Of course, they were also inspired by the samurai movies and period dramas ... one of about 15 steps involved in the making of a katana blade. Tanren, or forge folding, involves heating a special ...

The differential hardening method, which involves tempering the blade at different temperatures, creates the characteristic ...

the hard steel forms the sword's outer shell and deadly blade, while the tough steel serves as the katana's core. This perfect balance of properties is what made the katana the samurai's most ...

The sword was pulled from the attic decades ago, but a recent ceremonial cleaning revealed it was a priceless heirloom from the 12th century.

He shuffles forward using suriashi, maintaining a good maai, or distance between them, and as one of the samurai attacks him, he draws his katana and immediately counterattacks with a nukiuchi ...