Movie & Anime Swords

Ryan817 is a replica of the sword of Capt. Nathan Algren, the main character in the 2003 American film "The Last Samurai". The plot of the movie centers on Nathan Algren, a captain in the US Cavalry Regiment who is constantly haunted by the atrocities committed by his group during the American-Indian wars. He was recruited by the Japanese to help train the modernized Japanese Imperial Army and quell a rebellion of traditional samurais. Capt. Algren ended up embracing the way of life and principles of the samurai and then fighting with them against the Japanese government.

Ryansword's replica of Capt. Algren's katana has a shinogi zukuri blade in honsanmai lamination. The edge is made of 1095 high carbon steel and the sides made of folded 1060 steel. The blade is differentially-hardened with a beautiful, natural hamon and hada. It has a bohi running from the habaki to the kissaki, making the blade lighter. The tsuka is made of hardwood with white, rayskin panels and wrapped with black, synthetic silk ito. The tsuba, fuchi, kashira and menuki are made of glossy, black, zinc alloys while the habaki and seppa are made of brass. The saya is matte black. True to the movie, the blade has a laser etched kanji. In the movie, it was said that the kanji means "I belong to the warrior, in who the old ways have joined the new.", however some argue that the kanji really means "Since the ancient times to the present, God is with those who serve with dignity and honor."

The sword can be customized.

Ryan711 is a high-end replica of the katana in movie "Kill Bill". This katana is intricately forged in the shihozume lamination structure. The edge is made of 1095 high carbon steel which has high hardness while the sides are made of folded steel which has high flexibility and has a beautiful grain pattern or hada. Iron is used to form the softer core of the blade. The shihozume lamination is a labor-intensive forging technique that requires high skill level on the part of the swordsmith. Imperfect fusion or welding of the different steel types on the blade can cause the blade to delaminate or split.