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Types of Katana

A katana is a Japanese sword that was first used in the late 14th century. Because it was typically used by samurai, it is often referred to as a samurai sword. This can lead to some confusion, however, because samurai also carried another sword called a wakizashi, which is similar in shape to a katana but shorter. The two together are called the daisho.

What Is a Katana?
- A katana is a single edge curved sword that is made for slicing as opposed to stabbing. Standard blade length can vary between approximately 27 inches and 30 inches. Making a katana in the traditional method is extremely time consuming. It is made from a blend of low and high carbon steel which is heated, folded and hammered multiple times. The result is a strong yet flexible sword. The curve is created by repeatedly taking the edge through a process of heating and cooling rapidly in cold water.
Iaito or Practice Katana
- The iaito or practice katana is one which has an unsharpened edge so that it can be used safely in martial arts training. Katanas are used in such Japanese martial arts as iaido and kendo. They can be made of aluminum or steel and are of varying quality, although some can be found with the traditional construction of folded steel. The aluminum alloy variety can be especially useful as a training sword as it is lighter and can therefore be used longer without fatigue.
Shinken or Sharp Katana
- A shinken, or sharpened blade, can also be used in practicing martial arts, but is probably not the best choice for beginners. These swords are made of folded and tempered steel and are intended to be fully functional. However, the intended use is still in the dojo and, therefore, the blade may be sharpened only such that it can easily cut tatami mats, which is part of the typical dojo exercises performed.
Decorative Katana
- Because of the increased appearance of katana in popular media such as in anime and movies like "Kill Bill," more and more people are interested in collecting them. For the collector who is not as serious, you can often find decorative katana sold in sets along with a matching wakizashi. They can vary greatly in quality and will often not be constructed in such a way that they can withstand actual use in a dojo.
Nihonto Katana
- Nihonto are katana that were made in Japan according to the original painstaking methods. The term can refer to swords made in modern times under masters or to antique swords that may have been owned by actual samurai. In either case, one can expect the price tag to be up to the tens of thousands for some antiques.

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