Having already clarified in our other article whether a Katana is able to cut through steelwe would now like to know whether a katana can also cut through a real, flying pistol bullet.
Katana vs. bullet: the video evidence
The material of the projectiles
Today's ammunition is usually made of lead or copper. The blade of a katana, on the other hand, is made of Steel manufactured. Lead and copper are softer metals than steel. This makes it seem possible at first glance that a katana can cut through projectiles made of these materials.
The speed & the right angle
However, a bullet shoots out of a weapon at an extremely high velocity. Pistols, for example, reach muzzle velocities of approx. 350 m/s, which corresponds to 1260 km/h. The katana must therefore be able to withstand this speed on impact. The katana must therefore be able to withstand this speed on impact.
Another decisive factor is the angle at which the bullet hits the sword blade. The bullet must hit the sharp side of the katana blade straight on. This is the only way to split the bullet cleanly, as the energy of the bullet hits the narrow surface of the blade. Otherwise the bullet would destroy the blade.
Conclusion
Cutting bullets with a samurai sword is possible under the right conditions. However, defence against bullets, as sometimes shown in films/anime, is not feasible in reality. In fact, firearms replaced swords as weapons in combat in ancient Japan.
