Few swords have captured humankind’s fascination more than the Japanese Katana. Long revered for its laborious forging techniques, sexy silhouette, and unparalleled artistic design, the Katana is as much an enduring work of art as it is a cultural symbol.
Moreover, its deadliness in combat is nothing short of legendary, with many acolytes and sword enthusiasts claiming the Katana as the world’s sharpest blade. But how sharp is a Katana?
Is it sharper than other bladed weapons? Or are there “levels” of blade sharpness we must consider? How do we know a Katana is sharp? Join us in this article as we explore the legends behind Katana’s sharpness.
An Overview of the Samurai Sword – the Katana
Many Samurai swords existed to aid warriors in their exploits, whether protecting their lord, defending their honor, and anything in between. The Katana is the most popular Samurai sword, although most warriors often carry an extra bladed weapon, albeit with a shorter blade – the Wakizashi.
The Katana has a less pronounced curve than its predecessor, the Tachi. Its hilt or handle is about a third of the sword’s overall length, allowing Samurai warriors to hold it with two hands for better control, stability, and slashing power.
Although the Katana blade only measures about 24 inches or 61 centimeters, the short and curved blade facilitates lightning-quick draws. It enables Samurai warriors to remove the Japanese sword from its scabbard (Saya) and strike an opponent in one fluid motion.
Is the Katana Sharper than Other Bladed Weapons?
The Katana is a formidable weapon for close-quarters combat and duels. In the hands of a master Samurai, the Katana can take down an opponent in a blink of an eye. So, is the Katana the sharpest sword?
Katana-kajis (traditional Japanese swordsmiths) can grind a Katana’s edge to as thin as possible (perhaps a single molecular layer of Tamahaganesteel). However, doing so risks denting or chipping the sword’s edge with every Samurai strike. It will require more frequent resharpening because the blade’s edge will become dull almost instantaneously.
Japanese bladesmiths forge a Samurai swordby folding, hammering, and heating satetsu-rich Tamahagane steel many times. The unique forging process improves the Japanese sword’s high carbon steel hardness while removing oxygen and other impurities.
Although Tamahaganesteel Samurai swords, such as the Katana, are robust, more modern metallurgical materials are sharper. The current record-holder for the sharpest blade features Wootz Damascus steel.
Sharpness, hardness, and a uniquely curved blade make the Katana a deadly weapon. It’s sharper than Medieval European swords. However, Medieval European warriors often wore heavy plate armor, making the hefty broadsword or longsword more effective. It doesn’t mean the Katana cannot slash a metal sheet. It does and without fail.
Like any bladed weapon, the Katana cannot be overly sharp. Otherwise, it will dull quickly and unevenly and risk breaking or chipping the edge on impact. Ideally, the Katana must produce clean cuts without snagging or resistance.
3 Levels of Katana Sharpness
Everyone thinks that ALL Katana Samurai swords must be razor-sharp. Unfortunately, it’s inaccurate. Just as other tools come in different levels of complexity (i.e., beginners vs. seasoned professionals), so do Japanese swords like the Katana. Although Katanas might look the same, they vary in sharpness to reflect their inherent purposes or functions.
1. Iaito
The Iaitois a Katana for training purposes. It’s a practice sword featuring a metal blade, but without the sharp edge. This Katana is perfect for learning and mastering the art of Iaido– the technique of drawing the sword and striking an opponent in one lightning-quick and fluid motion.
Imagine if the Japanese sword has a razor-sharp edge. The person the Iaito-wielder is practicing with would be in grave danger.
Tsutomo Yamamoto showing the art of Iaido using an Iaito Katana sword. Photo by Physical Arts.
2. Niku
This Katana level of sharpness is the standard. It’s what the Medieval Samurai warriors had, allowing them to cut bamboo and other medium-density objects. The Katana with a Niku sharpness features a thicker spine, reinforcing the sword’s strength.
3. Ultra
The sharpest Katana has an ultra-sharp edge that can slice through tatami, paper, and other lightweight items like a hot knife cutting through butter. Its razor-sharp blade allows for strikes and blows with surgical precision.
What Can a Katana Cut Through?
It’s worth reiterating that a Katana, while sharp, is only perfect for slashing and slicing, not chopping and cutting. The sword-wielder’s skill is also crucial. A bladed weapon’s sharpness means nothing if the sword-bearer doesn’t know how to use it.
Moreover, ancient Samurai sword fights were always swift. Three to four slashes or swipes are all a Samurai needs to take down an opponent. In some instances, a single strike is enough.
Hence, in the hands of a skilled swordsman, the Katana can cut another sword in half. It can also slice a decent-sized copper pipe. And if the Katana can cut through these objects with the correct technique, it’s easy to imagine how “softer” objects can easily be split in two.
For example, practitioners of the Samurai code of Bushido, who perform Seppuku as a more honorable alternative to execution or disgrace, often assign another person (a Kaishakunin) to deliver the coup de grace by beheading the person after performing Seppuku. The Kaishakunin uses a Katana to decapitate the person in one solid and swift swipe.
Samurai wielding a Katana during a Seppuku ritual. Photo by History.
5 Ways to Test a Katana’s Sharpness
Even before the Japanese started forging Samurai swords from Satetsuor iron sand raw materials and converting them into legendary Tamahagane steel, humankind have been checking the sharpness of bladed weapons. It’s their way of determining if the tools they create can perform the expected function. Here’s how to test Katana sharpness.
1. Tameshigiri
Known as the “Test Sword Strike,” Tameshigiri is one of the oldest and most revered ways to test Katana sharpness. Samurai warriors would strike objects (i.e., bamboo stalks, metal plates, sheaves of straw, and even Samurai helmets) and attempt to cut them with one blow. They could strike diagonally at a 30- to 50-degree angle of attack, horizontally (parallel to the ground), or vertically (perpendicular to the ground).
The Tameshigiri was the only way Samurai could establish Katana quality before buying from a swordsmith (Katana-kaji) or a local seller. Back then, there were no fancy certificates or objective measures of blade sharpness. Hence, buyers must try cutting objects with the Japanese sword or similar bladed weapon before buying.
A Samurai apprentice practicing Tameshigiri with a Katana. Photo by Maikoya.
2. Shaving Test
Although unreliable (and dangerous), many old folks attest to the shaving test being effective in determining a blade’s sharpness, such as a Katana. The test is straightforward, but might only apply to people with “hairy” forearms.
The person shaves the hair off the forearm using the Katana or any bladed weapon. The Katana is sharp if hairs fall off effortlessly, similar to conventional shaving with a razor blade. A sharp Katana glides along the skin without resistance.
3. Paper Test
Many product demonstrators love doing this method to showcase their knives and swords’ sharpness. The paper test offers some degree of objectivity in measuring a blade’s sharpness.
For example, the average blade can cut ordinary paper (about 80 grams per square meter or 80 GSM) without creating irregular or jagged lines. Meanwhile, a sharp Katana should slice through an 18- to 28-GSM paper napkin like a hot knife through butter. A razor-sharp Katana can cut through an ultra-fine 16- to 20-GSM cigarette paper cleanly.
4. Tomato Test
Another way to determine Katana sharpness is by cutting a tomato, fresh bread, and similar food items. This technique requires the food to have a dense and elastic outer portion or peel and a soft and elastic core or pulp.
A Katana is sharp if it passes through the peel without resistance and doesn’t jam the tomato pulp or core in one continuous motion. If you must wiggle the Katana back and forth to cut the tomato, there’s a good chance it’s not sharp enough.
5. BESS Test
The four preceding tests of Katana sharpness are subjective. Although they can help determine if a Katana is sharp, these tests don’t provide a verifiable value. The Brubacher Edge Sharpness Scale (BESS) is a more objective measurement of the edge sharpness of knives, swords, and other bladed tools.
The test requires a device with a sensor that measures the amount of pressure or force (in grams) needed to break a thin wire spanning a steel platform. As a rule, the lower the pressure required to rupture the wire, the sharper the blade.
For example, a butter knife needs about 2 kilograms of pressure (about 70.5 ounces or 4.4 pounds) to break the wire. Meanwhile, a utility razor blade only requires about 150 to 200 grams of force (about 5.3 to 7 ounces) to cut the wire.
You can use this test to determine Katana sharpness, allowing you to sharpen it if it’s “too dull” to your liking.
The Bottom Line
The “How sharp is a Katana?” debate might be as polarizing as any other issue. Although some modern swords are sharper, no other bladed weapon can surpass the Katana in beauty, precision, and a story steeped in Japan’s rich culture. The Katana will remain the quintessential choice of sword collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, and its formidably sharp edge will continue to become the subject of inspiration for many millennia.
