Our Practical Katanas have always been at the forefront of providing economical yet functional swords to the martial arts cutting community. Designed for multiple cuts in normal targets, these Practical Elites combine the blade geometries and profiles of the Performance Series with the affordability of our Practical fittings. The blades are forged in 1566 steel and differentially hardened in the traditional manner, producing an edge hardness of HRC60 and spine hardness of HRC40. The removable handle is tightly wrapped in the traditional style with imitation leather to provide a positive grip that will withstand years of kata or tameshigiri practice.