2006-10-18 13:20:11 · 5 answers · asked by vidtai 1 in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
Are you talking about an antique? Or a modern sword hand made in the same fashion? Or a machine made replica?
For the first two, sharpening is the final stage of polishing, which is far more involved than simply making it shiny.
Polishing/sharpening is an art. It includes making sure the geometry of the sword is correct (lines straight, no wavyness in the steel, etc). This is done by hand with polishing stones and water. The sword does not have what most of us think of as an edge: a bevel in the steel right near the edge that comes to a fine (sharp) edge. Instead, the entire bottom half of the blade is the edge, from the ridge line down the middle of the blade to the cutting edge is one angle, Trying to polish/sharpen this type of sword if you are not qualified will destroy it. Get an expert to do it. be prepared to spend some money (at least $50 per inch of blade) and be prepared to wait, there's a long waiting list.
A replica may or may not have a secondary bevel, depending on it's quality. Many folks can sharpen these types of swords for you.
I would suggest you go to www.swordforum.com and do a search on katana sharpening. There are a lot of folks that work on blades that post there, and you can get specifics from them as to price, time involved, etc.
2006-10-18 15:01:46 · answer #1 · answered by tyrsson58 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For your own good, get a professional do it. You never know how your metal may react to sharpen and polish.
However I'm assuming this is a modern mass made katana. In that case I wouldn't even sharpen it since there's no point in it, it wil shatter into pieces if you hit a twig with it. As for polish, get professional to do it or you may dull it or remove heat treatment.
2006-10-18 22:07:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave it to the professionals. This guy is really good.
Masamune Japanese Swords & Art
Address: 25025 Redlands Blvd, Loma Linda, CA 92354
Phone: (909) 799-2080
2006-10-20 21:25:10 · answer #3 · answered by Jerry L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
awma.com has a cleaning/sharpening kit that you can buy that'll have good care instructions along with it.
2006-10-18 23:10:10 · answer #4 · answered by quiksilver8676 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WHAT KIND OF METAL AND HEAT TREATMENT DOES YOUR KATANA HAS?
2006-10-18 20:22:23 · answer #5 · answered by woodtigerdp 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋