
As warfare progressed and firearms predominated so sword making diminished in importance.įar from having disappeared, this ancient Japanese tradition has caught the imagination of collectors, and good examples or rare swords can command dizzying sums at auction houses. This marked a shift away from sword making as an art form. In 1400 AD, Japan broke into civil war and the need for swords became so great production didn't allow for the time to create fanciful weapons. The thick armor worn by the Mongols was too much of a match for the more delicate samurai swords, so a more sturdy, pointed sword was developed to have more penetrating force. The next turning point in the development of the Japanese sword was during the Mongol invasion in 1200 AD. When wearing armor soldiers would often carry a second smaller sword or dagger used for close combat. Swords were usually worn by hanging from the torso, but were later worn inside a belt. Fighting from horseback required that the curvature of the sword be exaggerated to facilitate a more efficient downward movement. They continued to be made for 500 years.ĭuring the Heian period, the use of horses on the battlefield ushered in a new phase in sword making. These Koto swords were characterized by having a curve close to the hilt. The earliest swords date back to the Jokoto period, and it was after this time that the Koto swords appeared, which are considered to be some of the finest examples or early Japanese sword making. Changes in warfare were largely responsible for the development of the sword leading to its eventual demise due to the introduction of guns as the weapon of choice. The first sword production appeared over a thousand years ago and developed into distinct categories over the centuries. In more recent times, modern day samurai movies have popularized the Japanese sword reigniting its mythical status as a symbol of virtue and heroism. This will ensure durability and precision cutting.Considered an art form, Japan has an illustrious history of sword making. By coating the spine in a thick layer of clay, swordsmiths could cool it more slowly than the edge, thus resulting in a strong edge and flexible spine. In the past, swordsmiths produced the blade using tamahagane steel with differential heat treatment. You want to make sure you choose a high quality carbon steel blade that has been folded and tempered. Blade The blade is obviously the most important part of a traditional Japanese katana. The most important factor is, of course, the blade itself. Vehicle identification Suzuki motorcycle 1000 MOTO KATANA - Order your original Suzuki Scooter, ATV & Motorcycle spares with our part diagrams Search. When choosing a samurai sword for your collection, whether it be as a wall hanger on display or for actual cutting or combat practice, these parts of the samurai is how you should decide which samurai sword to purchase. There are other critical parts of a real samurai sword as you can see from the illustration, but these terms are the most widely used. The characteristics of these different parts of the samurai sword is also what generates the value of a real samurai sword.


Traditionally, a Daisho are the worn swords of a true Samurai warrior.Ī samurai sword has many parts and is what distinguishes itself from another. Daisho – Daito (Katana) and Wakizashi (Medium sword) Set.The first thing to note is the different names of the samurai sword. Material :Alloy(will not be rusted and oxidation like the Iron and copper tsubas.). Now, they are apart of our culture so its importand that you understand the terminology and parts of the samurai sword. Japanese Sword Katana Parts Alloy Guard Tsuba Leaves Carved On Hj187. Samurai swords have been around for centuries.
