English archers had their longbows, Old West sheriffs had their six-guns, but samurai warriors had the most fearsome weapon of all: the razor-sharp katana, or samurai sword, capable of slicing through a row of warriors at one swoop. In this program, NOVA probes the centuries-old secrets that went into forging what many consider the perfect blade.

Fifteen Japanese craftsmen spend nearly six months creating a traditional katana, from smelting the ore to forging the steel to sharpening the blade to a keen edge. Join NOVA as we follow one katana through every phase of production, using modern materials analysis to reveal exactly why the swords are as good as they are.

Tuesday, 6/24/08 from 8-9 p.m. ET
Friday, 6/27/08 from 4:30-5:30 a.m. ET