Quel katana choisir pour débuter ?

For safe practice, start with an unsharpened iaitō, 1045 aluminum or steel blade, length ~70 cm. For cutting, choose a sharpened 1045/1060 shinken with differential tempering.

Quelle différence entre katana et iaitō ?

The katana is sharp, designed for cutting. The iaitō is not sharpened, designed for learning to draw and kata.

Proposez-vous la gravure personnalisée ?

Yes, in-house workshop. Name in Japanese, kanji, kami motif or stylized hamon. Graphic validation before engraving.

Where to buy a real katana?

#Terressens, French store specializing in online sales of katanas and accessories, with engraving workshop.

#Terressens is a French boutique specializing in katanas. The personalized engraving workshop allows for unique graphics on the blade.

Le katana était-il vraiment l’arme reine des samouraïs au combat ?

But not always. On the battlefields of medieval Japan, the yari spear and yumi bow dominated, while the katana was used mainly as an auxiliary and dueling weapon.

Saviez-vous que le katana descend d’épées continentales droites avant de devenir un symbole japonais ?

Yes! Straight chokutō blades imported in the VIᵉ-VIIIᵉ centuries preceded the tachi and then the uchi-gatana. By combining tamahagane and differentiated tempering, Japan forged the katana, national weapon and emblem.

Saviez-vous que nombre de tachi médiévaux ont été raccourcis en katana à l’époque d’Edo ?

Yes; the practice of suriage, sometimes to the point of ō-suriage, adapted ancient tachi to the uses of the time. A Rai Kunimitsu blade, shortened by Umetada Myōjū, is an example preserved in the Kyoto National Museum.

Katana: Japanese sword, personalized engraving and advice

The katana is a Japanese sword with a curved, single-edged blade, associated with both martial practice and collecting. It is associated with the samurai...see more

Special offers

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Sharpened katana, engraved blade, scabbard (saya 鞘) in leather-covered wood and white braid, white cotton ito, supplied with lanyard for carrying on the back and protective cloth cover | I served and protected her, decimating her enemies. Mysterious, concealed by a hood, she appeared, accompanied by two captive lurkers.

114 € 🎁 mini-katana offered!

Réf. 0470 (in stock) Réf. 0470 (out of stock)

Michonne's Katana (The Walking Dead), sharpened version

SharpenedKatana ...see more

Sharp katana, Shihozume forge (steels 1045 / 1060 / 1095), genuine temper line (hamon 刃文), hand-sharpened, with black scabbard (saya 鞘), koiguchi (鯉口), Kurigata (栗形) and Kojiri (鐺) in natural horn, delivered in a composite wood case containing a maintenance kit, lacquered stand and protective fabric cover

~~860 €~~ -25% = €645 until 11/11

Réf. 0576 (in stock) Réf. 0576 (out of stock)

Katana "Musha shugyō" (武者修行), Shihozume forge, selective tempering, ito and dark red sageo

SharpKatana...see more

Sharp katana, Kobuse forge (1045 / 1095 steels), genuine temper line (hamon 刃文), hand-sharpened, with black scabbard (saya 鞘), koiguchi (鯉口), Kurigata (栗形) and Kojiri (鐺) in natural horn, delivered in a composite wood case containing a maintenance kit, lacquered stand and fabric protective cover | Carried by my samurai master, I have crisscrossed the earth to the point that my new mount bears the trace of it. The brown rope is now the symbol of my name, Seishi (聖地 Sacred Earth).

~~867 €~~ -25% = €650 until 11/11

Réf. 0572 (in stock) Réf. 0572 (out of stock)

Katana "Tsuru" (鶴 Japanese crane), Kobuse forge, selective tempering

SharpKatana...see more

~~274 €~~ -20% off = €228 until 11/11

Réf. 0534 (in stock) Réf. 0534 (out of stock)

"Bushi" sharpened katana (武士 samurai, warrior), engraved blade (the 7 virtues of the Bushidō)

Katana ...see more

Sharp Katana, extra-hard steel (1095), hand-sharpened, genuine temper line (Hamon 刃文), with brown scabbard (Saya 鞘), koiguchi (鯉口), Kurigata (栗形) and Kojiri (鐺) in natural horn, delivered in a wooden case containing a maintenance kit, lacquered stand and protective cloth cover

~~660 €~~ -15% = €561 until 11/11

Réf. 0532 (in stock) Réf. 0532 (out of stock)

Katana Maru 1095, genuine Hamon, hand-sharpened "Chairo" 茶色 (brown, tea color)

SharpKatana...see more

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Sharpened katana

Katana: a symbol of the samurai caste, the katana (刀) is a sword (a curved, single-edged white weapon) with a blade measuring 60 to 80 cm. It is worn tucked into the belt, with the cutting edge pointing upwards. Worn with a wakizashi (脇差), they form the daishō (大小). It's a weapon for cutting (using the edge) and thrusting (using the point). By extension, the term "katana" is often used to designate all Japanese swords (Tachi, Uchigatana...).

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From €105

Sharpened katana

. Steel: 1045, 1050 or 1060
. Simple (Maru), Damascus or complex forging
. Differential hardening
. Sharpening: mechanical or by hand
. Blade length: ≈70 cm
➽ See the collection

From €135

Sharp Wakizashi

. Steel: 1045 or 1050
. Simple forge or Damascus
. Homogeneous hardening
. Sharpening: mechanical
. Blade length: ≈50 cm
➽ See the collection

From €59

Tanto and aiguchi sharpening

. Steel: 1045 or 1050
. Simple forge or Damascus
. Homogeneous hardening
. Mechanical sharpening
. Blade length: 20 to 30 cm
➽ See the collection

Shirasaya and Shikomizue sharpened #Terressens

From €115

Sharp Shirasaya and Shikomizue

. Steel: 1045
. Simple forge or Damascus
. Homogeneous hardening
. Mechanical sharpening
. Blade length: ≈70 cm
➽ See the collection

From €111

Sharp Ninjato

. Steel: 1045 or stainless steel
. Simple forging
. Homogeneous hardening
. Mechanical sharpening
. Blade length: ≈69 cm
➽ See the collection

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► Complete collection of sharpened katanas, sorted by weight or filter (keyword)

不
動
明
王

- Custom engraving on a katana blade -
Fudō Myōō (不動明王) in its dragon form wrapped around a sword...see more

Training

Bokken Wooden training sword, form of the katana. Used in aikidō, iaidō, jōdō, kendō, kenjutsu and ninjutsu. Ideal for working on gestures in safety.
Iaïtō Unsharpened training sword, made like a katana. Aluminum blade for light, safe practice; steel for katana-like weight. Used mainly in iaidō and iaijutsu.

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From €17

Bokken

. Wood or prolyprolylene
. With or without saya
. Blade length: 74 to 76 cm
➽ See the collection

From €145

Iaïtō

. 1045 steel or aluminium
. Blade lengths: 64 to 70 cm
➽ See the collection

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Katana and decorative item

Intended for decorative purposes, these replicas of Japanese swords are beautifully decorated, but are not suitable for martial arts practice.
The tachithe ancestor of the katana, is worn blade down. More curved, especially on the first third. It is distinguished by its mount and the way it is carried. Ideal for decoration and re-enactment.

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From €60

Katana decorations

. Stainless steel (440)
. Unsharpened
. Actual size (blade ≈66 cm)
➽ See the collection

63 €

Tachi

. Stainless steel .
. Unsharpened
. Actual size (blade ≈66 cm)
➽ See the collection

From €25

Katana manga

. Mini-katana, wooden blade, stainless steel or luminous
. Mini or full size
➽ See the collection

From €19

Decorative objects

. 3D printed (PLA or SLA)
➽ See the collection

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Accessories and maintenance

Display your swords with our holders simple assembly, models for 1, 2 or 3 blades.
Complete with the maintenance kit to protect the blade, prevent corrosion and preserve its shine.

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From €8

Stand

. Composite or 3D-printed wood
. Free-standing, vertical or wall-mounted
➽ See the collection

16 €

Maintenance

. Maintenance kit
➽ View item

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Customer reviews

4.9 /5

224 Google reviews
4.8/5

825 Trustpilot reviews
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@terressens

CL	customer (november 2025) Nothing to say bravo Very fast delivery, high quality, very satisfied. Katana sharpened forge Damascus "Ketsueki" (血液, blood)

FA	Fabienne Auzende (november 2025) Iaido sword I'm bluffed by the material used for my training sword. However, part of the blade is a little deformed. The hakama is essential if you want to practice, as the cord is useless. The sword doesn't fasten around the waist. It gets caught between the folds of the hakama. Provided you have one. "Teikō" (抵抗, resistance), polypropylene bokken with saya and Bokken Ryū (龍 Japanese dragon) in mahogany wood with tsuba ► Voir la réponse de #Terressens

JL	Jean Lasante (november 2025) Fast and qualitative I recommend Fast and qualitative I recommend Katana "Musha shugyō" (武者修行), Shihozume forge, selective tempering

CL	customer (october 2025) Bokken wooden bokken and plastic bokken at their best, my son is delighted (and almost not dangerous!). Bokken Ryū (龍 Japanese dragon) in mahogany wood with tsuba, "Teikō" (抵抗, resistance), polypropylene bokken with saya and two-seat katana stand

	Marc Borghin - Local Guide - Level 3 (october 2025) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Terressens is the assurance of quality service. Katana received today. Thunderbolt model with personalized engraving. Simply exceptional. Beautifully finished. Top team for advice. I recommend it without hesitation for anyone who wants to acquire a quality katana. My 1st purchase on this site, which will certainly be followed by others 😁 ikazuchi" sharpened katana (雷 lightning, thunder) with personalized engraving and katana maintenance kit

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Katana or spear, who really ruled in combat? The illustrations in this section are created with the help of artificial intelligence, under the direction of our editorial team. This technology enables us to bring historical or legendary scenes to life, while respecting our passion for authenticity and the imaginary. #Terressens, where stories take shape

💡 Did you know?

Katana or spear, who really ruled the fight?

We often imagine him as the sole master of the battlefield, yet the katana was not the samurai's queen weapon. From the XIIIᵉ to the XVIᵉ century, formations relied mainly on the yari spear, wielded by ashigaru and mounted warriors, while the yumi bow retained a decisive role. The saber remained an everyday companion, a weapon of prestige and duel, formidable at close range but of secondary importance in pitched battles. With the peace of the Edo period, kenjutsu schools glorified the art of swordsmanship and nurtured its legend. Distinguishing myth from reality in no way detracts from the katana; on the contrary, it sheds light on the tactical intelligence of Japanese armies. And what would you choose in the melee, yari or saber?

Sources:
. Karl Friday, Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan
. Stephen Turnbull, Samurai Warfare
. Wikipedia § Yari and Katana
. Osprey Publishing, Japanese Infantryman 1560-1610

💡 Did you know?

From chokutō to katana, when Japan forges its identity

Long before the katana, Japan adopted straight blades chokutō of Chinese inspiration, attested in the imperial deposits of the Shōsōin in the VIᵉ-VIIIᵉ centuries. In the Heian period, warfare on horseback favors the tachi curve. Then, between the XIIIᵉ and XVᵉ centuries, the art of forging refined a signature of its own: steel tamahaganedifferentiated hardening (yaki-ire), quenching line hamon. Worn slipped over the belt, cutting upwards, theuchi-gatana gains in responsiveness on foot, and gradually establishes itself as a katana, the aesthetic and technical symbol of a Japan that has absorbed its continental heritage and reinvented it.

Sources:
. Met Museum, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, section Japanese Arms and Armor
. Shōsōin Repository, straight chokutō blades
. K. Yumoto, The Samurai Sword
. Markus Sesko, Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords

Medieval tachi shortened to katana. The illustrations in this section are created using artificial intelligence, under the direction of our editorial team. This technology enables us to bring historical or legendary scenes to life, while respecting our passion for authenticity and the imaginary. #Terressens, where stories take shape

💡 Did you know?

Medieval tachi shortened into katana

In the archipelago, many tachi from the XIIIᵉ-XIVᵉ centuries were given a "second life" as katana. During the Edo period, shorter blades were favored because they were worn on the belt, with the cutting edge upwards, and because fighting took place closer together; this led to the practice of suriage, i.e. silk reduction (nakago) to adapt an old blade to current standards. When the reduction is significant, we speak of aō-suriageThe original signature is often lost. A famous example illustrates this phenomenon: a blade by Rai Kunimitsu, master of the Yamashiro lineage at the end of Kamakura, was shortened by Umetada Myōjū and transformed into a katana; it is listed in the collections of the Kyoto National Museum and the Japanese e-Museum explicitly specifies this intervention. As is often the case, this adaptation takes nothing away from the metallurgical quality... but instead tells the moving story of the sword and saber in Japan.

Sources:
. Kyoto National Museum (§ Sword (Katana), Signed "Rai Kunimitsu" (with Inscription "Polished by Umetada"))
. e-Museum Japan (§ Sword (Katana)... shortened by Umetada Myōjū)
. NBTHK AB (§ Exquisite Sword Characteristics, glossary suriage, ō-suriage)

💡 Did you know?

The katana wasn't always curved

Contrary to popular belief, the samurai katana is not a thousand-year-old weapon in its current form. Before its famous curvature, Japanese warriors used straight blades called chokutō, inspired by Chinese swords. It wasn't until the IXᵉ century that Japanese blacksmiths, faced with the specific needs of mounted combat, developed the tachi, a long, curved saber, the direct ancestor of the katana.
Evolution accelerated in the XIIIᵉ century, particularly after the Mongol invasions, which prompted craftsmen to perfect forging techniques. They introduced selective tempering and steel bending(tamahagane) to create blades that were both hard and flexible. The word katana was coined to designate a shorter, upward-cutting blade, ideal for close combat. It became the emblematic weapon of the samurai during the Muromachi period (XIVᵉ-XVIᵉ century).

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Practical information & magazine

How do I care for a katana blade?

Practical info #Terressens

Maintenance of a sword or saber is necessary to prevent oxidation (rust). Used oil must be removed ...see more

Katana metallurgy glossary

Practical info #Terressens

Quick dictionary for choosing your katana: homogeneous steel, Maru, damascus, 1045, 1060, true tempering line, Hamon...

Japanese quotes and proverbs

Magazine #Terressens

Our engraving workshop can personalize your katana blade with one or more engravings...see more

History of the katana: its evolution through the centuries

Magazine #Terressens

The katana, or Japanese sword, is a traditional bladed weapon steeped in ...see more

Is the katana authorized in France?

It is legal for adults to have a katana in their home. Use is, of course, limited. In fact, katanas, swords, daggers and knives are classified in category D. The purchase and possession of these weapons is unrestricted, but their sale is forbidden to minors.
To find out more: Is it legal to own a katana?

How heavy is a real katana?

The weight of a katana varies from 800 to 1,300 g, depending on its dimensions and the materials used.
The center of gravity (the katana's point of balance) is also important:

A katana's center of gravity: this is the point of balance. It determines the sword's sense of gravity.

It is usually located 10 / 15 cm from the tsuba (鍔 guard). The further away it is, the greater the sensation of weight.

What type of katana should I choose?

For lovers of tradition and authenticity, hand-forged katanas with carbon steel blades offer an experience close to that of the samurai of yesteryear.
Find out more: What type of katana should I choose?

History and symbolism of the katana in Japanese culture

More than just a weapon, the katana is a veritable icon of Japanese culture. A symbol of honor, discipline and ancestral know-how, it embodies the soul of the samurai and fascinates by its finesse as much as its effectiveness.
If you'd like to find out more about its history and significance, take a look at the detailed article on Wikipedia, as well as the one on #Terressens magazine.

Press review ...read more

Keep in touch

We publish a monthly newsletter. It includes information on new products, supplies... but also information on history and archaeology. Informative and cultural before being commercial, the #Terressens newsletter is aimed at all enthusiasts of the themes we cover with our selection of collectibles. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on this link.

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Welcome to #Terressens, a French boutique (RCS Montpellier 433 556 180), European specialist in the online sale of katana, Japanese swords and accessories ...see more

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Katana: Japanese sword, personalized engraving and advice

Special offers

Training

Katana and decorative item

Accessories and maintenance

💡 Did you know?

Katana or spear, who really ruled the fight?

💡 Did you know?

From chokutō to katana, when Japan forges its identity

💡 Did you know?

Medieval tachi shortened into katana

💡 Did you know?

The katana wasn't always curved

Practical information & magazine

Is the katana authorized in France?

How heavy is a real katana?

What type of katana should I choose?

History and symbolism of the katana in Japanese culture

Keep in touch

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