However, it was still short enough to make the katana easy to handle and maneuver. Spanning almost 2 feet, the katana's blade was long enough so that samurai warriors could engage their opponents from a safe distance. Traditionally, Japanese bladesmiths designed the katana with a relatively long blade measuring about 23.5 inches (60 cm). Measuring the blade can often reveal whether a katana is authentic. To accommodate two-hand usage, however, bladesmiths would design the katana with a long grip, also known as a tsuka. This allowed samurai warriors to perform stronger, more forceful strikes. While other swords were designed for one-hand usage, the katana was designed for two-hand usage. Traditional Japanese katanas also featured a long grip so that samurai warriors could wield it using both hands.

Modern katanas manufactured within the past 50 decades typically lack the bladesmith's signature. The purpose of the signature was to reveal who exactly made the katana, thus promoting the bladesmiths skills and abilities. Normally, samurai warriors would wear the katana with the signature facing away from their body.

So, how do you spot the difference between an authentic traditional katana and a replica?ĭuring feudal Japan, bladesmiths would carve their signature into the side of the katana's tang (nakago). Although they look like authentic traditional katanas, they lack the quality and attention to detail of their genuine counterparts. In recent years, however, many companies have begun to manufacture and sell katana replicas. Invented in feudal Japan, it features a sleek design that's characterized by a curved, single-edged blade. The katana is perhaps the single most recognizable sword in the world.

Authentic katana