Katana Questions

ive got 2 questions
1. ive heard that for a sword to be considered a Katana it has to be made in Japan and of Tamahagane is that true?
2. whats the Width and thickness of a Katana handle im trying to make my own handle ive already got the lengths but nothing else

The tang and blade are the same thickness, however, there are 2 notches dividing the tang and the blade called a munemachi and hamachi.

yamcha said:

The tang and blade are the same thickness, however, there is notch dividing the tang and the blade called a munemachi.

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i mean the handle that you grip not the tang

You can ask the dorks katana craft:

1. In Japan, in order for a sword to be registered, it has to be made by a licensed swordsmith, and has to be made using traditional materials (tamahagane) and using traditional methods. "Katana" isn't a word used to describe authenticy. Its more of a term used to describe length and purpose. If the sword isn't made traditionally by a licensed swordsmith, it can't be registered, and is considered something less than a genuine nihonto, and more or less an item suitable for iaito practice, or as a prop in a drama. (Or, it could be considered an unregisterable weapon, and be confiscated).

2. If you are talking about the tsuka, there is no fixed size, but its more or less defined by the length and shape of the nakago and the moto-haba of the sword (roughly around 3cm, depending on the sword). The thickness (moto-kasane) will be about 0.7 cm, again with some variation.