![]() Generally, the mekugi (a bamboo rivet) secures the tang in the wooden hilt. The wooden hilt or tsuka must be constructed from high-quality wood, as a weakened handle could result in splinters, disintegration, and possibly a launched blade. They often come in a koshirae mounting that includes a sword guard, a lacquered scabbard, and other metal components. Katanas designed for test cutting practice also have functional sword mountings. Sword Mounting Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana) blade, probably 19th century mounting, 19th century ( Source) In the samurai era, a young student, usually a son of a samurai, would utilize the short sword until he could wield the katana. Some practitioners may utilize the wakizashi sword with a blade measuring 30 to 60 centimeters if the katana is cumbersome to draw from scabbard and to cut with. Size and LengthĪs the long sword of the samurai, the katana generally had a blade length of more than 60 centimeters. Also, a hamon is not visible on Western swords as the entire blade is usually heat-treated, not just the cutting edge. While a genuine hamon features dots or specks along the hardened edge, an etched temperline pattern tends to be smooth and lacks internal features. However, many katana replicas today only have an etched hamon which does not improve the quality of the blade. A properly-made hamon, wide enough to allow polishing, would make an efficient sword for tameshigiri. Generally, any temperline pattern with projections or ashi will limit the size of the nicks and damage on the cutting edge. On the contrary, the gunome type of hamon, resembling a row of teeth, prevented the chip from spreading laterally. Older Japanese swords usually had a straight and narrow hamon, which easily chipped laterally across the broad portion of the cutting edge. Hamon ( Source)Ī genuine hamon or temperline pattern is not only an aesthetic feature of the katana, but also shows that the swordsmith hardened the cutting edge. However, if the impact occurs too close to the kissaki, a blade may break or would not cut deeply enough. The monouchi is about 25 centimeters long and begins about 15 centimeters from the tip or the kissaki. When conducting tameshigiri, practitioners utilize the monouchiportion of the cutting edge for striking targets. Generally, a curved blade efficiently cuts when a swordsman wields the sword correctly. The katana has a single cutting edge and a shallower curvature than the tachi sword. The curvature and hamon also contribute to its cutting power and durability. Blade AppearanceĪ high-quality Japanese katana has a durable, sharp blade that won’t bend and break on impact. ![]() ![]() Also, the gaps, open welds, and pockets on the steel are signs of poor construction. Generally, battle-ready katanas are properly forged and have no visible flaws. However, stainless steel katanas are only designed for display and are not suited for tameshigiri.Ī handmade katana is superior to mass-produced machine-made swords. Some non-traditional swordsmiths also use spring steel and damascus steel, with the latter featuring a watery streaked appearance. Katanas made outside Japan are replicas, often constructed from high-carbon steel blades and modern steel-production techniques. If the entire blade is hardened, it would be very brittle and likely break upon heavy blows. The clay tempering process allows hardening only of the cutting edge by coating the blade with clay. Traditionally-made katanas have clay tempered blades with soft cores that give added toughness and hard cutting edges. Japanese swordsmiths craft the katana sword from traditionally smelted tamahagane. Here are the factors to consider when choosing a fully functional katana sword: Metal and Construction Practitioners must have their old Japanese samurai swords examined by experts as the deteriorated wooden hilt, rivet, hilt wrapping, and scabbard could be dangerous. Unlike decorative swords, a battle-ready katana must be crafted to a higher standard and suited for test-cutting practice. How to Choose the Best Battle-Ready Katana? ![]() We’ve compiled a guide on choosing a fully functional sword, the modern practice of tameshigiri in martial arts, and where you can get battle-ready katanas online. Battle-ready katana swords are sharp and functional swords suited for cutting stationary objects such as tatami mats, bamboo, and so on. Today, martial arts practitioners who train in Japanese swordsmanship use live blades or shinken to hone their sword skills. Several Japanese martial arts involve tameshigiri or test cutting, which was extensively practiced in feudal Japan.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |