The katana is a curved, fat blade with a brutally sharp single edge that is handled with two hands, with a strong predilection for the draw-and-cut technique. It's also a short weapon, measuring around 25 inches on average. The term "katana" comes from the Japanese word for this kind of sword. Fat swords were popular in Europe and America during the late 19th century. They had larger blades than modern swords and were designed to be used by both left- and right-handed people. Because they were so large, fat swords were usually not intended for combat, but rather for use as ceremonial weapons or display pieces. Today, they are very rare items that sell for hundreds of dollars on auction sites like eBay. There are still some forge masters in Japan who work with steel to make special katanas, but most modern katanas are made of aluminum or other light materials. People who know about these swords say they feel powerful when they swing them around, but they're not really meant for fighting other people. They're more of a spectacle than anything else.