The Paul Chen Practical Plus XL Light katana has a forged high carbon differentially tempered blade designed for tameshigiri but with bohi to lighten the blade. It is an improved version of the original practical plus katana with a shorter tsuka (handle) wrapped in cotton instead of imitation leather. The Practical Plus Katana provides a very economical cutting sword as dependable as the Practical Katana, but using more traditional fittings and construction methods. The blade is forged and differentially tempered (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.

Hanwei Forge Paul Chen Katana
Fully functional live blade Shinken Katana "real sword"
Japanese dogwood theme Fuchi/Kashira
Iron sunburst tsuba
Dragon theme menuki
Black cotton tsuka ito
Genuine same (rayskin) inlay
Black textured saya
Forged high carbon steel blade
Chu (medium) kissakiDifferentially tempered
New extra large blade geometry
Bo-hi (grooved blade)
This katana is hand made and each is unique - size and weight will vary
Blade length: 28 1/2"
Handle length: 11"
Overall length: 41"
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Point of Balance: 5 1/2"
Width at Guard: 1.45"
Width at Tip: 1.12"
Thickness at Guard: .24"
Thickness at Tip: .19"
Sori: 3/4"
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