The Truth About Antique Japanese Swords

What makes Antique Japanese Swords so special? For multiple decades, sword buyers have been fascinated by this unique sword style.

In this article I will describe 5 reasons why you should buy antique Japanese Swords.

So lets start with number one:

1. Antique Japanese kokushibo sword were originally made with three layers of steel that had been forged together into one. This steel was traditionally referred to as “honsanmai” which means three layers in Japanese.

This steel is not only pretty to look at, but it has a distinct functional difference over single pieces of steel.

The inner layer is a hard (high carbon) steel with great edge retention and strength. The outer layers of steel are softer which give the sword flexibility and make it less brittle.

2. Antique Japanese swords were also usually made with a “full tang”. This means that the blade basically goes all the way to the end of the handle. Buying an Antique Japanese sword with a full tang means that you will be protected from the blade separating from the handle.

3. Damascus steel was often used in antique Japanese swords because of its beautiful appearance and superior strength. Damascus steel is folded many times and polished in such a way that it shows layers of dark and light, which is very appealing to the eye.

4. Have you ever held an antique Japanese sword in your hands? If so, then you probably noticed how well balanced it felt. This was done specifically so that ancient samurai warriors could defend themselves in even the toughest situations.

5. Some of the best features of antique Japanese swords are the details that went into the making of the sword. This includes the delicate wrapping of the handle, flawless grinding of the blade, and unique designs of both the hand guard (tsuba) and handle designs (menuki).