This is due to the fact that the best made Japanese swords have what isĬalled 'Niku' - which is basically the Japanese word for 'meat'. While one that feels unsharp and that you can even run your fingers along, would take their arm off at the shoulder. But a sword can be too sharp - and you might be surprised to learn that a sword that feels razor sharp, if used in a battle would chip on the opponents bone. For one reason or another, many people think that a Japanese sword should be RAZOR sharp. This is much more common on Japanese Katana than any other style of blade. The reasons for this should be quite obvious, if the sword is unsharpened the chances of an accidental life threatening injury are GREATLY reduced.īut the second reason comes into play when you receive a cutting sword that does not feel sharp to casual observation or not as sharp as you were expecting. The first is, if the sword is going to be used for training purposes it is MUCH better off if it is not sharpened. There are several reasons why you might not actually want to sharpen your sword at all. A leather strop can be used to deburr the blade after the. So most manufacturers only sharpen their swords to the degree necessary to cut standard targets and no more.įor these reasons, most new swords are only moderately sharp - leaving it up to the new owner to decide for themselves how sharp they want to make it. You want to hold the knife at a consistent angle and make sure to sharpen both sides of the blade. Razor sharp swords are dangerous to handle and ship, and could result in all kinds of legal issues. As such, many companies concentrate on just making a good sword with decent polish and if you want to take it to crazy razor sharp, well - that's up to YOU and how much time you want to spend 'perfecting it'. It takes a lot of time to polish a blade until it is razor sharp - and the more time spent on a sword, the higher the price. There are several reasons why a new sword will not come razor sharp out of the box - one is simply cost. Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA).Ultra Durable 'Beater' Katana under $400.Affordable Traditional Blades with 'Hamon'.He has lectured at several schools and Universities, WMAW, HEMAC, 4W, and ICMS at Kalamazoo. He has taught and published on the history of arms, armor and western martial arts for over 30 years. He has given presentations on historical arms at events including Longpoint and Combatcon, and presented scholarly papers at, among others, The International Congress on Medieval Studies.Ĭraig Johnson is the Production Manager of Arms and Armor and Secretary of The Oakeshott Institute. He is a historical martial artist and a former university professor of cultural geography. is Vice President of Arms and Armor and a member of the governing board of The Oakeshott Institute. S Manning for the questions and correspondence on finishes and polishing.Ĭheck out part 1 and part 2 if you have not seen them. In part 4 will talk a bit about sharpening and edges. It is in German but there are some English bits, and it is easy to follow the thread of what they are demonstrating. Here is an excellent video made at the Grinder Museum Balkhauser Kotten that shows some of this great technology that has survived. This technology would allow for very bright finishes to be accomplished and it would be a matter of economics more than ability to what the result would be for the items worked on by these craftspeople.īalkhauser-Kotten Grinder Museum, Solingen This kept heavier grits from infiltrating the finer grinding areas and marring the finer surfaces. The set up of the building where these were housed is positioned along a waterpower source and has a couple of floors with progressively finer grinding going on the higher you went in the structure. Wheel with grit filled medium applied to edge. These wood and leather wheels could have the leather replaced as needed and the grinding medium renewed as needed.Ī wooden wheel with leather fins for replaceable grinding surface ready for addition of grit. A stone wheel would wear a bit with each grinding and over time get used up. The wheels that were used in these facilities where not only stone wheels, but quite interestingly, renewable technology of wood and leather to create a long-lasting tool that could be maintained and adjusted as needed. Sharpening this item for UK delivery will require proof of age (see more). We are also blessed with some surviving structures where a bit of the technology of the past survives to us today. A transition from the Viking sword to the classic medieval sword, our medieval. You can take this medieval sword to your next. It has a steel chape, throat, and belt ring. Where mills were not feasible on the riverside or more mills were needed, the use of floating mills anchored mid stream allowed for more production. Finally, this sword comes with a black leather-covered scabbard.
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