the Tsuka (handle grip). find out more information