17 Samurai Sword Facts: What Makes Traditional Japanese Swords So Special interestingengineering.com

Here are 17 facts about why samurai swords are so special and why they can take more than a year to make.
Samurai sword hilts, known asTsuba, are made with incredible artistryA tsuba, the decorative handguard of a samurai sword, can be more important and valuable for a collector than the blade itself.
One of the most famous samurai swords ever built was lost after WWIIOne of the most famous samurai swords to have ever been crafted is the Honjo Masamune.
The art of Japanese swordmaking is slowly dyingThe Japanese government heavily regulates traditional sword making in order to ensure the highest quality.
Unfortunately, these prohibitive regulations keep many away from pursuing a career as a traditional Japanese swordsmith.