Good day to all readers of our blog!  From note History of Japanese swords. Part 2, we learned that Japanese swords are manufactured today, called "gendaito". Continuing the story of the Japanese sword should be noteі that along with the age of mounting also makes it possible to determine the blade. At the same time distinguish six different ways of definition Japanese sword.

The most common way is to mount buke-zukuri era Shinto.

Sword of buke-zukuri mounted as follows:
• Leather-clad slope wooden handle, united bamboo skewer (do not rivet!) With a flat shank and (tanto only sometimes), wrapped with ribbons (silk, leather or cotton).

• Small cap head (Kathir) and clamp ring handle (fuchi).
• Additional decoration stick (menuki) tiny figures - are woven into the handle or strengthened on the handlebars Continue Reading

We continue our excursion into the history of Japanese swords. Began to read the note History of Japanese swords. Part 1.

After the epoch of the Old Sword came Age of the new sword (Shinto) 1530-1867
In Japan established relatively peaceful time. In an era of Azucena-Momoyama Toyotomi Hideosi completed permanent small war. Tokugawa Ieyasu was opened by the Edo period (1603-1868, the era of the Shogunate). Japan has again become a centralized state-controlled firm hand shogun. The emperor was only a sign for the government.
Thanks to the world the sword has lost much of its military importance and became increasingly becoming a status symbol. This is reflected in the following changes:
• Daito become shorter, the length of the blade was basically about two shaku.
• The appearance of weapons, which is a symbolic status, of great importance. Now, gunmakers have paid more attention to the excessive decorations. They affect not only the hilt - the blades are also often engraved.
Appearance was important Smithing. This led to what is and the quality of blades significantly decreased. The tradition of the five schools was completed, and now the swords are forged in all major cities. Swords became the center of production of Edo (now Tokyo).
Unfortunately, the lion's share has come down to our time of historical swords dates back to Shinto. At that time there was a little fashion to wear a long sword (katana), together with the corresponding short sword (vakizasi with a blade length of about 45 centimeters) as a pair (dai-sho). Efes dai-sho as well as at European swords and daggers for the left hand prepared in the form set.

If katana worn just for wearing outside the house, then vakizasi always remained with the host, and at night it put Continue Reading

Age of ancient sword (CHOKUTO, or Ken). Up to 900 year

At that time, a typical Japanese swords have not yet been developed, the weapons are copies, or even imported Chinese and Korean swords. The Warriors even thought the Chinese swords are more valuable. These swords often met straight blades, sometimes double-edged.

Then in the history of Japanese swords came Age of old sword (KOTO) 900-1530 years
During the Heian era (794-1191) management empire fragmented. Began the endless war, and crystallized caste samurai. The fighting took place mainly in the cavalry, so straight swords were gradually superseded by the long curved sword (with a blade length of approximately 120 centimeters).
Quality of smithing has improved considerably. Unfortunately, since the transition Blades almost did not reach us. One of those rare instances is the "kogarasu-maru" ("little sheep") - a famous family clan of sword Tahir - the beginning of the Continue Reading

Classification and designation of Japanese swords are themselves in science. And it does not say simply this: in Japan it is really a scientific discipline. There are numerous categories, which are divided into swords. Set out below a description of the science in this regard is very short and gives only a general overview.
In the beginning is a definition. In Japan, the sword is a broad concept: any edged weapon with a blade longer than 15 inches, the line of rigidity and shank with a hole for the tenon is the sword. Thus, under this concept come along with the "older" swords, short swords, and even daggers.

Length of the sword (as measured by a sword) in accordance with this is the first of a distinctive category of Japanese swords. The standard unit of measurement in this case is a unit of length shaku (= 30.3 centimeters). The Japanese term "medium-length sword" differs from the European concept so much that here we usually confuse the terms "short Continue Reading

In the previous post Samurai sword as the object to compare we began a fascinating journey into the history of Japanese sword.

To be able to compare the Japanese sword with European, we must first introduction to the topic. Just as in Europe, in Japan the sword stood high above the other weapons. However, in Japan this veneration survived until now. For centuries, Japan had been characterized by war between rival aristocratic families. Therefore, we could develop a very special form of military aristocracy - the samurai. The samurai were the embodiment of absolute loyalty, and contempt for death. There was only one option - win or die. For a samurai sword was more than a weapon. It was a symbol. The slogan read: "The sword is soul of the samurai."

Swords are revered (and honored) to the Shinto shrine as a prayer and religion play a big role. Blacksmiths- gunsmiths ranked highest in the hierarchy of artisans, and even the emperors did not consider their work shameful. Some swords Continue Reading