If you are new to buying Samurai swords, the variety of terms and technicalities can seem overwhelming, especially when the differences between the swords appear minimal at first glance.

However, understanding the specific characteristics and historical uses of each type of Japanese Samurai sword can significantly enhance your appreciation and decision-making process.

Below, you’ll find descriptions of various Japanese Samurai swords, detailing how they differ and their unique historical uses.

While the array of names and technical details might initially seem daunting, becoming familiar with these distinctions will make your selection process more informed and enjoyable.

Katana

The Katana is a long, curved sword traditionally used by samurai, known for its sharp edge and versatility in both slashing and thrusting during combat.

Wakizashi

The Wakizashi, is a shorter companion sword to the Katana, used for close combat and ritual purposes. It was often worn together with the Katana, forming a daisho pair.

Tanto

The Tanto is a small, single-edged dagger, typically used as a backup weapon. The Tanto is also commonly utilized in ceremonial and ritualistic contexts.

Tachi

Tachi was the predecessor to the Katana, featuring a more pronounced curve and typically worn edge-down. The Tachi was favored by cavalry for its effective slicing capability from horseback.

Ninjato

The Ninjato is a straight-bladed sword often associated with ninjas, characterized by its shorter length and simplistic design, making it ideal for stealth and quick draw.

Nagamaki

The Nagmaki features a long blade and a handle of similar length, used primarily in sweeping and slicing motions. The Nagamaki was effective in infantry combat and against cavalry.

Nodachi

The Nodachi is a large, field sword with an extended blade, used by samurai on the battlefield. Its size provided greater reach and cutting power, particularly effective against cavalry.

Shirasaya

Shirasaya are plain wooden scabbard and hilt designed for storing the blade when not in use. Shirasaya are often used for blade preservation and are not intended for combat.

The first thing you have to know is that when it comes to swords, steel can be a bit capricious. At first you might think that the harder the better, but that’s not always the case.

Here comes into play also the flexibility of the Samurai sword, the hardness of the edge, and the various treatments that have been used to create the perfect weapon.
But let’s go by parts. What types of Japanese sword steels exist and being used in modern days?

There are different types of steels, each with its pros and cons. Next, we will talk about the most common steels used when forging Samurai swords.

Stainless Steel Swords

While stainless steel finds many applications in today’s society, such as knife making, short blades, tools other types of accessories, under no circumstances stainless steel should be used to make Japanese swords.

Samurai swords created with this steel are extremely brittle and weak, and even their aesthetic value is questionable.

Stainless steel is great when it comes to relatively small blades, like tactical knives and daggers. However, when it comes to long swords it becomes brittle, and can cause the sword to break from a minor hit.

That’s why we say it’s not recommended even to display them!

Carbon Steel Swords

This is one of the most common types of steel found when looking for Japanese swords in today market.
When it comes to carbon steel, the number represents the amount of carbon in the blade.

The general rule is that the higher the carbon level, the more consistency the sword acquires. Thus, a high carbon 1095 (0.95% carbon) sword will be more hard than one made of 1060 steel (0.60%), and this in turn the 1060 carbon steel will be more hard than one of 1050 steel(0.50%).

Usually the lowest carbon content found on functional samurai swords is 0.45%. (1045 carbon steel).

This makes swords made of 1045 high carbon steel the cheapest and less durable, while the price and efficiency increases as the number increases.

So, is a 1095 high carbon steel sword better than a 1060?
Well, that depends, as you may have seen, swords, like everything else in life, need a balance.

Consistency is not necessarily synonymous of a “better” sword. Yes, the more carbon the stronger and more resistant the sword will be, but in equal proportion it will be more brittle, sacrificing ductility and will also become more difficult to wield.

Under certain treatments like clay tempering the 1095 steel can become more efficient and durable than the 1060 steel, and will retain it’s sharp edge longer.

There is no clear answer to “which is the best sword” as it also depends on what you intend the sword for, Yet, Tamahagane steel is still considered as the best steel for Samurai sword making.

However, many experts agree that the ideal range for a strong, sharp sword is between 0.60% and 1.00% carbon content.

What do you prefer, hardness or flexibility?

T10 Steel Swords

Another type of steel that is superior to most other swords made of high carbon steel in terms of hardness and durability is T10 Steel.

T10 steel, also known as high speed steel, is an alloy of steel and tungsten. It has one of the highest carbon contents (1%) and a small fraction of silicone (0.35%).

The tungsten alloy makes this type of steel very resistant to scratches and abrasion, which makes the Samurai sword much more durable and requires less maintenance when not in use.

In addition, swords made of T10 steel keep their blades sharp for long periods of time.

Without a doubt, the T10 is an excellent steel if you are looking for a functional Katana that will be with you for a long period of time.

Spring Steel Swords

Spring steel, as its name suggests, is a much more flexible steel alloy than the previous ones.

This material allows the sword to bend much more, making it more resistant to impact while retaining its strength.

There are two main types of spring steel:

5160 and 9260, both with a carbon content of 0.60%, as the last two digits indicate.

Spring steel 5160, in addition to its carbon content, also has 0.7% chromium and 0.2% silicone.

This translates into an extremely hard and durable blade. This, plus a correct heating treatment when forging, can make a really powerful sword.

Spring steel 9260 contains a 2% silicone content, which gives it even greater flexibility than the previous one, making it more resistant to side impacts and allowing it to bend to an angle of almost 90 degrees without breaking.

If you are looking for a very flexible blade the 9260 spring steel is a great choice.

Tamahagane Steel Swords

The word Tamahagane can be translated as Jewel Steel, and is the type of steel that was traditionally used to make Nihonto Samurai swords.

It had to be found in the volcanic sand of the Pacific and it was necessary to make it go through a complex casting process to separate the pieces that were worthwhile from those that were not,

Due to the low quality iron found in Japan during feudal times, swordsmiths had to find a way to make their steel better, getting out the best from the worst. this resulted in the refined steel called Tamahagane.

The high level of impurities found in the iron often pushed the blacksmiths to carry out different techniques to try to remove as much as possible of them.

Despite the complications involved in its making, the Tamahagane was capable of making extremely powerful swords, and could not be matched until long after the advent of the industrial revolution.

Due to the difficult process of making Tamahagane steel, the price is also very high with comparison to all other steel types, if you have the budget and want a Samurai sword made from traditional Japanese steel then Tamahagane is probably the best choice for your sword.

Damascus Steel Swords

There is Much mysticism surrounds Damascus Steel. This being the result of a technique that has been lost in history, like that of the famous Greek fire, it has been the target of a multiplicity of legends and myths.

It is important to note that there is a difference between Folded steel Samurai sword and actual Damascus steel.

What made Damascus steel special was the patterns that emerged along the blade. Today, however, we know that this is the result of a folding treatment of the metal, and that it does not endow the blade with any special attribute in modern times. Rather, it can even be harmful if done wrong.

Damascus steel pattern emerge on the sword when the steel is folded prior to forging, while Damascus steel was folded only several times, most of folded steel Japanese swords are folded multiple times (our standard is 13 folds) which creates thousands of layers of steel and results in a beautiful hada (grain pattern).

Today mostly the term “Damascus steel” is used as a marketing strategy to sell swords to enthusiasts as if they were fine pieces of engineering built with the remains of a meteorite fallen from the sky.

The truth is that, although today many claim to have found the recipe for Damascus steel, the swords made with it vary greatly depending on the blacksmith who forged it.

and if talking about folded steel for Samurai swords, it is important to note that the folding process on modern steel which is already pure, does not add any efficiency for the sword, moreover it is important that the folding is being done properly to prevent air sockets which can cause damage to the blade when it come in contact with a target while cutting.

In the past, when the steel that was obtained had too many impurities, this was an almost obligatory process for a good blacksmith.

By folding the steel and hammering it multiple times, the steel was able to detach many of its impurities, resulting in a more consistent sword.

As a consequence of this process, a series of patterns known as Hada appear along the body of the blade, similar to those of wood grain -not to be confused with those of Hamon.

The number of lines that form these patterns will depend on the number of times the steel has been folded.

With an exponential growth, if you fold it once you will get 2 layers (the top and bottom), but if you fold it twice then you will get twice as many layers (4), and if you fold it three times you will get twice that (8).

Thus, it is normal for the steel of a sword to be folded, for example, 13 times, creating 8192 layers. A steel folded twenty times would get a million layers, but usually it is not folded as many times.

The most common is to find swords whose steel has been folded between 8 and, at most, 16 times. Less of that the result is poor, and more of that is practically indistinguishable.

As we mentioned before, although this process used to be necessary to eliminate impurities, today it is a purely aesthetic procedure.

For some it is worth it, because having a folded steel Katana is closer to the good Katana swords of feudal Japan.

At the end of the day, deciding whether or not to have a folded steel Katana is a matter of art. And it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it or not.

If you’re not sure what a folded steel Katana would look like, you can check out many of the folded steel Katanas we’ve designed here.

Hadori polish

Some shops selling Samurai swords like on our shop at Katanasforsale.com there are extra options and services to enhance your sword beauty, one of the most saught after technique is the Hadori Polish.

The Hadori polish owes its name to the Hadori stone, the tool used for this task.

It is a water stone used due to its coarse surface, which helps highlight the hamon of the differentially hardened Samurai sword during polishing,

Giving a more striking finish to the blade. However, the quality of the result of the process will be strongly determined by the skill of the polisher.

Koshirae Mount

The first mount, Koshirae, is the one intended for daily use and is the one most Samurai swords bring by default.

It usually consists of a lacquered wooden scabbard (Saya), sometimes reinforced with horn inlays, and a piece of metal (Shitodome).

Through the Saya passes a silk or leather cord known as Sageo, which is tied to the Hime of the Samurai (part of the obi belt).

The Koshirae features important fittings such as the Tsuba (handguard) which help protect the hand from the opponent sword, Fuchi and Kashira (handle collar and pommel), ornamental menuki which help keep the handle intact and works together with the other fittings to provide better grip.

Another important aspects in the differences between Koshirae and Shirasaya is that the Koshirae Tsuka uses a wooden core handle wrapped with ray skin samegawa,

The Samegawa provides non slip grip even if the hands were sweaty or soaked with blood. (imagine Samurai in the battlefield, the Samegawa is extremely important to allow the wielder stable grip on the sword).

The ito wrap covers the Samegawa and helps keep the handle and fittings in place while the sword comes in contact with the target.

Shirasaya Mount

In the other hand is the Shirasaya.

This type of mount is completely opposite to the previous one, in the way that while the Koshirae is intended for regular use of the sword.

The Shirasaya is used to hold the sword for long periods of inactivity.

This mount consists of a simple wooden structure involving both the handle and the Saya, so that when the Katana is sheathed it looks like a single piece.

Not having the accessories required for a functional sword, such as the ray skin for the grip of the handle and the Sageo for tying the saya to the belt, this type of pieces are relegated only to the exhibition.

At first, what you will surely be looking for is a conventional sword with a Koshirae mount.

However, having a Shirasaya, especially if it’s your favorite sword and you want to keep it intact for many years, is always a good option.

Not to mention, of course, how elegant it is to display a Shirasaya in your home or Dojo.

If you are going to buy in these hyper markets, the best thing is to limit yourself to buying cheap products, which can’t disappoint you. And in case they do, at least have a clear conscience for not having spent too much on them.

The vast majority of the vendors in these stores claim to have forged the swords themselves. This is, if not false, at least doubtful.

Some sellers buy their swords from Chinese factories that produce them in mass.

In them there are no master blacksmiths, only workers.

These, though experienced, lack the skills necessary to make real Samurai swords or the time to devote to each one the required attention.

In these places one comes to work. And thanks to this, they are able to produce up to 100 swords per day.

All of them, as you would expect, made of cheap materials such as stainless steel. And even, to top it all, with Rat Tail Tang!

At the end of the day, when you are looking for Samurai sword with a minimum standard of quality, you move away from hypermarkets, because you know everything is dispensing there to be sold in mass, reducing costs as much as possible.

Similarly, if you are looking for a functional sword the best thing would be to find someone you can trust and that will provide you with great customer service and care.

Hand Forged Swords

This is where the goods starts.

When it comes to hand-forged swords, instead of mass production factories we find the most varied organizations.

From sheds with blacksmiths, small private workshops to families forging swords in their backyard. They are all moved by the same thing: the love for Japanese swords and the desire to create the next valuable piece.

When it comes to hand-forged Samurai swords, each blacksmith devotes the time needed to the swords. They forge them, usually by hammering them by hand, with authentic materials and subject them to the necessary treatments to make functional swords.

And even, depending on the buyer’s needs, they submit them to optional treatments in order to enhance the power of the sword or it’s appearance as well as you are able to customize the size and shape of the sword among other treats.

Sometimes the process may not be as “fashionable” as we might have expected from an ancestral culture in the forging of swords.

The truth is that nowadays few are the places that comply with all these characteristics.

Eventually it is all depends on the swordmaker, his experience and expertise. When putting those into the craft the result is unquestionably strong sword.

There is a reason why most buyers looking for functional swords choose these handmade Samurai swords.

they are strong and affordable.

And many of them are as good for practice and cutting as Katana swords made in Japan. Which, just because they were made there, can cost between $12,000 and $50,000.

When to buy handmade swords?

Well, if what you are looking for is a functional and resistant sword, have limited budget and you don’t care about the nationality of the blacksmith but about the result he offers, then these are the swords for you.

Newly Made Samurai Swords of Japanese Craftsmen

First of all, you should know that Japan is not allowed by law to produce mass functional swords.

The only thing they can do is to make aluminium zinc swords that cannot have a sharp edge and are only used for training. (Iaito)

Real swords are sparingly produced by experienced masters who use Tamahagane steel.

These are created mostly with traditional tools, but some modern machinery such as power hammers are also used to shape the metal at first.

In addition, the entire process is highly mystified, and the swords go through a serious spiritual ritual that seeks to endow them with a special power.

Due to the limitation on sword forging in Japan and the care that goes into each of these, prices can become really high.

We are talking about prices ranging from $5000 to $13,000, just for a bare blade.

When it comes to whole swords, they range from $12,000 to $50,000. Some can be even more.

When to buy swords made by Japanese craftsmen?

When what you are looking for is a sword made in Japan, pampered to the utmost detail, and you have no problem paying for it.

If you are with the budget, you can contact us for arranging for you a sword made in Japan, please note that waiting time can be 1-2 years for a custom made blade.

Antique Samurai swords

In the online markets you can also find antique Samurai swords.

If you search on different websites you will find a variety of antique (or so called antiques) swords to buy.

Most of them are from the Second World War. However, there are also several that are from earlier times.

Antique Samurai swords are pieces of history rather than just swords, and are therefore not intended for use but for exhibition.

This does not mean that they are not able to cut as well as a functional Katana. However, you must keep in mind that the years take their toll on the metal. And you don’t want to spoil an expensive old sword.

When to buy antique Japanese swords?

When you don’t plan to use the sword but to exhibit it, either in your home or Dojo, and you also recognize the historical value in it.

Also beware of counterfeits as, those are numerous and it is better to consult with an antique expert before purchasing any antique Samurai sword.

Custom Made Swords

The Advantages of Customizing Your Own Sword

We have seen the different markets that exist to which one can turn when looking for a sword. Each with its advantages and disadvantages.

What we are about to see is a variant of the market of hand forged swords, and that is that of customization.

All custom swords are hand forged, so you can expect them to be fully functional and affordable, depending on their components.

Here, from the quality of the steel to the design of the sword, it’s up to you to decide what you want.

You can bring out your creative side and create a unique sword that reflects your ideals -with your colours, your animals, and even engraving the phrase you want on it.

Or, if you’re a practical person, you’ll be happy to know that you have total control over the blade and the procedures it goes through.