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.

Classic Crane Tsuba Handmade Samurai Katana Sword Sharp

List Price: $0.00
Sale Price: $38.45

This is the Handmade Full Tang Crane Katana Samurai Sword. The blade has been handmade with high carbon steel, hammered out so that the carbon is evenly distributed throughout the blade for a consistent hardness...

Musashi - 1060 Carbon Steel - Elegant Crane Katana Sword

Sale Price: $89.00

Traditional hand forge Muku-kitae method. 1060 High Carbon Steel with clay temper process. 55 HRC blade hardness. Hamon and hardness created with temper process. Real hamon, not wire brushed or printed...

Fully Handforged Red Mother of Pearl Crane Samurai Katana Sword #319

List Price: $281.99
Sale Price: $224.99

Blade: fully hand forged; heat temperedBlade Material: Carbon Steel 1045Hi(blood groove): Hi on each sideHamon(tempered line): distinct real Hamon hand polished onEdge: razor sharp, hand sharpened by Japanese whetstoneTsuka(handle): Genuine Same(Rayskin) & Black Japanese Cotton Ito(Braid) with Menuki(Ornament)Tang: full tang with 2 Mekugi(peg); engraved with black smith's signatureSaya(scabbard): Red lacquered wood inlaid Mother of Pearl & with black cotton Sageo (cord)Edge Hardness: HRC 55 Back Hardness: HRC 45Blade Length(with Habaki): 28...

Our version of the Paper Crane Katana for sale has an overall length of 40 inches with a 27 inch hand polished stainless steel blade and is accompanied with a color matching and leather accented Japanese Imperial wrapped sageo cord saya scabbard. The full metal cast tsuba handguard conceals the hidden crane and the tsuka handle is finished in a traditional Japanese ito wrap accented with black colored menuki over a natural wood finish.