CAS Hanwei's Classic SeriesKatana represent the traditional blade and furniture styles of Japanese swords. These regularly-upgraded pieces have been the mainstay of Hanwei's Samurai sword line for a number of years and have redefined what is possible in an affordable, historically accurate, and functional series of swords. This Classic Series includes models from the "Forged Steel" line, "Forged-Folded Steel" line, and the "Practical" line.
In both the "Forged Steel" and the "Forge-Folded Steel" lines, the grip construction features genuine ray skin covered wood, wrapped very tightly in a traditional pattern to display the ray skin and the Menuki. The deeply lacquered wood scabbards have authentic polished horn fittings. Protective bags and maintenance kits are supplied with each piece.
Blades from the "Forged-Steel" line are hand forged from high-carbon steels. Blades from the "Forged-Folded steel" line are hand forged and folded from K120C powder steel. The steel manufacturing process provides an excellent dispersion of carbides, resulting in a very tough steel with outstanding edge-holding properties.
The traditional clay-temporing process is used for both lines to produce an edge hardness of HRC 60 and a back hardness of HRC 40. The hard edge provided an excellent cutting capability and edge retention while the more resilient body of the blade allows to absorb the shock of the cutting stroke. After forging and heat treating the blade is and polished revealing both the Hamon (temper line) and in the case of the "Forged-Folded Steel" line, the Hada (linear folding pattern). The Katanas have long tangs and are fitted with two Mekugi (bamboo pegs) for greater security.