You can make them with cardboard! Cool katanas & swords
Many of you have probably made crafts out of cardboard as part of summer vacation homework or everyday play, right?
Among those, something boys often want to try making at least once is a katana or sword, isn’t it?
With the popularity of the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Nichirin Blades also drew attention!
Why not try making a cardboard katana or sword, either for kids’ pretend battles or as a hobby for adults?
If you’re particular about the details, it will take time and patience, but for kids there are versions you can make quickly.
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You can make them with cardboard! Cool Swords & Blades (1–10)
Reverse-blade sword (Rurouni Kenshin)
How about making Kenshin’s reverse-blade sword from Rurouni Kenshin out of cardboard? Despite being cardboard, it’s crafted with delicate, meticulous details that could be mistaken for the real thing.
The blade’s strength is enhanced by inserting a wooden stick between layers of cardboard.
The tsuka-maki (handle wrapping) is realistically represented by wrapping thin, elongated strips of cardboard.
It looks cool as plain cardboard, but you might also enjoy painting it for a custom finish!
Nichirin Sword (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba / Kyojuro Rengoku)
Why not faithfully recreate the Nichirin Blade of Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira from the hit film Demon Slayer, using cardboard—a material that’s easy to find? In this video, Rengoku’s distinctive blade pattern is replicated by peeling the surface layer of the cardboard.
This step takes patience, so if you’re short on time or find it tedious, you can simply paint the pattern with paints or pens.
The flame-themed tsuba, which looks really cool, also adds a great accent to the sword—so have fun making it! If you turn it in as a summer vacation project, you’re sure to become the star of your class.
Minecraft sword
Let’s try making a distinctive sword from the popular game Minecraft—where you can enjoy survival gameplay and building with blocks—using cardboard.
In the video, it’s designed to transform, but even without the transforming feature, it still looks really cool! The key is stacking multiple layers of cardboard to add strength.
By attaching square-cut cardboard pieces to the surface, you can faithfully recreate the game’s aesthetic.
If you make it as a summer vacation project, you’re sure to stand out in class!
You can make them with cardboard! Cool Katana & Swords (11–20)
Excalibur (Fire Force / Arthur Boyle)
Let’s try crafting the Excalibur of Knight King Arthur Boyle from the popular anime Fire Force out of cardboard! The construction is simple—stacking many identical parts—but by installing a black light inside the blade, it glows for a cool finish.
We’ll use “pladan,” a plastic corrugated board that lights up under black light.
With this method, it seems you can make it lighter and simpler than using LEDs.
A glowing sword is something everyone dreams of! Make it as a summer vacation project and you’re sure to become the star of your class.
Ash’s sword (Apex Legends)
Let’s try crafting Ash’s sword from the battle royale game Apex Legends out of cardboard! You can faithfully recreate the sword’s cool, dynamic, and distinctive shape.
The build allows the blade to slide back and forth, and by using glue sticks you can add a UV light-reactive effect that glows under a UV lamp.
The template is available as a free download.
It may take some effort, but the sense of accomplishment makes it a great option for a summer vacation project.
Give it a try!
Nichirin Sword (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba / Inosuke Hashibira)
Let’s try making the Nichirin swords of Inosuke Hashibira, a popular character from the anime Demon Slayer, using ordinary cardboard.
Inosuke’s swords with jagged blades are distinctive, right? In this video, a laser cutter is used to cut the serrated parts, but it’s fine to follow the template and cut them with a regular utility knife.
Since Inosuke is dual-wielding, make two and show them off to everyone at school! If you pass a rod through the part called the tsukanome (peg hole), you can even recreate “Beast Breathing, Tenth Fang: Circular Fangs.”
Dai’s Sword (Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai)
How about making Dai’s Sword from Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai out of cardboard? You can craft the kind of sword boys dream of using everyday materials like cardboard and glue.
The design is simple, but the shape screams “hero’s sword” and looks really cool.
Using a wooden dowel as the core adds strength, so it’ll hold up for play afterward.
Wrapping the grip with vinyl tape makes it water-resistant, which is a nice touch.
The decorations might take a bit of effort, but we’ve paid attention to details like the dragon crest, so why not make it your summer vacation project?