Our Practical Katanas have always been at the forefront of providing economical yet functional swords to the martial arts community. Designed for quicker cuts in heavier targets, these Practical XL Lights katanas combine the blade geometries and profiles of the Performance Series with the affordability of our Practical fittings. The blades in the cutting styles are forged from 1566 steel and differentially hardened in the traditional manner, producing an edge hardness of HRC60 and spine hardness of HRC40. The tsuka is tightly wrapped with imitation leather in the tradtional style to provide a positive grip that will withstand years of tameshigiri practice.
 
Made by Hanwei.
 
Overall: 40 1/2”
Blade Length: 28 ½”
Handle Length: 11"
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Point of Balance: 5 1/2"
Width at Guard: 1.45"
Width at Tip: 1.06"
Thickness at Guard: .27"
Thickness at Tip: .18"
Sori: 3/4"
Blade Steel: 1566

Specs will vary slightly
from piece to piece.
 
Performance Series Katana Information
 
Our Performance Series Katana are the culmination of years of study of the optimum blade designs for today's martial artists. Four distinct variations are available, each optimized for a particular discipline or cutting application. The laito is an unedged training blade, available in three different lengths, for use in drawing practice and Kata. Its correctly-weighted and balanced steel blade prepares the student for advanced work with live blades. The blade geometry and physical characteristics of each of the Tameshigiri (cutting practice) blades are tailored towards different targets. The Elite Katana's blade is a little wider than its traditional counterpart, allowing for easier cuts on normal tameshigiri targets, while that of the Katana XL is significantly wider, producing a very thin edge that will sail right through traditional cutting targets such as multiple rolled and soaked tatami mats. The Katana XL Light has the XL's profile but is provided with bo-hi (groove or fuller), reducing the weight to the point where double cuts are possible but clean cuts on tameshigiri targets may still be made.
The traditional soaked tatami mat is the ideal target, but foam noodles and various water bottles can be an inexpensive substitute. The thinner blade profiles of the XL and XL Light are not meant for hard target cutting such as bamboo or wooden dowels.