All About Samurai Swords
Samurai swords have been around since the 8th century, and are something of a legend. There were samurai swords that were made before this time, they were called Chokuto, and have straight blades with a single sharp edge. Around the eight century, curved blades started being introduced, which were much easier to get out and used. They started out being curved just at the tang but later fully curved swords with developed.
Three different types of swords were produced. There is the Wakizanshi, the Tanta, and the Katana. The Tanta is a smaller version, a knife really that is used in close quarters combat, as well as indoors. The Katana is the longest of the three, with a long curve that is ideal for sword play outdoors. The Wakizanshi is a short sword that is mostly used for fighting indoors. Legend has it that the first Katana was made by the master sword maker Amakuni sometime in the eighth century. At first, the swords he made were not the best quality, and the Emperor was angry because these swords broke so easy on the armor of his enemies. Resolving to make a high quality replacement, Amakuni and his son worked for a full thirty days and nights, finally coming up the most famous samurai of all, the single edge curved blade Katana.
Improvements continued on the samurai sword, with folding steel making, and even trade with the Chinese to get iron ore, mixing it with carbon to make harder steel, that would hold an edge better, cut through some of the toughest armor, and these swords that have survived are some of the most prized masterpieces of our time.
The Katanas curved design reflected that most samurai fought from the backs of horse, and the long weapon was ideal for slashing at an enemy on the ground. The curved blade, combined with the upward movement, had devastating effects. However, when the Mongols invaded Japan, these fighting techniques became obsolete because of the toughness of the Mongolian armor. Instead, straighter and thicker swords were much more effective because of the jabbing and stabbing superiority. By the start of the 15th century traditional curved sword making was starting do decline, mostly because more sophisticated weaponry was being introduced. Unfortunately, once firearms came into play, sword making, as well as the making of Katanas really became inferior, and stopped being made in large numbers.
The greatest Japanese sword maker that every lived was named Goro Nyudo Masamune. Many records about his life are sketchy, but it is said that her made swords during the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th centuries. His swords were probably the best made, forged in the Soshu. Many historians and collectors regard these swords as the most exquisite samurai katanas ever made on the whole island of Japan. So his name can live on, the Masamune prize is now awarded each year at the Japanese sword making competition, awarded to the sword smith who’s work is the most exceptional.
Sadly, while there are some fine sword makers that still exist today, many of the grand sword making techniques have been lost over to passage of time, completely gone around the 17th century. Those that have tried to rediscover these techniques have mostly been unsuccessful.
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