Historic Replicas

Japanese swords are almost as old as the culture itself.  Initially, these graceful and deadly implements were simply variations of a Chinese design called the Jian, a straight, double-edged blade that resembles the well-known swords of medieval Europe.  But around 700 AD, the beloved katana of popular lore and samurai movie fame began to emerge.  Like the historic reproductions on our site, the katanas of old are curved with a single, razor-sharp edge, and were central to Japanese warrior culture.  Unsurprisingly, the katana’s origins have been immortalized in legend. 
Amakuni Yasutsuna was a sword smith who had the distinct honor of forging blades for the Emperor and his army.  The monarch and his men would greet Amakuni enthusiastically when they passed his home on the way to battle; they held him in high regard, for they knew that victory lay in his hands.  One day, however, as they returned from battle, they passed in silence, and would not meet his gaze.  Akamuni was horrified when he realized that many of their Japanese swords had broken or been damaged in the battle. Desperate to regain his honor, he locked himself in his forge and prayed to the Shinto gods for guidance.  On the seventh night, Akamuni was granted a vision:  a curved, glowing blade with a single edge.  He set to work forging the sword, and ran breathlessly to the palace when he’d finished.  The soldiers and advisors laughed and laughed, for they’d never seen such a weapon.  But the Emperor decided to trust him, and Akamuni was the only one laughing the following year, when a smiling emperor passed by and told him that not a single sword had broken or failed in battle.