Katana

The katana is the pinnacle of the swordmaster's art. Even the poorest quality katana is at least equal to a masterwork weapon from another part of the world. The elegant curve of the blade and the methods of forging folded, composite steels mean that it can be used in combat with a greatly reduced chance of the blade bending or suscepting to brittleness and shattering.

Katanas originate from the island kingdom of Wa in the far-eastern realm of Kara-Tur. Their design has trickled slowly west into Faerûn so that now, certain Faerûnian master-craftsmen have been able to forge their own blades, though they are by no means any less exotic.