Despite many people’s claims on the internet that they aren’t that special, Katanas remain the best swords in the world. Not only in the past but even today, it is increasing in popularity, attracting collectors worldwide.
Sometimes, the Katana is delivered unsharp, but this does not mean the quality is low. Katana can be delivered un-sharpened for many reasons, one being that sharp swords are prohibited in martial arts.
A non-sharp Katana can also be sharpened yourself or left as a decoration if you don’t want to sharpen it. But like most collectors, you would like to have your Katana sharpened. In this blog, we will enlighten you on how to check your Katana’s sharpness and other tests to determine if your delivered Katana is original.
Start with a paper-cutting test.
Paper-cutting tests are a great way to check whether a Katana is delivered sharp. A paper cut requires a razor-sharp blade and a precise technique. You can do the paper test in the following way:
Let the Katana fall on any piece of paper. A blade that cuts easily through paper indicates that it is sharp.
A tatami mat
In ancient times, samurais used to test their Japanese swords on a tatami mat simply because a tatami mat provided cutting experiences similar to actual flesh and bone. Martial arts still use Tatami mats to test their blade’s strength.
To test your Katana on a tatami mat, first, the mat is supposed to be soaked in water to give it density and weight. Cut through a rolled-up and soaked tatami mat takes strength and perfect technique.
Make sure the surface is matte and shiny.
Check whether your Katana has that mirror-like surface. The center and edge should be matte (but still reasonably polished) and should have a woody or watery pattern (think of ripples or waves)
Each blade has its unique pattern (if genuine and not etched) that adds to its uniqueness and beauty. A layering and forging process creates the pattern in ancient blades, whereas acid etching can produce a ‘fake’ pattern you may find if the blades aren’t made with the true art of Katana forging.
How accurate is Dragging your thumb across
A thumb test is not a reliable means of measuring sharpness, and there is no benchmark you can rely on.
The only part of the sword that should be sharp is the monouchi area, located just below the tip and extending for about a foot. Katana for sale provides true katanas that have this trait.
Find the line in the sword’s back.
The Western term for this is fuller, and it is generally accepted that it is used to strengthen, not weaken, the blade. Others believe it exists so you can pull the sword out of someone’s flesh and muscle, creating suction that holds the blade in the body (called a “Blood Groove” in this case). Occasionally, it was used to clean up metal impurities.
Cutting Bamboo Poles
A paper cut can surely demonstrate the sharpness of a katana. However, bamboo poles can test the blade’s real robustness. Since they are similar to the density of human bones, they are widely used. A high level of skill is required to cut bamboo cleanly since it is hard and flexible.
How do you perform the Cutting techniques
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Traditional techniques have been adapted to perform the cutting tests with a Katana over the years. However, those techniques have been revolutionized and proven much easier than their predecessor. Here are some cutting actions you can perform:
· Drawing and Cutting: Draw the sword and cut in one fluid motion.
· Multi-targeting: Multiplying targets with one swing or rapidly moving from one to another.
· Making precise cuts involves cutting targets into predefined shapes with very specific cuts.
Conclusion
Do you know that no matter how good your Katana is, it requires to be sharpened 3-4 times per year?
It is very beneficial to sharpen a Katana as it will make it longer-lasting and more effective. If you use it more frequently, you may have to sharpen it more.
