“The greatest samurai sword ever forged.” – Hattori Hanzo
Why is Beatrix Kiddo’s sword popular?
The sword was made popular by many Kill Bill fans after the release of the two films in the Kill Bill series, Vol.1 and Vol. 2. The films portray a “yellow-haired warrior;” Beatrix Kiddo; who travels through the story with her Katana blade to complete her revenge vendetta.
The sword itself symbolizes revenge, as that is why the sword was requested to be forged. It is also known as “The Bride’s Sword” in Kill Bill Vol. 1, as we don’t learn of the wielder’s name until Kill Bill Vol. 2.
The sword is also used as Beatrix’s companion throughout the films as she cares for the blade, and is often not seen without it after she obtains it. If you would like this sword for yourself, check it out here on Amazon.
Appearance
What does the sword look like?
Beatrix’s sword looks like a traditional Japanese katana in that it is long, curved, and a single-edged, two-handed blade. The blade has a black, yellow, and white color scheme. It is made with the finest Japanese steel and includes a black scabbard. Engraved in the blade is a lion that is said to symbolize bravery. The blade is stored in a black case, fixed with gold decals.
Abilities
What are the abilities and traits of the sword?
- It can casually slice a man in half
- It can casually slice through another sword
- It can lift the body weight of a human and be used to throw them with it
- It can decapitate a man in a single stroke
- It can slice a person’s limbs in a single stroke
- It’s lightweight, so the wielder can have supersonic attack speed
- It can kill high volumes of people at a time and still be effective
- It has mirror-like reflective properties to be used to view your surroundings
- Beatrix uses it as a discipline mechanism in Vol. 2 as she uses the sword to “spank” the last young member of the O-Ren Ishii and told him to go home to his mommy.
Death List
Who are the victims of the sword?
Beatrix Kiddo creates a death list of all the people she wants to destroy and calls it “Death List 5.” The sword plays a major role in killing the first person on her list, O-Ren Ishii. The sword compiles a total death toll of the following people:
- O-Ren Ishii
- All of O-Ren Ishii’s subordinates (40+ members)
- Johnny Mo
- Miki and all members of the crazy 88
The Maker
Who made Beatrix Kiddo’s sword?
Hattori Hanzo
In Kill Bill Vol. 1, Beatrix Kiddo travels to Okinawa Japan, to find the greatest swordsmith in the world, Hattori Hanzo. Beatrix learns of Hattori Hanzo swords through her former companion, Bill. She finds Hanzo hiding in a sushi shop and asks him to make her a sword. At first, Hanzo refuses to make her a sword as he states that 28 years ago, he swore a blood oath to god, he would never make another sword again and hasn’t since. Since then, he said he has retired. He also states that the reason he doesn’t forge the swords anymore is that he has remorse for making “instruments of death” that kill people.
Beatrix convinces Hanzo to make her the sword by reminding him of Bill, the person she wants to kill; who was a former student of Hanzo’s, and who was also gifted a Hattori Hanzo katana. Hanzo was reminded of Bill’s dishonorable actions with one of his honorable swords and feels obligated to help her annihilate Bill, and to forge her a sword that will kill him. Hanzo realizes that Beatrix’s desire to kill him is a righteous quest to right Bills wrongdoings. He agrees to make her his final sword and says that it will take thirty days.
After thirty days past, Hanzo creates a special, private ceremony to honor the finished sword and its new owner, Beatrix. The ceremony included Beatrix, Hanzo, and a witness dressed in white robes and surrounded by candlelight. Hanzo explains during the ceremony, that the sword is his greatest creation ever forged. He quotes, “If God gets in her way, God will be cut.” Hanzo felt the sword was destined to Beatrix and called her the “yellow-haired warrior.” The sword was then placed in Beatrix Kiddo’s hands to begin her quest.
What other swords did Hanzo make?
- Bill’s sword for Bill
- Budd’s sword for Budd
- O-Ren’s sword for O-Ren Ishii
- Isn’t shown for Elle Driver
- Isn’t shown for Vernita Green
- The 30+ swords in his shop he keeps for aesthetic value
Who desires the Hanzo swords?
The Hanzo swords are the most desired swords in the world, according to the story. Bill explains in Kill Bill Vol. 2, that “Hattori Hanzo swords are priceless,” and that, “You can only compare a Hattori Hanzo sword with another Hattori Hanzo sword.”
Everyone in the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad desires the swords.
“A Hanzo sword is superior to all other swords.” – Deadly Viper Assassination Squad
Is Hattori Hanzo a real person in history?
Hattori Hanzo was a real person in history. However, was not a swordsmith, but actually one of the most famous samurai warriors in Japanese history. He was known for his supernatural abilities such as teleportation, precognition, and psychokinesis.
Appearances
When does the sword appear in the series?
Of course, the sword made its first appearance in Vol. 1 after Hanzo Hattori forges it for Beatrix, but there are other major appearances the sword makes in the story.
When was the sword first used?
After Beatrix obtains the sword from Hanzo, it is revealed in Vol. 2 that her first use of the sword is used to kill all of O-Ren Ishii’s subordinates and O-Ren Ishii herself. This was the most iconic use of the sword as O-Ren Ishii is marveled that Beatrix Kiddo was gifted a sword from Hanzo and the sword is used to epically defeat O-Ren Ishii by scalping her. The scene captured the true and serious capabilities of the sword and the master.
It is also important to note that during the killing of O-Ren Ishii subordinates, Beatrix Kiddo defeats all 40 members by herself with just the one blade. The last member of the 40, she doesn’t kill but brutally spanks him with the harmless edge of the sword to teach him a lesson.
Who stole the Bride’s Sword?
Beatrix tries to surprise attack Bill’s brother, Budd, with the katana, but Budd was waiting for her attack after Bill warns him to freshen up on his swordplay, and manages to trick Beatrix and disarm her before she could attack him. After disarming Beatrix, Budd proceeds to bury her alive. After her burial, he sells the sword to Elle for one million dollars.
Elle desperately wanted Beatrix’s sword from Budd and gladly paid him one million dollars for it, but soon killed him with a black mamba snake after the deal.
Beatrix kiddo escapes the burial death and goes back to Budd’s trailer to get her sword back. Upon trying to find the sword she enters the trailer and finds Elle had just killed Budd for the sword and it’s in her possession. Elle tries to kill Beatrix Kiddo with her own sword, but Beatrix luckily finds Budd’s sword in sight that was also gifted to him by Hattori Hanzo and uses it to fight Elle for her sword. Once Elle is defeated by an eye pluck, Beatrix Kiddo obtains her sword back.
Is the sword actually used to kill Bill as it was intended for?
Actually, no. The final moment in Vol. 2 when Bill and Beatrix face off with the famous and dueling katana swords, Beatrix actually chooses to kill Bill with the 5 finger death punch instead of the sword. After this moment, the sword isn’t seen again.
What other times is the sword seen?
There are many scenes in Vol.1 and Vol. 2 displaying the sword by Beatrix’s side almost as if it was portrayed as a traveling companion in Kiddos revenge. This is evident when Beatrix places the sword in the passenger’s seat of the pussy wagon as if it was destined its own seat. It is also seen as having its own passenger seat when Beatrix Kiddo is flying an airplane. A third moment is evident when it is pleasantly placed on Beatrix’s motorcycle.
Vol. 3 Speculations
Quentin Tarantino, the director of the Kill Bill films, teased in a 2015 New York Times piece, that he would like to make a Vol. 3 someday soon, after the natural aging of the actors. He explains that he would like Vol. 3 to involve the storyline of the revenge of Nikki; the daughter of Vernita Green whom Beatrix offered a revenge plot to if she desired, after murdering her mother in front of her.
However, since the proposal of Vol. 3, Uma Thurman, the actress that plays Beatrix Kiddo, hasn’t responded to the inquiry.