One of the oldest known Japanese forms of sword dates from the Kofun era of the 3rd and 4th centuries. The style, called Kashima no tachi, was created at the Kashima Shrine. Before 987, examples of Japanese swords are straight chokuto or jokoto and others with unusual shapes. In the Heian period, 8th to 11th centuries, sword-making developed through techniques brought from Siberia and Hokkaido, territory of the Ainu people. The Ainu used warabite-to swords and these influenced the katana.

According to legend, the Japanese sword was invented by a smith named Amakuni Yasutsuna 700 AD, along with the folded steel process. In reality the folded steel process and single edge swords had been brought over from China and Korea through trade. Swords forged between 987 and 1597 are called koto, old swords and these are considered the pinnacle of Japanese swordcraft. Early models had uneven curves with the deepest part of the curve at the hilt. As eras changed the center of the curve tended to move up the blade.

Traditional Japanese Samurai Orchid Katana Sword W/stand

Sale Price: $29.99

This beautiful piece is a must have for any collector. Its magnificent glossy black hardwood saya (the scabbard), and handguard piece are intricately designed as individual works of art. Gold dragons on each side of the handguard are partially hidden by black wrappings that match those on the scabbard...

Orchid Japanese Samurai Katana - Paul Chen

List Price: $2,044.23
Sale Price: $1,372.11

Our Orchid set is as quick as it is beautiful with a relatively light blade of folded K120C and striking koshirae. The hamon is prominent and the hada shows distinct layers. ; ; High quality ray skin (same) is used on the tsuka, and the tsuka-ito and sageo on all three pieces are woven from premium Japanese cotton...

CAS Hanwei Orchid Katana Sword

List Price: $1,599.00
Sale Price: $946.94

The Orchid Katana is as quick as it is beautiful with a relatively light blade of folded K120C and striking koshirae. The hamon is prominent and the hada shows distinct layers. High quality ray skin (same) is used on the tsuka, and the tsuka-ito and sageo is woven from premium Japanese cotton...

Our version of the Black Orchid Katana for sale has an overall length of 40 inches with a 27 inch hand polished stainless steel blade adorned with japanese kanji accompanied with matching imperial sageo cord wrapped saya scabbard. It has a metal cast tsuba handguard engraved with the Black Orchid and the tsuka handle is finished in a traditional Japanese ito wrap and is accented with a classic silver dragon menuki handle decor.