Hanbon Forge's Blog

Roles and Value of Katana, Wakizashi

zhang 18/07/2018 0

Katana is a generic term for swords forged in the originally developed way in Japan. Japanese samurai swords were worn by warriors of the ruling elite during the middle ages right up to the modern era and acted as much as status symbols as they did weapons. They often came as a set of two, a katana which is the longer of the pair and was used to ...

Tsuka wrapping method

zhang 16/07/2018 0

Tsukamaki means wrapping the handle. It is rewrapping or wrapping new ito on the handle of Japanese hilt. The most common wrapping method is "Tsumamimaki", the ito "pinched" at the crossing, followed by "Hinerimaki", where the ito was folded over twice at a 90 degree angle at the crossing. Tachi were usually done in "Hiramaki", the ito simply cross...

HOW TO WRAP A SAMURAI SWORD HANDLE

zhang 13/07/2018 0

Tsukamaki (handle wrapping) is something that anyone can have a try with a little patience. First there is the core of the tsuka, a type of hard wood which is covered with the rayskin (same kawa). The ito is wrapped and twisted around the tsuka. Ito is usually made of silk, cotton, or leather. A tsuka that is eight inches long requires 120 inches o...

Basic Shapes of Katana Tsuka

zhang 11/07/2018 0

There are four basic shapes of tsuka:1. "Haichi Tsuka", the most common, the mune-side almost straight, the ha-side slightly tapered, following the lines of the sword2. "Rikko Tsuka", almost hour glass shaped3. "Imogata" ("potatoe shape"), both sides straight4. "Morozori", closely following the shape of the saya, mostly with tachi/ handachi The le...

Sageo Wrapping of Katana Sword

zhang 09/07/2018 0

The Sageo (下げ緒) is a cord that extends from the kurikata knob on the saya (scabbard). When the sword is not in use, it is tied in special ways to look presentable. The sageo itself can be made from silk, cord, leather etc. It is generally good form for the sageo color to match the tsuka-ito color (handle wrapping). Want a unique sword? Feel fre...

Shinogi zukuri blade

zhang 06/07/2018 0

The shinogi, is a ridge on the blade that runs from the yokote to the end of the nakago. A blade with a shinogi is then said to be made in the shinogi-zukuri style, which is evolved as the most common Japanese katana blade design, provides both speed and cutting power. Except for the width of the blade, it is the shinogi height that plays the grea...

Samurai Sword Blade Niku

zhang 04/07/2018 0

'Niku', which is basically the Japanese word for 'meat' - the meat on the bones of a sword. It is the amount of roundness and curvature of the ji surface, used to describe the tendency of a traditional Japanese blade to have a bulging cross section on the side surface. Niku is distinct from thickness of a blade, or the kasane. A thick blade with a ...

Tachi (Odachi)

zhang 02/07/2018 0

Tachi (Odachi), a Japanese sword with a large curvature, varying body positions to attack and defend. It is popular in medieval to early 16th century Japan. Katana is worn through a sash, usually paired with a shorter blade, with its edge up. The katana became popular from early 1600s to the end of the Edo period (1867). Tachi is slightly different...