Old and New Practical Plus Comparison 

The differences between the classic and new Practical Plus Elite Katana are dramatic.  The elite is one of the new katana designed with the martial artist in mind.

The biggest issues with the classic Practical Plus Katana were the extra long tsuka (handle) and the slippery imitation leather tsuka ito (handle wrap).  We were happy to see that those were corrected.  The Practical Plus is shown on the top and the Practical Plus Elite is shown on the bottom.  The fittings on the new Practical Plus Elite Katana are pretty much identical to the Practical Plus Katana.  The habaki on the Elite does have a rain drop pattern that was not on the Practical Plus.

Then new cotton tsuka did not have the slippery feeling of the imitation leather.  The tsuka is about one inch shorter making it closer to the norm. 

The biggest change was the improved geometry of the Elite.   The Practical Plus Elite Katana weights in at 2.56 lbs.  That is .41 lbs heavier than the Practical Plus Katana.  All the physical measurements for both can be found at Shinken Dimensions.

The Practical Plus Elite Katana has a 28.07" blade compared to the 27.40" Practical Plus Katana.  With the shorter tsuka the overall length remains about the same.

The blade geometry and hamon on the Practical Plus Elite Katana (bottom) are significantly different from the Practical Plus Katana (top).  The Mihaba (height) of the blade is wider.  The kissaki (tip) and all the lines of the katana seemed much more defined on the Elite.  The Practical Plus Elite Katana blade thickness tapers from the nakago to the kissaki more than the Practical Plus Katana. The Practical Plus Elite Katana blade thickness at the nakago was wider, but the thickness at the kissaki was about the same as the Practical Plus Katana.

The whole appearance of the Practical Plus Elite Katana is quite an improvement over the Practical Plus Katana.