Katana

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

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

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

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

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.

A picture of a edo era Koshirae.

A modern katana.

Katana Artwork. With quotes, Power and Nothingness.

Fukure, a defect in the blade.

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

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

Katana blade, before polishing.

Kisagi of a modern katana.

Kissaki (kitana).

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

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

Habaki and tsuba of a modern katana.

Antique Edo period tsuka.

Antique Edo period tsuba and fuchi from a katana.

Nagako of a katana, showing the mei.

Tsuba.

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

Photograph of japanese samurai in armour.

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

Engraving of the Edo era depicting forge scenes.

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

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

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

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