We are proud to introduce Paul Chen / CAS Hanwei's most significant advancement in their katana line to date; the Performance Series. Featuring four distinct blade variations (Iaito, Katana, XL, and XL Light) each sword has been designed from the ground-up, with blade geometry specially adapted to the needs of each Japanese martial arts discipline. Currently offered in four formats (Tori, Musashi, Practical Plus, and Practical) with more to follow, the series feature a wide range of steel type and furniture styles to meet every budget.

     The Practical Plus Katana provides a very economical cutting sword as dependable as the Practical Katana (SH6000KPC), but using more traditional fittings and construction methods. The blade is forged and differentially hardened (HRC60 edge, HRC40 back) and the hamon is prominent. The Practical Plus features genuine Same (Rayskin) on the Tsuka, with a tightly-woven cotton wrap (Tsuka-Ito). The long tang is double-pegged for security. The fittings of the Practical Plus are decorated in a Japanese Dogwood motif with dragon menuki, and the handsome Tsuba is of an iron �sunburst� design with a brass habaki. The Practical Plus has been extended to include all of the Performance Series blades; with three cutting styles and three iaito lengths. Maintenance kit available separately (OH1003).

     The Practical Plus XL Light Katana provides a very economical cutting sword as dependable as the Practical XL Light Katana (SH6000LPF), but using more traditional fittings and construction methods. The blade is forged and differentially hardened (HRC60 edge, HRC40 back) and the hamon is prominent. The Practical Plus features genuine Same (Rayskin) on the Tsuka, with a tightly-woven cotton wrap (Tsuka-Ito). The long tang is double-pegged for security. The fittings of the Practical Plus are decorated in a Japanese Dogwood motif with dragon menuki, and the handsome Tsuba is of an iron “sunburst” design with a brass habaki. The Practical Plus has been extended to include all of the Performance Series blades; with three cutting styles and three iaito lengths. Maintenance kit available separately (OH1003)

     Our Practical Katanas have always been at the forefront of providing economical yet functional swords to the martial arts community. These latest Practicals 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 way producing an edge hardness of HRC60 and spine hardness of HRC40. The removeable handle is tightly wrapped in the tradtional style with imitation leather to provide a positive grip that will withstand years of kata or tameshigiri practice.