For more information about Hanwei Performance Series samurai swords, click here . Tori Functional Katana  SBCH-PER-TORIKAT        Hanwei Folded-Steel Performance Series Katana FREE SHIPPING! • Authentic Blade is Hand Forged from Folded Steel • Differentially Tempered for Strength and Flexibility • Fully Functional (Except for Iaito Drawing Version) • Beautifully Designed, Made for Martial Artists • Premium Quality Steel and Fittings These swords are extremely sharp, cutting katanas. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase them. This page includes four different varieties of the Tori Katana: the Elite, the XL, The XL Light, and the Iaito. All four blades feaure the same fittings and design, but each version has a different blade cross section and the Iaito version is made from tempered stainless steel (designed for Iaito drawing practice). These swords are high end items and usually ship in 3-5 days. Please select the Blade Style that you would like to purchase. For more information about each blade style, please see the chart to the left, or read the Blade Style Descriptions below. Elite (Performance Cutting Katana) - $1,189 XL Light (Competition Grade, Fullered Katana) - $1,338 XL (Competition Grade Katana)- $1,318 Iaito 27" Blade (Stainless, for Drawing Practice) - $699 Iaito 28" Blade (Stainless, for Drawing Practice) - $699 Iaito 29" Blade (Stainless, for Drawing Practice) - $699 You want the best. The most kick-ass katana you can buy at your price range. You want it to be made exactly like katanas have been made for centuries. You want the steel folded, you want the best quality steel, you want the best quality materials on the handle, grip, tsuba (gaurd) and sheath. You also want to be able to cut down small trees in one stroke with it (although you know enough about these beautiful swords to never actually do it -- you'd use cutting mats if you really wanted to practice), and you want it to look amazing. This sound like you? Then the Tori Performance Series Katana sounds like your sword. Japanese swords (as you know) were made by folding layer after layer of steel, with each layer multiplying the strength of the blade exponentially. The Tori Katana, made by Hanwei, is made in this exact same way, making it one of the most powerful swords on the market today. Just in case there are any questions, the Tori is the "Real Deal". The folded blade is made from a Swedish powdered steel, about as pure a steel as you'll find. This steel is pounded and folded over and over again (why did an image of Paris Hilton suddenly pop into my mind?) until it is fantastically strong (with the exception of the Iaito version, which is a beautifully balanced and tempered stainless steel). The Tori, like all the swords in the Performance Series from Hanwei, is differentially tempered. What does this mean, I hear someone in the back of the class ask? Good Question. This means that the cutting edge is much harder than the back, blunt edge. This is achieved by "painting" a clay coating over the back edge of the sword and leaving the cutting edge "unpainted" before the blade is heated for tempering. By doing this, the cutting edge is heated at a much higher temperature. Incidentally, (and I realize most of you already know this) this is why most true katanas have that wavy pattern (called a "Hamon") along the cutting edge. It's the differential temper line and shows where the clay was and was not applied. And though the Tori is everything you could want in a cutting katana, it's not just about power. It's also a gorgeously designed weapon. The Tsuba, Fuchi and Kashira feature images of a crane flying over colorful ornamental grasses. On the Menuki (ornament in the handle) are images of Japanese Hemets. The high quality brown leather Tsuka-ito (handle wrap) is wrapped over black Same (rayskin). And the Saya (scabbard) is wrapped at the mouth with black-laquered rattan and finished in a brown texture. This is the top of the line katana in the Performance Series. Buy it and be assured of eternal happiness. Or at least a long, long period of ecstasy. Oh, and buy it and you get a FREE sword maintenance and polishing kit. The Tori, like all or Hanwei's Performance Series katanas, can be purchased in one of four different blade styles. To confuse things a little more, the Iaito blade style can be purchased in one of three different lengths. We describe the cutting styles below and in the diagram at left. Elite: Frequent Cutting / Advanced Drawing Practice The Elite Katana Blades embody the classical design elements of the most prolific sword design in history. With their strong Shinogi Zukuri shape that accentuates the differential heat treatment, these blades are traditionally proportioned to appeal to the collector but they will also perform well in general cutting of hard or soft targets. XL: Heavy Competitive Cutting Designed strictly for competitive cutting, the XL Katana blades incorporate the geometry, strength, weight and profile needed for successful cuts on substantial targets. Featuring differential heat treatment and a narrow edge angle, these wide blades will reward good technique with clean cuts and excellent durability. XL Light: Competitive Cutting / Lighter Weight The XL Light blades feature the same geometry as those of the XL but incorporate deeply cut grooves (bo-hi) to reduce the weight of the blade while retaining most of it’s strength and cutting ability. This weight reduction makes for a quicker sword, well adapted for multiple cuts in lighter targets. Iaito: Frequent Drawing Practice These unedged training blades provide for safe drawing for the beginning practitioner of the 450 year old art of Iaido. Forged from stainless steel the tempered blades are not only maintenance-free but more importantly provide the correct weight and balance needed for the rigors of repetitve drawing and sword motion practice. Each blade has a deeply cut groove (bo-hi) to provide audible feedback when swung properly. Also excellent for collectors.