Katana

Katana

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  Antique Japanese (samurai) daisho a matched set of swords showing the katana on top and the wakizashi below, 17th century.

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  Antique Japanese (samurai) katana from the 17th century, showing the shirasaya, koshirae and tsunagi.

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  Antique Japanese (samurai) katana from the 17th century, showing the koshirae and shirasaya.

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  Katana. Dresden, Zwinger-Museum. 16th or 17th century.

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  16th or 17th century armour and weapons. Samurai swords: The sabre with the white handle is a tachi, and the one with the dark one is a katana. Dresden, Zwinger-Museum.

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  A picture of a edo era Koshirae.

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  A modern katana.

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Anatomy of the katana

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  Fukure, a defect in the blade.

Parts of the katana

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  A display showing a history/evolution of the Katana at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

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  Katana and wakisashi blades, in the Musée Guimet, Paris.

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  Katana blade, before polishing.

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  Kisagi of a modern katana.

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  Kissaki (kitana).

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  Daisho habaki, a matched set of habaki from a katana and wakizashi.

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  Daisho tsuba, a matched set of Edo period tsuba from an katana and wakizashi.

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  Habaki and tsuba of a modern katana.

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  Antique Edo period tsuka.

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  Antique Edo period tsuba and fuchi from a katana.

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  Nagako of a katana, showing the mei.

Tsubas

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  Tsuba.

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  A tsuba (sabre hilt) in the Musée Guillemet, Paris.

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  A tsuba (sabre hilt) in the Musée Guillemet, Paris.

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  A tsuba (sabre hilt) in the Musée Guillemet, Paris.

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  A tsuba (sabre hilt) in the Musée Guillemet, Paris.

History

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  Photograph of japanese samurai in armour.

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  Blacksmith Munechika (end of the 10th century), helped by a fox spirit, forging the blade ko-kitsune-maru ("Little fox").

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  Engraving of the Edo era depicting forge scenes.

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  Katana blade signed by Soshu Ju Yasuharu, Muromashi era, (16th century).

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  Katana blade signed by Soshu Ju Yasuharu, Muromachi era, (16th century).

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  Katana blade signed by Soshu Ju Yasuharu, Muromashi era, (16th century).

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  Soshu school katana, shortened from tachi and signature lost, attributed to Etchu Norishige, Kamakura era (13th-14th century), NBTHK Tokubetsu Juyo Token.