The japanese katana is an iconic sword, valued not only for its aesthetic beauty and practicality, but also as a symbol of power and culture. Most katana are forged from tamahagane, a high-quality raw steel made in a traditional furnace called a tatara. The process of forming the blade is complex, and requires immense skill. The blade has a shallow curvature, called a sori, and a distinctive pattern of lines and etchings, called hamon, that gives it a distinct look and unique character.

To form the blade, the smith heats the tamahagane and hammers it section by section. This creates a rough shape of the blade that has many of the recognisable features of a katana, such as a thick back (mune), a thinner edge (ha), and a curved tip (kissaki). The smith also adds other details to the tamahagane at this stage: a ridge line known as ‘Shinogi’, notches along the edge, and holes in the tang for fasteners.

After the smith is satisfied with the basic shape of the blade, it is heated again and quenched in a special mixture of sand and charcoal, which hardens it while retaining the tenacity that makes Japanese swords so durable. The smith then cools the sword with water, which removes some of the carbon and reduces the hardness of the metal. Lastly, the smith applies a polish to the blade and carves inscriptions such as dedications in Kanji or horimono (engravings of gods or dragons) into the spine with a special tool. Visit site