A slightly-curved, single-edged sword carried by the samurai in fuedal Japan. Contrary to popular belief, the katana was not the primary weapon used by samurai, and was mostly used only for dueling or ceremonial purposes. Over the last few decades, movies and anime have exaggerated the sharpness and durability of the weapon to a point where many people now believe katanas to be some kind of indestructable super-sword.

The Katana is a single edged curved steel weapon, used by warriors of fuedal japan. It is made by forging and folding steel to rid it of impurities, then coating the cutting edge in clay, heating it up and quenching it to harden the cutting edge, revealing is called a temperline (Hamon). The Katana was a decorative peice of art as well as a weapon, consisting of a Tsuba (hanguard) Tuki Ito (handle wrap, usually coloured) and other intricate artistic fittings. The Katana is not superior-but amazingly strong and sharp for a small thin weapon. Under controlled test conditions, a Nihonto (japanese made katana) was able to shatter a .45ACP round without sustaining damage, and widthstood 7 direct hits from a M2 HMG (heavy machine gun)with its .50BMG armour piercing round before shattering.
The katana came into use in the 1400's, before hand the Tachi was used, a longer sword used on horseback and worn in a different manner. Before that were the straight blades, Chokuto, from China. The katana is usually worn with the cutting edge (Ha) facing upwards, thrust through an Obi (belt). On rare occasions, The Katana was worn blade down (sometimes when armour was worn). It was usually the primary weapon of a warrior or Samurai, though in wars Yari (spear) were prefered due to the damage they inflicted on Armour, along with Maai (distancing).

A katana is the long sword of ancient samurai. It was used from the tenth century, all the way to WWII.

A Japanese sword, once used by the samurai, but now primarily owned by Japanophiles who have deluded themselves into thinking that they can defeat anyone in the world with their (fictional) martial arts and swordplay skills.

The katana is the type of furniture used to house a slightly curved blade of Japanese origin. Contrary to popular belief, the katana was not the primary weapon used in fuedal Japan.

In the beginning, before katana, were bronze, single-edged straight swords. These swords originated from China, and came to Japan through trading and conquest. From there, the blade was then made from a low-quality iron, with a slight curve, a side-effect of forging a single-edged blade. The early swords were simple, and ranged in sizes and shapes.

Most swords of this eary period are called tachi, and while the general use of a tachi was for battle on horseback, it saw little use with footsoldiers, who were sent into battle with spears or early naginata. Tachi is different from katana because they are different ways of carrying the blade. A katana and tachi blade are often very similar, but in tachi, the sword is worn blade down, usually tied or hung to a belt. In katana, the sword is held blade up, and is usually thrust into a belt, or in some cases tied to one.

Another misconception is the idea that anybody who has a katana is samurai. Samurai basically means, One who serves, and this fits them exactly. Samurai were warriors in feudal Japan that served a lord. It was a title that many people with swords either did not have, or could never get.

The katana was mainly a show of importance, and often displayed a person's rank or status. Peasants were not allowed to carry a blade over ...

A Japanese style long sword that is curved, and worn thrust through the belt. The primary weapon of the samurai. Can also be called daito (long sword) and, if made in Japan, nihonto (Japanese sword).

1. A Japanese sword
2. A high-performance range of motorbikes made by Suzuki in the 1980s
3. An entirely different and unspeakably ugly range of motorbikes sold to gullible yanks since 1988 as Katanas, but known to the Free World as "Teapots" due to their bulbous appearance