How to Construct a Samurai Sword? Step-by-Step Guide!

A samurai sword is a Japanese long sword with curved blade and used in the feudal era. It was commonly paired with armor called "dō" to form the samurai class who served as military nobility throughout Japan's history from the Heian period to the 19th century, and beyond.

The other longswords used specifically by samurais were the daisho, which consisted of a smaller paired short sword called a wakizashi and larger paired short sword called a katana. A daisho set is often referred to as "samurai-daisho." The term "samurai swords" loosely refers to these two types of swords together or separately.

Features and Specifications:

The samurai's main side arm, the katana, is unique from other Japanese swords in its shape and size. The katana is characterized by its unusual appearance, a curved, slender, single edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. The earliest known examples of Osafune-era katana blades date from the late 13th century and have an average length of 76 cm (30 inches).

Following the Mongol invasions of Japan in the 13th century, however, samurai became increasingly concerned with horseback fighting. The need for greater mobility while mounted and dismounted created the need for longer swords that could be used to thrust as well as cut or slash.

The longer blades of the period, while still fairly slender and double edged (in order to maximize cutting power), had longer grips and a smaller points than previous swords. These swords, called katana, were now paired with shorter wakizashi. The overall length was typically shorter than the "ōdachi" of the preceding Heian period.

The blade lengths of these swords varied considerably from 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 inches) in length. Before the 16th century it was common for foot soldiers to wear a shorter "uchigatana" or "tsurugatana", and it was not until later in that century that most samurai started wearing "katana".

Samurai Sword Forging

There seems to be a lot of confusion about how samurai swords are forged. In this article, you'll find out exactly how the swords are made, and why it's so difficult. These swords are nothing like your standard sword — with a tempered edge that is perfectly aligned throughout its length, the blades of Japanese swords were designed to cut through flesh and armor while causing maximum damage in a single stroke.

While there has been debate over whether or not it was impossible for warriors to draw their swords in one fluid motion while fighting other enemies (we won't get into that here), archaeologists have uncovered evidence suggesting that this wasn't always the case. Here is a step by step construction of these swords:

Step 1:

To forge a samurai sword, you have to start with a piece of steel. To create the blade of your sword, you have to heat up the steel until it becomes malleable. After heating the metal, it is then pounded into shape using a hammer known as a "tokubetsu" (which translates roughly to "hard iron"). Using this hammer, the swordsmith will pound the blade into its final form — giving it its razor sharp lines and defining angles. With this step complete, there are two options:

Option A: The sword can be polished for an extremely smooth finish that reveals itself quickly when made contact with another object such as another blade. This is known as "bo-hi" style, because of the wavy line it leaves on smooth objects it has come in contact with. When polished correctly, "bo-hi" can be seen shimmering in sunlight.

Option B: The other option is to leave some scratches and marks visible in the metal. This creates what is known as a "ji-hada" or "nashiji" finish — revealing itself only upon closer inspection. The sword will look very rough until it has been used for some time when the surface begins to shine and highlights appear where these scratches are located. This step is when the shape of the sword is truly finalized. The final shape of the blade will be passed onto a polisher who will sand down any rough edges and imperfections.

Step 2:

After Step 1, you'll want to heat up your sword to once again make it malleable. At this point, you can then either weld another piece of steel onto what you've already made (a common practice), or straighten out a kink that appeared while creating Step 1. If you decide to add another piece, be sure to polish it so that it matches perfectly.

Step 3:

Next, you'll want to hammer a pin into the blade at a specific location (usually the tip). This pin will prevent the samurai sword from coming apart and will be used to secure your sword in your blade carrier or koshigatana. The pin adds extra rigidity to the new blade, giving it even more strength and stability. The koshigatana was a sword carrier that was designed specifically for this purpose — holding two swords with a chain at right angle to its length.

Samurai Sword in History and Today!

In the 13th century, a samurai sword was the most revered and feared weapons in Japan. They were destroyed by WWII bombings and almost disappeared from the earth. Today, they continue to be a symbol of power and honor--and are also fashion items--just like their predecessors. They are, in fact, hotter than ever.

While these swords used to be exclusively for their owners, they are now widely available in stores and on the Internet. They can be highly expensive or affordable. Some come with high-tech finishes and high class sheaths; others have hand-carved wooden scabbards and antique metal fittings. And if one is not enough, there are sets of samurai swords to fit every taste and budget.