Katana of the Immortals - Swords in the Highlander film series

In this article, we would like to take a closer look at the katana swords of the main characters from the feature film and TV series Highlander. As children of the 80s, we grew up with the films and the series. Even back then, we wished we could hold a Highlander sword in our hands.

The feature film

The main character of the 1986 feature film "Highlander - There Can Be Only One" and its sequels is the immortal Connor MacLeod. Due to his immortality, he can only be killed by decapitation.

Connor MacLeod sword in our shop

The series

The hero of the television series Highlander, which was launched in 1992, is Duncan MacLeod. Like Connor, he comes from the MacLeod clan in Scotland and is also immortal.

Sword fights among immortals

If an immortal meets another immortal, both can sense the other's immortality as soon as they get close. As a result, if the two protagonists are not friends, a fight for life and death takes place. The winner of the fight then absorbs the energy of the loser. As the film title suggests, in the end there can only be one immortal.

Connor MacLeod's sword

During his life of several centuries, Connor only uses two different swords: one is a Scottish longsword with the name of the MacLeod family engraved on the hilt. Secondly, he uses his katana, which was given to him by the nobleman Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez. We would now like to describe the latter in more detail.

The Ramirez Katana

Ramirez is the man who initiated Connor into the art of sword fighting. The katana was made by the legendary swordsmith Masamune in 593 BC, long before the art of swordsmithing emerged in the Japanese Middle Ages. It was presented to Ramirez as a wedding gift when he married Masamune's daughter, Shikko. Ramirez valued the sword just as much as his wife and described it as "unique, just like his daughter" in reference to Masamune.

On the outside, the sword is a real piece of jewellery. Its handle is made of ivory and features a detailed engraved dragon's head. The tsuba is completely in gold. As a whole, the katana radiates pure power.

During their final battle at the Gathering in 1985, Connor uses the sword to kill Kurgan. 10 years later, however, the katana came into the possession of the resurrected immortal Kane. However, Connor was able to win it back by defeating Kane in 1995.

During the time the katana was in Kane's possession, Connor went to Scotland where Dr Alex Johnson helped him make a sword by getting him a block of carbon steel.

Duncan MacLeod's sword

Like all immortals in the series, Duncan MacLeod has a personal sword for fighting. He received his katana in 1778 from the Japanese samurai Hideo Koto, who had hidden him and trained him in Japanese kenjutsu swordplay. It was originally intended that Duncan would inherit the claymore of his adoptive father and clan head. However, as he was banished, the claymore remained in the tribe's possession.

In addition to his katana, he also uses a Scottish basket-handled sword and other weapons such as daggers or wakizashi. Depending on what is handy at the time. His constant companion, however, is his katana.

Like Connor's katana, the sword has a detailed engraved dragon's head on the hilt. It is a real eye-catcher thanks to its elaborate handle.

Are you interested in swords from film & television? In our associated category you will find more interesting articles!