#PARTS OF A KATANA HOW TO#

I hope you remember from 5th grade the first law of inertia: Things in motion tend to stay in motion. Of course, reach is an equally important factor – it tips the balance in favor of long swords. Therefore, inertia and momentum are important factors to consider. The answer is physics! A blade is made from steel, and steel is heavy. Keep in mind that the average height of a medieval-era Japanese male was much smaller (around 155 cm). A typical katana would have measured somewhere between 60-70 cm, excluding the handle, and about 100 cm total. They had a system of classifying different blades according to purpose: ceremonial, domestic, duel and battle-field weapons.Īs far as katanas go, each bladesmith school had its own standards when making a sword. There were no general standards for the katana length. For people who prefer the metric system:ĭepending on the length, the Japanese sword-makers divided their blade into three categories of items: Blade Length We can use it from now on as an additional unit of measurement, especially for nihonto (authentic hand-made katanas). That is a close approximation and it is quite reliable. The bladesmiths used to measure them in units called “ shaku”. What differentiates these Japanese blades is length. Categories of Japanese Swords – Length and Function Let’s see how they measured and categorized these swords, in the next chapter. Aside from the katana, they had three or four different blade choices, depending on the situation. That is how the Samurai solved their problem of choosing the right sword type and length. Those were turbulent times back then, especially for elite warriors loyally serving the Emperor. It was also more maneuverable and swift than a much longer katana. The wakizashi was effective indoors, in close-quarter for self-defense in unforeseen encounters. These blades represented social status, financial power, and rank. Of course, the tanto (long knife) was a necessary companion as well. The samurai carried a wakizashi (shorter sword) for daily use and civilian lifestyle. The katana was too long and heavy for normal routine, so wearing it all the times easily became cumbersome. Probably, the same craftsmen did the blade-smiting. These blades were similar in design compared to the katana. In daily routine (non-combative, normal circumstances) they only carried a short sword ( wakizashi) and a knife ( tanto). In fact, they only used the katana in battle and duels since it was most effective on the battlefield, against other infantry troops.įrom top to bottom: katana, wakizashi, tanto. It is our misconception that they only fought with swords. Several Swords of Different Size!Ī Samurai is a master in all combat situations: from close-quarter fighting to expert marksmanship with the bow and arrow.

#PARTS OF A KATANA HOW TO#

For some reason, it’s always the standard katana that presents the most difficulty.Īre you searching for general katana buyer’s guide? Check out our samurai sword beginner’s guide, which also features a selection of the best swords on the market today.īefore we understand how to calculate the correct katana length, we need to look back at the samurai practices, to comprehend solutions to the problem of choice. I have been researching this for some time, and I never heard anyone ask: “How long should my short sword, kukri, or machete be?”. So, let me help you pick the right katana size and size for your body measurements. You know what they say “The first one is always special” so it must be perfect. I struggled to find the ideal katana length for my size when I was a complete beginner.

Parts of a katana