Citadel Katanas are designed to meet the requirements of martial arts practisers by staying as close to the historical reality as possible. Alloy replicas may well be of good quality, but they just don’t have the feel of perfect balance that you get from a genuine forged steel sword.
How would a Samouraï feel if he tried one of our blades ? With this question always in mind, we decided that we would stick to a number of strict criteria : proper materials, in correct proportions, ridge and weight, using making process that keeps the use of machines to be a bare minimum, only what the artisanneeds to ease, the strain but without taking away from his work.
We have deliberately chosen to produce little in order to produce better. So, whenever possible, we work by hand, which means that each and every sword is individually crafted.
Our workshop controls all stages of fabrication, from the forge with three hammers to the handcraft and assembly of Koshirae. Each forged blade is monitored individually. It is carefully coated with clay and quenched which, after polish, will produce a genuine Hamon (temper line).
All Koshirae items are homemade : the Ito/Shito Domes, the precision cast Menukis, the Kurigata, Kojiri, Koigushi made of water buffalo horn. The genuine ray skin-covered Tsukas braided with leather or Japanese silk (Tsukaito) are fitted individually to the blade, as are the Sayas carved in a non-corrosive, non siliceous wood related to Magnolia.
Our Tsubas are not cast, stamped or mould, rather they are finely chiselled, sculpted and hand-engraved in iron plates.You will find real pieces of art among them, featuring certain facets of Sukashi and cladding that are seldom encountered.
Citadel ambition is to make Katanas accessible at a fair price to connoisseurs, with a quality that has thus only been available from costly Japanese productions.
When making an authentic sword, aesthetic is a constant concern. We, at Citadel, have the purpose to make our swords not only effective but beautiful and harmonious as well.
We offer a lifetime warranty for each blade, provided that they are used in a controlled way in a Dojo context, using straw mats and green bambou sticks.
We are always pleased to give a tour of our workshops upon request. If you are passing through Phnom Penh (Cambodia) give us a call at + 855 (0) 12 80 26 76 for appointment.
