Katana is a special type of sword
Watching videos of other people using katanas makes it seem like katanas aren’t that loud, but is that really the case?
A katana weighs anywhere from 900 to 1400 grams (2-31 lbs), while the average katana weighs around 1200 grams (265 lbs)
Ultimately, the weight depends on various factors: from the material it is made of, the handle, and if the katana has a saya (sheath)
Read on if you want to find out more about the factors that determine katana weight
Average Katana Weight
Average Katana Weight
The average weight of a katana is about 1200 grams (12 kg or 265 lbs)
However, the weight of the katana can vary greatly
Most katana owners will tell you that the weight of a katana is between 800 and 900 grams (2 lbs)
If you use katana regularly, you will notice the difference in weight
This is why regular katana users choose lighter katanas
However, if you don’t use the katana often and you only use it once in a while, you will probably not notice the difference in weight
There are various factors that determine the slight change in the weight of the katana
That’s why it’s difficult to define a “standard” katana weight, although there are several weights that katana swords are found in
What Determines the Weight of a Katana?
What Determines the Weight of a Katana?
The biggest factor that will determine the weight of a katana is the steel it is made of
I will talk about materials, or steel, later in the article
Another factor is the thickness of the steel used to make the katana
Traditionally, katanas are made from Japanese steel called “tamahagane”, which is relatively weak so it must be folded many times to make a sufficiently strong blade
And that’s why some katanas are thicker, which also determines their weight, sometimes
The size of the blade also determines the weight of the katana
Typically, traditional katanas are as large or larger than modern katanas
Therefore they are also more substantial in weight
But you will also find some modern katana makers still making larger sized katanas
Small weight changes are also caused by the different katana parts used to create the katana
Some katana have a lighter handle (tsuka), and the guard (tsuba) can also vary
Usually, the better the quality of the katana, the lighter the part of the katana
Different Material, Different Weight
Different Material, Different Weight
As I said, the biggest factor that determines the weight of a katana is the material the katana is made of
Modern steel alloys tend to contain steel which can significantly reduce the weight of the katana
Materials like magnesium tend to make katanas lighter, but they are very different from traditional katana swords
These tend to be relatively lightweight, although they are also often heavier than magnesium blades, for example
Tamahagane steel, or Japanese steel, is a special type of steel used to make katanas
This is a more traditional type of material, which is why it is so rare to find such a sword
These tend to be a bit heavier, and are mainly due to the manufacturing process
This type of steel is made with a special smelting process that is only used to make katanas
This process reduces the impurities in the carbon that make up the blade
Another process that adds weight to the katana is tsuchioki
And this process is the key to making the curved katana more reliable and also heavier
Modern katanas are lighter, smaller, less curved than traditional katanas
That is the main difference between the two
It is because the material has changed a lot, which is mainly due to the spread of katana in the West
The manufacturing process has changed and has been simplified, so we often find industrially made katanas that are lighter
Handmade katanas tend to be heavier than those previously mentioned
For centuries, skilled swordsmen of Japan make katana swords through a very specific, complicated process
The old katana sword was heavier and longer
This is mainly due to the wars that the Japanese Empire fought during these centuries
The Katana sword became more than a military blade, especially during WW2
Therefore there was a need to make these katanas lighter – the Japanese often used katana swords in close combat
Katana swords and shin gunto swords were often mixed, and after the war, the process of making katanas changed
Other Factors That Determine Weight
Other Factors That Determine Weight
If the katana is carried in a scabbard (saya), then this adds an additional 100-200 grams to the overall weight
The handle (tsuka) and guard (tsuba) also add weight to the katana, but only slightly
Some tsuka tend to be heavier because of different materials
In addition, the old traditional handle was longer than the modern one, making the katana heavier
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The katana weighs between 900 and 1400 grams (2-31 lbs)
Katana swords have changed over the centuries, though, as have the materials they are made from
And that is the main factor that distinguishes modern katanas from traditional katanas
24K If you are thinking about buying a katana, you might ask yourself the following questions: How much does a katana weigh?
Table of Contents Average Katana Weight Katana Weight Factors Weight Comparison: Katana vs Medieval Sword My Katana Weight Conclusion Average Katana Weight Katana weight varies from sword to sword
The weight of the katana without the sheath (sheath) is between 900 g and 1400 g (2 lbs to 31 lbs)
The average weight of a katana is 12 kg (265 lbs)
In the scabbard add another 100-200 grams (022 to 045 lbs) on top of it
Katana Weight Factors The total mass of a katana depends on various factors
Most important to the weight of the sword is the steel used for the blade
There are different types of steel, which (significantly) affect the mass of the katana
Another component that greatly affects the weight of the katana is the parts used to build it
There are different materials that can be used for different components
Some katanas have a smaller and lighter tsuba (guard)
Last but not least is the length of the sword
So 70 cm (275 in) is the length of the blade
Weight Comparison: Katana vs Medieval Sword Let me show you the difference in weight between a medieval sword and a katana
As Japanese swords have the same blade length as medieval one-handed swords, they must have the same mass
Unlike European swords, katanas have a longer grip
Thus, the katana is a double-handed sword with the blade length of a European one-handed sword
In addition, samurai swords are forged from a different steel called pig iron
This made the gap between European and Japanese swords even bigger
Sometimes I hear people say that a katana is a very heavy sword
As mentioned earlier, the average katana weighs around 12 kg (265 lbs)
I always tell these people that the katana is not particularly heavy, but for the size of the blade, the European ones are around 200 g (045 lbs) lighter
Blade length is ~71 cm (28 in)
Furthermore, the blade is forged from 1095 steel
So, a 9260 blade will be 10% heavier than a 1095 steel blade
It’s not like mine katana at least doesn’t have Bo-Hi So without saying it weighs around 1000 grams (22 lbs)
Including the scabbard results in a total weight of 1180 grams (26 lbs)
The average weight of a katana is between 900 g to 1400 g (2 lbs to 31 lbs)
the scabbard adds about 200 grams (045 lbs) of mass
There are several factors that affect the weight of the katana
The most important thing is the type of steel, the part used as well as the length of the katana
If you have one, make sure you write the weight of the katana in your comment