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<span class="vector-toc-numb">1.5</span> <span>Polishing</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Polishing-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Mountings" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Mountings"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.6</span> <span>Mountings</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Mountings-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Modern_swordsmithing" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Modern_swordsmithing"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Modern swordsmithing</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Modern_swordsmithing-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notable_swordsmiths" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notable_swordsmiths"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Notable swordsmiths</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notable_swordsmiths-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div 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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Japanese+swordsmithing%22">"Japanese swordsmithing"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Japanese+swordsmithing%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Japanese+swordsmithing%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Japanese+swordsmithing%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Japanese+swordsmithing%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Japanese+swordsmithing%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">March 2011</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Katana_(common_shema).png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Katana_%28common_shema%29.png/300px-Katana_%28common_shema%29.png" decoding="async" width="300" height="453" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Katana_%28common_shema%29.png/450px-Katana_%28common_shema%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Katana_%28common_shema%29.png/600px-Katana_%28common_shema%29.png 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="1208" /></a><figcaption>Visual glossary of Japanese sword terms</figcaption></figure> <p><b>Japanese swordsmithing</b> is the labour-intensive <a href="/wiki/Bladesmith" title="Bladesmith">bladesmithing</a> process developed in Japan beginning in the sixth century for forging traditionally made bladed weapons (<a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword" title="Japanese sword"><i>nihonto</i></a>)<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> including <i><a href="/wiki/Katana" title="Katana">katana</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Wakizashi" title="Wakizashi">wakizashi</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Tant%C5%8D" title="Tantō">tantō</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Yari" title="Yari">yari</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Naginata" title="Naginata">naginata</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Nagamaki" title="Nagamaki">nagamaki</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Tachi" title="Tachi">tachi</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/%C5%8Cdachi" title="Ōdachi">nodachi</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/%C5%8Cdachi" title="Ōdachi">ōdachi</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Kodachi" title="Kodachi">kodachi</a></i>, and <a href="/wiki/Ya_(arrow)" title="Ya (arrow)"><i>ya</i> (arrow)</a>. </p><p>Japanese sword blades were often forged with different profiles, different blade thicknesses, and varying amounts of <a href="/wiki/Grind" title="Grind">grind</a>. <i>Wakizashi</i> and <i>tantō</i> were not simply scaled-down <i>katana</i> but were often forged without a ridge (<i>hira-zukuri</i>) or other such forms which were very rare on <i>katana</i>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Traditional_methods">Traditional methods</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Traditional methods"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Steel_production">Steel production</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Steel production"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tatara_(furnace)" title="Tatara (furnace)">Tatara (furnace)</a></div> <p>The steel used in sword production is known as <span title="Hepburn transliteration"><i lang="ja-Latn"><a href="/wiki/Tamahagane" title="Tamahagane">tamahagane</a></i></span><span style="font-weight: normal"> (<span title="Japanese-language text"><span lang="ja">玉鋼:たまはがね</span></span>)</span>, or "jewel steel" (<i>tama</i> – ball or jewel, <i>hagane</i> – steel). <i>Tamahagane</i> is produced from <a href="/wiki/Iron_sand" class="mw-redirect" title="Iron sand">iron sand</a>, a source of iron ore, and mainly used to make <a href="/wiki/Samurai" title="Samurai">samurai</a> swords, such as the <i><a href="/wiki/Katana" title="Katana">katana</a></i>, and some tools. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tatara_steel_making_method_NT.PNG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Tatara_steel_making_method_NT.PNG/220px-Tatara_steel_making_method_NT.PNG" decoding="async" width="220" height="79" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Tatara_steel_making_method_NT.PNG/330px-Tatara_steel_making_method_NT.PNG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Tatara_steel_making_method_NT.PNG/440px-Tatara_steel_making_method_NT.PNG 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="360" /></a><figcaption>Diagram of a tatara and bellows</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="/wiki/Smelting" title="Smelting">smelting</a> process used is different from the modern mass production of steel. A <a href="/wiki/Clay" title="Clay">clay</a> vessel about 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) tall, 3 m (10 ft) long, and 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) wide is constructed. This is known as a <a href="/wiki/Tatara_(furnace)" title="Tatara (furnace)"><i>tatara</i></a>. After the clay tub has set, it is fired until dry. A charcoal fire is started from soft pine <a href="/wiki/Charcoal" title="Charcoal">charcoal</a>. Then the smelter will wait for the fire to reach the correct temperature. At that point he will direct the addition of iron sand known as <i>satetsu</i>. This will be layered in with more charcoal and more iron sand over the next 72 hours. Four or five people are needed to constantly work on this process. It takes about a week to build the <i>tatara</i> and complete the iron conversion to steel. Because the charcoal cannot exceed the melting point of iron, the steel is not able to become fully molten, and this allows both high and low carbon material to be created and separated once cooled. When complete, the <i>tatara</i> is broken to remove the steel <a href="/wiki/Bloomery" title="Bloomery">bloom</a>, known as a <i>kera</i>. At the end of the process the <i>tatara</i> will have consumed about 9.1 t (9.0 long tons; 10.0 short tons) of <i>satetsu</i> and 11 t (11 long tons; 12 short tons) of charcoal leaving about 2.3 t (2.3 long tons; 2.5 short tons) of <i>kera</i>, from which less than a ton of <i>tamahagane</i> can be produced.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A single <i>kera</i> batch can typically be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, making it many times more expensive than modern steels.<sup id="cite_ref-jsme_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jsme-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Japanese <i>tatara</i> steelmaking process using ironsand started in <a href="/wiki/Kibi_Province" title="Kibi Province">Kibi Province</a> in the sixth century and spread throughout Japan, using a unique Japanese low box-shaped furnace different from the Chinese and Korean styles. From the Middle Ages, as the size of furnaces became larger and the underground structure became more complicated, it became possible to produce a large amount of steel of higher quality, and in the <a href="/wiki/Edo_period" title="Edo period">Edo period</a>, the underground structure, the blowing method, and the building were further improved to complete <i>tatara</i> steelmaking process using the same method as modern <i>tatara</i> steelmaking. With the introduction of Western steelmaking technology in the <a href="/wiki/Meiji_period" class="mw-redirect" title="Meiji period">Meiji period</a>, <i>tatara</i> steelmaking declined and stopped for a while in the <a href="/wiki/Taisho_period" class="mw-redirect" title="Taisho period">Taisho period</a>, but in 1977 <a href="/wiki/Nihon_Bijutsu_Token_Hozon_Kyokai" title="Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai">The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords</a> restored <i>tatara</i> steelmaking in the Shōwa era and new <i>tamahagane</i> refined by <i>tatara</i> steelmaking became available for making Japanese swords.<sup id="cite_ref-tate2005_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-tate2005-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-yasuhis_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-yasuhis-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-yasuout_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-yasuout-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-nagoyata_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nagoyata-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Currently, <i>tamahagane</i> is only made three or four times a year by The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords and <a href="/wiki/Hitachi" title="Hitachi">Hitachi</a> Metals<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> during winter in a wood building and is only sold to master swordsmiths. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tamahagane.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Tamahagane.jpg/220px-Tamahagane.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Tamahagane.jpg/330px-Tamahagane.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Tamahagane.jpg/440px-Tamahagane.jpg 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="450" /></a><figcaption>Tamahagane</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Construction">Construction</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Construction"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Des_briques_d%27acier_au_katana_-_2016-04-19.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Des_briques_d%27acier_au_katana_-_2016-04-19.jpg/220px-Des_briques_d%27acier_au_katana_-_2016-04-19.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="128" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Des_briques_d%27acier_au_katana_-_2016-04-19.jpg/330px-Des_briques_d%27acier_au_katana_-_2016-04-19.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Des_briques_d%27acier_au_katana_-_2016-04-19.jpg/440px-Des_briques_d%27acier_au_katana_-_2016-04-19.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4518" data-file-height="2636" /></a><figcaption>The different steps</figcaption></figure> <p>The forging of a Japanese blade typically took many days or weeks and was considered a sacred art, traditionally accompanied by a large panoply of <a href="/wiki/Shinto" title="Shinto">Shinto</a> religious rituals.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As with many complex endeavors, several artists were involved. There was a smith to forge the rough shape, often a second smith (apprentice) to fold the metal, a specialist polisher, and even a specialist for the edge. Often, there were sheath, hilt, and handguard specialists as well. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Forging">Forging</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Forging"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000666.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000666.jpg/220px-Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000666.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="290" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000666.jpg/330px-Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000666.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000666.jpg/440px-Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000666.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1832" data-file-height="2412" /></a><figcaption>Forge scenes, print from a book from the <a href="/wiki/Edo_period" title="Edo period">Edo period</a> (1603–1867), <a href="/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_d%27ethnographie_de_Neuch%C3%A2tel" title="Musée d'ethnographie de Neuchâtel">Museum of Ethnography of Neuchâtel</a></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000665.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000665.jpg/220px-Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000665.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="279" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000665.jpg/330px-Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000665.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000665.jpg/440px-Scene-de-forge-edo-p1000665.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1793" data-file-height="2277" /></a><figcaption>Blacksmith scene, print from an Edo period book, <a href="/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_d%27ethnographie_de_Neuch%C3%A2tel" title="Musée d'ethnographie de Neuchâtel">Museum of Ethnography of Neuchâtel</a></figcaption></figure> <p>The steel bloom, or <i>kera</i>, that is produced in the <i>tatara</i> contains steel that varies greatly in carbon content, ranging from <a href="/wiki/Wrought_iron" title="Wrought iron">wrought iron</a> to <a href="/wiki/Pig_iron" title="Pig iron">pig iron</a>. Three types of steel are chosen for the blade; a very low carbon steel called <i>hocho-tetsu</i> is used for the core of the blade (<i>shingane</i>). The high carbon steel (<i>tamahagane</i>), and the remelted pig iron (<a href="/wiki/Cast_iron" title="Cast iron">cast iron</a> or <i>nabe-gane</i>),<sup id="cite_ref-samuraisword_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-samuraisword-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> are combined to form the outer skin of the blade (<i>kawagane</i>).<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-hitachi-metals.co.jp_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hitachi-metals.co.jp-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-samuraisword2_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-samuraisword2-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Only about 1/3 of the <i>kera</i> produces steel that is suitable for sword production.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceB_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceB-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The best known part of the manufacturing process is the folding of the steel, where the swords are made by repeatedly heating, hammering and folding the metal. The process of folding metal to improve strength and remove impurities is frequently attributed to specific Japanese smiths in legends. The folding removes impurities and helps even out the carbon content, while the alternating layers combine hardness with ductility to greatly enhance the toughness.<sup id="cite_ref-pbs.org_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pbs.org-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-samuraisword.com_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-samuraisword.com-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In traditional Japanese sword making, the low-carbon iron is folded several times by itself, to purify it. This produces the soft metal to be used for the core of the blade. The high-carbon steel and the higher-carbon cast-iron are then forged in alternating layers. The cast-iron is heated, quenched in water, and then broken into small pieces to help free it from <a href="/wiki/Slag" title="Slag">slag</a>. The steel is then forged into a single plate, and the pieces of cast-iron are piled on top, and the whole thing is <a href="/wiki/Forge_welding" title="Forge welding">forge welded</a> into a single billet, which is called the <i>age-kitae</i> process. The billet is then elongated, cut, folded, and forge welded again. The steel can be folded transversely (from front to back), or longitudinally (from side to side). Often both folding directions are used to produce the desired grain pattern.<sup id="cite_ref-samuraisword.com_17-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-samuraisword.com-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This process, called the <i>shita-kitae</i>, is repeated from 8 to as many as 16 times. After 20 foldings (2<sup>20</sup>, or 1,048,576 individual layers), there is too much diffusion in the carbon content. The steel becomes almost homogeneous in this respect, and the act of folding no longer gives any benefit to the steel.<sup id="cite_ref-Metallography'_Page_53-54_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Metallography'_Page_53-54-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Depending on the amount of carbon introduced, this process forms either the very hard steel for the edge (<i>hagane</i>) or the slightly less hardenable spring steel (<i>kawagane</i>) which is often used for the sides and the back.<sup id="cite_ref-samuraisword.com_17-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-samuraisword.com-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the last few foldings, the steel may be forged into several thin plates, stacked, and forge welded into a brick. The grain of the steel is carefully positioned between adjacent layers, with the configuration dependent on the part of the blade for which the steel will be used.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Between each heating and folding, the steel is coated in a mixture of clay, water and straw-ash to protect it from <a href="/wiki/Redox" title="Redox">oxidation</a> and <a href="/wiki/Carburizing" title="Carburizing">carburization</a>. This clay provides a highly <a href="/wiki/Reducing_environment" class="mw-redirect" title="Reducing environment">reducing environment</a>. At around 1,650 °F (900 °C), the heat and water from the clay promote the formation of a <a href="/wiki/W%C3%BCstite" title="Wüstite">wustite</a> layer, which is a type of iron oxide formed in the absence of oxygen. In this reducing environment, the silicon in the clay reacts with wustite to form <a href="/wiki/Fayalite" title="Fayalite">fayalite</a> and, at around 2,190 °F (1,200 °C), the fayalite becomes a liquid. This liquid acts as a <a href="/wiki/Flux_(metallurgy)" title="Flux (metallurgy)">flux</a>, attracting impurities, and pulls out the impurities as it is squeezed from between the layers. This leaves a very pure surface which, in turn, helps facilitate the forge-welding process.<sup id="cite_ref-samuraisword.com_17-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-samuraisword.com-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-hitachi-metals.co.jp_13-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hitachi-metals.co.jp-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Through the loss of impurities, slag, and iron in the form of sparks during the hammering, by the end of forging the steel may be reduced to as little as 1/10 of its initial weight.<sup id="cite_ref-jsme_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jsme-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This practice became popular because of the use of highly impure metals, stemming from the low temperature yielded in the smelting process. The folding did several things: </p> <ul><li>It provided alternating layers of differing <a href="/wiki/Hardness" title="Hardness">hardness</a>. During quenching, the high carbon layers achieve greater hardness than the medium carbon layers. The hardness of the high carbon steels combine with the <a href="/wiki/Ductility" title="Ductility">ductility</a> of the low carbon steels to form the property of <a href="/wiki/Toughness" title="Toughness">toughness</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-pbs.org_16-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pbs.org-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceB_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceB-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>It eliminated any voids in the metal.</li> <li>It homogenized the metal within the layers, spreading the elements (such as carbon) evenly throughout the individual layers, increasing the effective strength by decreasing the number of potential weak points. Mathematically, the process by which the metal is homogenized through the folding is given by the <a href="/wiki/Baker%27s_map" title="Baker's map">baker's map</a>.</li> <li>It burned off many impurities, helping to overcome the poor quality of the raw steel.</li> <li>It created up to 65,000 layers, by continuously decarburizing the surface and bringing it into the blade's interior, which gives the swords their grain (for comparison see <a href="/wiki/Pattern_welding" title="Pattern welding">pattern welding</a>).</li></ul> <p>Generally, swords were created with the grain of the blade (<i>hada</i>) running down the blade like the grain on a plank of wood. Straight grains were called <i>masame-hada</i>, wood-like grain <i>itame,</i> wood-burl grain <i>mokume,</i> and concentric wavy grain (an uncommon feature seen almost exclusively in the Gassan school) <i>ayasugi-hada</i>. The difference between the first three grains is that of cutting a tree along the grain, at an angle, and perpendicular to its direction of growth (<a href="/wiki/Mokume-gane" title="Mokume-gane">mokume-gane</a>) respectively, the angle causing the "stretched" pattern. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Assembly">Assembly</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Assembly"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Katana_brique.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Katana_brique.png/220px-Katana_brique.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="314" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Katana_brique.png/330px-Katana_brique.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Katana_brique.png/440px-Katana_brique.png 2x" data-file-width="554" data-file-height="790" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>In addition to folding the steel, high quality Japanese swords are also composed of various distinct sections of different types of steel. This manufacturing technique uses different types of steel in different parts of the sword to accentuate the desired characteristics in various parts of the sword beyond the level offered by <a href="/wiki/Differential_heat_treatment" title="Differential heat treatment">differential heat treatment</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-books.google.com_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-books.google.com-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The vast majority of modern <i>katana</i> and <i>wakizashi</i> are the <i>maru</i> type (sometimes also called <i>muku</i>) which is the most basic, with the entire sword being composed of a single steel. However, with the use of modern steels, this does not cause the sword to be fragile, as in former days. The <span title="Japanese-language romanization"><i lang="ja-Latn">kobuse</i></span> type is made using two steels, which are called <i>hagane</i> (edge steel) and <i>shingane</i> (core steel). <i>Honsanmai</i> and <i>shihozume</i> types add the third steel, called <i>kawagane</i> (skin steel). The many different ways in which a sword can be assembled varies from smith to smith.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Sometimes the edge-steel is "drawn out" (hammered into a bar), bent into a U-shaped trough, and the very soft core steel is inserted into the harder piece. Then they are forge welded together and hammered into the basic shape of the sword. By the end of the process, the two pieces of steel are fused together but retain their differences in hardness.<sup id="cite_ref-pbs.org_16-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pbs.org-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The more complex types of construction are typically only found in antique weapons, with the vast majority of modern weapons being composed of a single section, or at most two or three sections. </p><p>Another way is to assemble the different pieces into a block, forge weld it together, and then draw out the steel into a sword so that the correct steel ends up in the desired place.<sup id="cite_ref-samuraisword.com_17-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-samuraisword.com-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This method is often used for the complex models, which allow for parrying without fear of damaging the side of the blade. To make <i>honsanmai</i> or <i>shihozume</i> types, pieces of hard steel are added to the outside of the blade in a similar fashion. The <i>shihozume</i> and <i>soshu</i> types are quite rare but added a rear support. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Geometry_(shape_and_form)"><span id="Geometry_.28shape_and_form.29"></span>Geometry (shape and form)</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Geometry (shape and form)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Japanese_swords.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Japanese_swords.jpg/220px-Japanese_swords.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="207" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Japanese_swords.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="319" data-file-height="300" /></a><figcaption>A range of Japanese blade types, from left to right: <a href="/wiki/Naginata" title="Naginata">Naginata</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tsurugi_(sword)" title="Tsurugi (sword)">Tsurugi</a> or <i>ken</i>, <a href="/wiki/Tant%C5%8D" title="Tantō">Tantō</a>, <a href="/wiki/Katana" title="Katana">Katana</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tachi" title="Tachi">Tachi</a></figcaption></figure> <p>The mainstream of the swords from the Kofun period to the <a href="/wiki/Nara_period" title="Nara period">Nara period</a> was the straight single-edged sword called <i><a href="/wiki/Chokut%C5%8D" title="Chokutō">chokutō</a></i>, and the swords of Japanese original style and Chinese style were mixed. The cross-sectional shape of the Japanese sword was an isosceles triangular <i>hira-zukuri</i>, and a sword with a cross-sectional shape called <i>kiriha-zukuri</i>, with only the cutting edge side of a planar blade sharpened at an acute angle, gradually appeared. The swords until this period are called <i>jōkotō</i>, and are often called separately from Japanese swords.<sup id="cite_ref-en20p30_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-en20p30-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The predecessor of the Japanese sword has been called <i>Warabitetō</i> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%95%A8%E6%89%8B%E5%88%80" class="extiw" title="ja:蕨手刀">ja:蕨手刀</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-Warabite_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Warabite-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the middle of the <a href="/wiki/Heian_period" title="Heian period">Heian period</a> (794–1185), samurai improved on the Warabitetō to develop <i>Kenukigata-tachi</i> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AF%9B%E6%8A%9C%E5%BD%A2%E5%A4%AA%E5%88%80" class="extiw" title="ja:毛抜形太刀">ja:毛抜形太刀</a>) -early Japanese sword-.<sup id="cite_ref-Warabite_22-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Warabite-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i>Kenukigata-tachi</i>, which was developed in the first half of the 10th century, has a three-dimensional cross-sectional shape of an elongated pentagonal or hexagonal blade called <i>shinogi-zukuri</i> and a gently curved single-edged blade, which are typical features of Japanese swords. When a <i>shinogi-zukuri</i> sword is viewed from the side, there is a ridge line of the thickest part of the blade called <i>shinogi</i> between the cutting edge side and the back side. This <i>shinogi</i> contributes to lightening and toughening of the blade and high cutting ability. There is no wooden hilt attached to <i>kenukigata-tachi</i>, and the <a href="/wiki/Tang_(tool)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tang (tool)">tang</a> (<i>nakago</i>) which is integrated with the blade is directly gripped and used. The term <i>kenukigata</i> is derived from the fact that the central part of tang is hollowed out in the shape of a tool to pluck hair (<i>kenuki</i>).<sup id="cite_ref-en20p32_24-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-en20p32-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-rekishi2050_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rekishi2050-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In the <i><a href="/wiki/Tachi" title="Tachi">tachi</a></i> developed after <i>kenukigata-tachi</i>, a structure in which the hilt is fixed to the <a href="/wiki/Tang_(tool)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tang (tool)">tang</a> (<i>nakago</i>) with a pin called <i>mekugi</i> was adopted. As a result, a sword with three basic external elements of Japanese swords, the cross-sectional shape of <i>shinogi-zukuri</i>, a gently curved single-edged blade, and the structure of <i>nakago</i>, was completed.<sup id="cite_ref-en20p32_24-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-en20p32-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-rekishi2036_26-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rekishi2036-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In the <a href="/wiki/Muromachi_period" title="Muromachi period">Muromachi period</a>, battles were mostly fought on foot, and the samurai equipped with swords changed from the <i>tachi</i> to the light <i><a href="/wiki/Katana" title="Katana">katana</a></i> because many mobilized peasants were armed with spears and matchlock guns. In general, <i>katana</i> has a cross-sectional shape of shinogizukuri, similar to <i>tachi</i>, but it is shorter than <i>tachi</i> and its blade curve is gentle. </p><p><i><a href="/wiki/Wakizashi" title="Wakizashi">Wakizashi</a></i> and <i><a href="/wiki/Tant%C5%8D" title="Tantō">tantō</a></i> are shorter swords than <i>tachi</i> and <i>katana</i>, and these swords are often forged in the cross-sectional shape of <i>hira-zukuri</i> or <i>kiriha-zukuri</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-rekishi2047_27-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-rekishi2047-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Heat_treating">Heat treating</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Heat treating"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Differential_heat_treatment" title="Differential heat treatment">Differential heat treatment</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Katana_hardened_edge_pic_with_inset_of_nioi.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Katana_hardened_edge_pic_with_inset_of_nioi.JPG/220px-Katana_hardened_edge_pic_with_inset_of_nioi.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="187" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Katana_hardened_edge_pic_with_inset_of_nioi.JPG/330px-Katana_hardened_edge_pic_with_inset_of_nioi.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Katana_hardened_edge_pic_with_inset_of_nioi.JPG/440px-Katana_hardened_edge_pic_with_inset_of_nioi.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2897" data-file-height="2464" /></a><figcaption>A katana, shown at a long angle to reveal the nioi, which is the bright, wavy line following the hamon. The inset shows a close-up of the nioi, appearing as the speckled area beside the bright hardened-edge. The nioi is made up of niye, which are single martensite crystals surrounded by darker pearlite.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Katana_diagram_of_bending_during_quenching.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Katana_diagram_of_bending_during_quenching.JPG/220px-Katana_diagram_of_bending_during_quenching.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="169" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Katana_diagram_of_bending_during_quenching.JPG/330px-Katana_diagram_of_bending_during_quenching.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Katana_diagram_of_bending_during_quenching.JPG/440px-Katana_diagram_of_bending_during_quenching.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2685" data-file-height="2067" /></a><figcaption>The curving of a katana as it cools at different rates</figcaption></figure> <p>Having a single edge provides certain advantages; one being that the rest of the sword can be used to reinforce and support the edge. The Japanese style of sword-making takes full advantage of this. When forging is complete, the steel is not <a href="/wiki/Quenching" title="Quenching">quenched</a> in the conventional European fashion (i.e.: uniformly throughout the blade). Steel's exact flex and strength vary dramatically with <a href="/wiki/Heat_treating" title="Heat treating">heat treating</a>. If steel cools quickly it becomes <a href="/wiki/Martensite" title="Martensite">martensite</a>, which is very hard but brittle. Slower and it becomes <a href="/wiki/Pearlite" title="Pearlite">pearlite</a>, which bends easily and does not hold an edge. To maximize both the cutting edge and the resilience of the sword spine, a technique of differential heat-treatment is used. In this specific process, referred to as <a href="/wiki/Differential_hardening" class="mw-redirect" title="Differential hardening">differential hardening or differential quenching</a>, the sword is painted with layers of clay before heating, providing a thin layer or none at all on the edge of the sword, ensuring quick cooling to maximize the hardening for the edge. A thicker layer of clay is applied to the rest of the blade, causing slower cooling. This creates softer, more resilient steel, allowing the blade to absorb shock without breaking.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This process is sometimes erroneously called <a href="/wiki/Differential_tempering" class="mw-redirect" title="Differential tempering">differential tempering</a><sup id="cite_ref-books.google.com_20-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-books.google.com-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but this is actually an entirely different form of heat treatment. </p><p>To produce a difference in hardness, the steel is cooled at different rates by controlling the thickness of the insulating layer. By carefully controlling the heating and cooling speeds of different parts of the blade, Japanese swordsmiths were able to produce a blade that had a softer body and a hard edge.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This process also has two side effects that have come to characterize Japanese swords: 1.) It causes the blade to curve and 2.) It produces a visible boundary between the hard and soft steel. When quenched, the uninsulated edge contracts, causing the sword to first bend towards the edge. However, the edge cannot contract fully before the martensite forms, because the rest of the sword remains hot and in a thermally expanded state. Because of the insulation, the sword spine remains hot and pliable for several seconds but then contracts much more than the edge, causing the sword to bend away from the edge, which aids the smith in establishing the curvature of the blade. Also, the differentiated hardness and the methods of polishing the steel can result in the <i><a href="/wiki/Hamon_(swordsmithing)" title="Hamon (swordsmithing)">hamon</a></i> 刃紋 (frequently translated as "tempering line" but better translated as "hardening pattern"). The <i>hamon</i> is the visible outline of the <i>yakiba</i> (hardened portion) and is used as a factor to judge both the quality and beauty of the finished blade. The various hamon patterns result from the manner in which the clay is applied. They can also act as an indicator of the style of sword-making and sometimes as a signature for the individual smith. The differences in the hardenability of steels may be enhanced near the hamon, revealing layers or even different parts of the blade, such as the intersection between an edge made from edge-steel and sides made from skin-steel.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceC_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceC-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-pbs_32-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pbs-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>When quenching in water, carbon is rapidly removed from the surface of the steel, lowering its hardenability. To ensure the proper hardness of the cutting edge, help prevent cracking, and achieve the proper depth of the martensite, the sword is quenched prior to creating the bevel for the edge. If the thickness of the coating on the edge is balanced just right with the temperature of the water, the proper hardness can be produced without the need for <a href="/wiki/Tempering_(metallurgy)" title="Tempering (metallurgy)">tempering</a>. However, in most cases, the edge will end up being too hard, so tempering the entire blade evenly for a short time is usually required to bring the hardness down to a more suitable point. The ideal hardness is usually between HRc58 and 60 on the <a href="/wiki/Rockwell_hardness" class="mw-redirect" title="Rockwell hardness">Rockwell hardness</a> scale. Tempering is performed by heating the entire blade evenly to around 400 °F (204 °C), reducing the hardness in the martensite and turning it into a form of <a href="/wiki/Tempering_(metallurgy)#Physical_processes" title="Tempering (metallurgy)">tempered martensite</a>. The pearlite, on the other hand, does not respond to tempering and does not change in hardness. After the blade is heat treated, the smith would traditionally use a <a href="/wiki/Drawknife" title="Drawknife">drawknife</a> (<i>sen</i>) to bevel the edge and give the sword a rough shape before sending the blade to a specialist for sharpening and polishing. The polisher, in turn, determines the final geometry and curvature of the blade and makes any necessary adjustments.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceC_31-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceC-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Metallurgy">Metallurgy</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Metallurgy"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tanto_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Tanto_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg/220px-Tanto_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="170" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Tanto_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg/330px-Tanto_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Tanto_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg/440px-Tanto_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg 2x" data-file-width="896" data-file-height="693" /></a><figcaption>Tanto</figcaption></figure> <p><i>Tamahagane</i>, as a raw material, is a highly impure metal. Formed in a bloomery process, the bloom of <a href="/wiki/Direct_reduced_iron" title="Direct reduced iron">sponge iron</a> begins as an inhomogeneous mixture of wrought iron, steels, and pig iron. The pig iron contains more than 2% carbon. The high-carbon steel has about 1–1.5% carbon while the low-carbon iron contains about 0.2%. Steel that has a carbon content between the high and low carbon steel is called <i>bu-kera</i>, which is often re-smelted with the pig iron to make <i>saga-hagane</i>, containing roughly 0.7% carbon. Most of the intermediate-carbon steel, wrought iron and resmelted steel will be sold for making other items, like tools and knives, and only the best pieces of high-carbon steel, low-carbon iron, and pig iron are used for swordsmithing.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (October 2020)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>The various metals are also filled with slag, phosphorus and other impurities. Separation of the various metals from the bloom was traditionally performed by breaking it apart with small hammers dropped from a certain height, and then examining the fractures, in a process similar to the modern <a href="/wiki/Charpy_impact_test" title="Charpy impact test">Charpy impact test</a>. The nature of the fractures are different for different types of steel. The high-carbon steel, in particular, contains pearlite, which produces a characteristic pearlescent-sheen on the crystals.<sup id="cite_ref-hitachi-metals_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hitachi-metals-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the folding process, most of the impurities are removed from the steel, continuously refining the steel while forging. By the end of forging, the steel produced was among the purest steel alloys of the ancient world. Continuous heating causes the steel to <a href="/wiki/Heat_treating#Decarburization" title="Heat treating">decarburize</a>, so a good quantity of carbon is either extracted from the steel as carbon dioxide or redistributed more evenly through <a href="/wiki/Diffusion" title="Diffusion">diffusion</a>, leaving a nearly <a href="/wiki/Heat_treating#Effects_of_composition" title="Heat treating">eutectoid composition</a> (containing 0.77–0.8% carbon).<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-docstoc_35-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-docstoc-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The edge steel will generally end up with a composition that ranges from eutectoid to slightly hypoeutectoid (containing a carbon content under the eutectoid composition), giving enough hardenability without sacrificing ductility.<sup id="cite_ref-bama.ua.edu_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bama.ua.edu-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The skin steel generally has slightly less carbon, often in the range of 0.5%. The core steel, however, remains nearly pure iron, responding very little to heat treatment.<sup id="cite_ref-bama.ua.edu_36-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bama.ua.edu-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Cyril_Stanley_Smith" title="Cyril Stanley Smith">Cyril Stanley Smith</a>, a professor of metallurgical history from <a href="/wiki/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology" title="Massachusetts Institute of Technology">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a>, performed an analysis of four different swords, each from a different century, determining the composition of the surface of the blades:<sup id="cite_ref-Crucible_page_42_37-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Crucible_page_42-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="7" style="background:#dfffdf;"><b>Blade composition</b> </td></tr> <tr> <th>Era </th> <th>Carbon (edge) </th> <th>Carbon (body) </th> <th>Manganese </th> <th>Silicon </th> <th>Phosphorus </th> <th>Copper </th></tr> <tr> <td>1940s </td> <td>1.02% </td> <td>1.02% </td> <td>0.37% </td> <td>0.18% </td> <td>0.015% </td> <td>0.21% </td></tr> <tr> <td>1800s </td> <td>0.62% </td> <td>1.0% </td> <td>0.01% </td> <td>0.07% </td> <td>0.046% </td> <td>0.01% </td></tr> <tr> <td>1700s </td> <td>0.69% </td> <td>0.43% </td> <td>0.005% </td> <td>0.02% </td> <td>0.075% </td> <td>0.01% </td></tr> <tr> <td>1500s </td> <td>0.5% </td> <td>0.5% </td> <td>0.005% </td> <td>0.04% </td> <td>0.034% </td> <td>0.01% </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>In 1993, Jerzy Piaskowski performed an analysis of a <i>katana</i> of the <span title="Japanese-language romanization"><i lang="ja-Latn">kobuse</i></span> type by cutting the sword in half and taking a cross section. The analysis revealed a carbon content ranging from 0.6 to 0.8% carbon at the surface and 0.2% at the core.<sup id="cite_ref-Crucible_page_42_37-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Crucible_page_42-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-bcin_38-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bcin-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The steel in even the ancient swords may have sometimes come from whatever steel was available at the time. Because of its rarity in the ancient world, steel was usually recycled, so broken tools, nails and cookware often provided a supply of steel. Even steel looted from enemies in combat was valued for its use in swordsmithing.<sup id="cite_ref-samuraisword.com_17-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-samuraisword.com-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Katana_-_showing_alternating_layers.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Katana_-_showing_alternating_layers.jpg/220px-Katana_-_showing_alternating_layers.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="161" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Katana_-_showing_alternating_layers.jpg/330px-Katana_-_showing_alternating_layers.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Katana_-_showing_alternating_layers.jpg/440px-Katana_-_showing_alternating_layers.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1716" data-file-height="1257" /></a><figcaption>The different layers in this blade are evident by the difference in their carbon content, which is exaggerated at the hamon giving it a wispy appearance.</figcaption></figure><p> According to Smith, the different layers of steel are made visible during the polishing because of one or both of two reasons: 1) the layers have a variation in carbon content, or 2) they have variation in the content of slag inclusions. When the variation is from slag inclusions by themselves, there will not be a noticeable effect near the <i>hamon</i>, where the <i>yakiba</i> meets the <i>hira</i>. Likewise, there will be no appreciable difference in the local hardness of the individual layers. A difference in slag inclusions generally appears as layers that are somewhat pitted while the adjacent layers are not. In one of the first metallurgical studies, Professor Kuni-ichi Tawara suggests that layers of high slag may have been added for practical as well as decorative reasons. Although slag has a weakening effect on the metal, layers of high slag may have been added to diffuse vibration and dampen recoil, allowing easier use without a significant loss in toughness.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceD_39-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceD-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>However, when the patterns occur from a difference in carbon content, there will be distinct indications of this near the <i>hamon</i>, because the steel with higher hardenability will become martensite beyond the <i>hamon</i> while the adjacent layers will turn into pearlite. This leaves a distinct pattern of bright <i>nioi</i>, which appear as bright streaks or lines that follow the layers a short distance away from the <i>hamon</i> and into the <i>hira</i>, giving the <i>hamon</i> a wispy or misty appearance. The patterns were most likely revealed during the polishing operation by using a method similar to <a href="/wiki/Lapping" title="Lapping">lapping</a>, without bringing the steel to a full polish, although sometimes chemical reactions with the polishing compounds may have also been used to provide a level of etching. The differences in hardness primarily appear as a difference in the microscopic scratches left on the surface. The harder metal produces shallower scratches, so it diffuses the reflected light, while the softer metal has deeper, longer scratches, appearing either shiny or dark depending on the viewing angle.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceD_39-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceD-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Metallography">Metallography</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Metallography"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:No_carbon_migration_Japanese_steel.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/No_carbon_migration_Japanese_steel.jpg/220px-No_carbon_migration_Japanese_steel.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="89" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/No_carbon_migration_Japanese_steel.jpg/330px-No_carbon_migration_Japanese_steel.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/No_carbon_migration_Japanese_steel.jpg/440px-No_carbon_migration_Japanese_steel.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="323" /></a><figcaption>Layered steel forms a wood-grain pattern when the blade is filed and polished</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Blue_steel_mokume_gane_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Blue_steel_mokume_gane_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg/220px-Blue_steel_mokume_gane_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="130" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Blue_steel_mokume_gane_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg/330px-Blue_steel_mokume_gane_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Blue_steel_mokume_gane_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg/440px-Blue_steel_mokume_gane_by_Brumagen_and_Fannin.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="474" /></a><figcaption>Blue <i>mokumegane</i> steel, showing knot-like patterns in the metal</figcaption></figure> <p>Metallurgy did not arise as a science until the early 20th century. Before this, <a href="/wiki/Metallography" title="Metallography">metallography</a> was the primary method used for studying metals. Metallography is the study of the patterns in metals, the nature of fractures, and the microscopic crystal formations. However, neither metallography as a science nor the crystal theory of metals emerged until nearly a century after the invention of the microscope.<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The ancient swordsmiths had no knowledge of metallurgy, nor did they understand the relationship between carbon and iron. Everything was typically learned by a process of trial-and-error, apprenticeship, and, as sword-making technology was often a closely guarded secret, some espionage. Prior to the 14th century, very little attention was paid to the patterns in the blade as an aesthetic quality. However, the Japanese smiths often prided themselves on their understanding of the internal macro-structure of metals, including the layering, the <a href="/wiki/Wood_grain" title="Wood grain">wood grain</a>-like structure, and use of different steel in different parts of the blade. </p><p>In Japan, nearly all metals, including weapons, were imported from the mainland until the 5th or 6th century, when steel-making technology was imported from China, most likely through Korea.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Crucible_steel" title="Crucible steel">crucible steel</a> used in the Chinese swords, called <i>chi-kang</i> (combined steel), was similar to <a href="/wiki/Pattern_welding" title="Pattern welding">pattern welding</a>, and edges of it were often forge welded to a back of soft iron, or <span title="Chinese-language romanization"><i lang="zh-Latn">jou thieh</i></span>. In trying to reverse engineer the Chinese method, the ancient smiths paid much attention to the various properties of steel and worked to combine them to produce a composite steel with an internal macro-structure that would provide a similar combination of hardness and toughness. Like all trial-and-error, each swordsmith often attempted to produce an internal structure that was superior to swords of their predecessors, or even ones that were better than their own previous designs.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_41-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The harder metals provided strength, like "bones" within the steel, whereas the softer metal provided ductility, allowing the swords to bend before breaking. In ancient times, the Japanese smiths would often display these inhomogeneities in the steel, especially on fittings like the guard or pommel, creating rough, natural surfaces by letting the steel rust or by pickling it in acid, making the internal structure part of the entire aesthetic of the weapon. In later times, this effect was often imitated by partially mixing various metals like copper together with the steel, forming <a href="/wiki/Mokume-gane" title="Mokume-gane"><i>mokume</i></a> (wood-eye) patterns, although this was unsuitable for the blade. </p><p>After the 14th century, the Japanese technology had reached a pinnacle, and little more could be done to improve the mechanical properties even by modern standards, thus more attention began to be paid to the patterns in the blade as an aesthetic quality. From then on advancements progressed along an artistic path and swords became regarded for their beauty as much as their suitability as a weapon. Decorative hamons began to emerge around that time consisting of various wavy or tooth-like shapes, by shaping the clay. Soon after, intentionally-decorative forging techniques were often employed, such as hammering dents in certain locations or drawing out the steel with <a href="/wiki/Fuller_(weapon)" class="mw-redirect" title="Fuller (weapon)">fullers</a>, which served to create a <i>mokume</i> pattern when the sword was filed and polished into shape, or by intentionally forging in layers of high slag content. By the 17th century, hamons with trees, flowers, pill boxes, or other shapes became common during this era. By the 19th century, the decorative hamons were often being combined with decorative folding techniques to create entire landscapes, often portraying specific islands or scenery, crashing waves in the ocean, and misty mountain peaks.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Decoration">Decoration</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Decoration"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Wakizashi_horimono.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Wakizashi_horimono.jpg/220px-Wakizashi_horimono.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="626" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Wakizashi_horimono.jpg/330px-Wakizashi_horimono.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Wakizashi_horimono.jpg/440px-Wakizashi_horimono.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1123" data-file-height="3194" /></a><figcaption>Antique Japanese wakizashi sword blade showing the <i>horimono</i> of a chrysanthemum</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Katana_blade_with_hi_and_hamon.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Katana_blade_with_hi_and_hamon.jpg/220px-Katana_blade_with_hi_and_hamon.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Katana_blade_with_hi_and_hamon.jpg/330px-Katana_blade_with_hi_and_hamon.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Katana_blade_with_hi_and_hamon.jpg/440px-Katana_blade_with_hi_and_hamon.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3648" data-file-height="2736" /></a><figcaption>A section of an antique Japanese katana showing two grooves <i>bo-hi</i> and the temper line <i>hamon</i></figcaption></figure> <p>Almost all blades are decorated, although not all blades are decorated on the visible part of the blade. Once the blade is cool and the mud is scraped off, the blade has designs and grooves cut into it. One of the most important markings on the sword is performed here: the file markings. These are cut into the <a href="/wiki/Tang_(tools)" title="Tang (tools)">tang</a> (<i>nakago</i>), or the hilt section of the blade, during shaping, where they will be covered by a <i>tsuka</i> or <a href="/wiki/Hilt" title="Hilt">hilt</a> later. The tang is never supposed to be cleaned: doing this can cut the value of the sword in half or more. The purpose is to show how well the blade steel ages. Different types of file markings are used, including horizontal, slanted, and checked, known as <i>ichi-monji</i>, <i>ko-sujikai</i>, <i>sujikai,</i> <i>ō-sujikai</i>, <i>katte-agari</i>, <i>shinogi-kiri-sujikai</i>, <i>taka-no-ha</i>, and <i>gyaku-taka-no-ha</i>. A grid of marks, from raking the file diagonally both ways across the tang, is called <i>higaki</i>, whereas specialized "full dress" file marks are called <i>kesho-yasuri</i>. Lastly, if the blade is very old, it may have been shaved instead of filed. This is called <span title="Japanese-language romanization"><i lang="ja-Latn">sensuki</i></span>. While ornamental, these file marks also serve the purpose of providing an uneven surface which bites well into the hilt which fits over it. It is this pressure fit for the most part that holds the hilt in place, while the <i>mekugi</i> pin serves as a secondary method and a safety. </p><p>Some other marks on the blade are aesthetic: signatures and dedications written in <i><a href="/wiki/Kanji" title="Kanji">kanji</a></i> and engravings depicting gods, dragons, or other acceptable beings, called <i>horimono</i>. Some are more practical. The so-called "blood groove" or <a href="/wiki/Fuller_(weapon)" class="mw-redirect" title="Fuller (weapon)">fuller</a> does not in actuality allow blood to flow more freely from cuts made with the sword<sup id="cite_ref-agrussell.com_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-agrussell.com-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but is to reduce the weight of the sword while keeping structural integrity and strength.<sup id="cite_ref-agrussell.com_44-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-agrussell.com-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Grooves come in wide (<i>bo-hi</i>), twin narrow (<i>futasuji-hi</i>), twin wide and narrow (<i>bo-hi ni tsure-hi</i>), short (<i>koshi-hi</i>), twin short (<i>gomabushi</i>), twin long with joined tips (<i>shobu-hi</i>), twin long with irregular breaks (<i>kuichigai-hi</i>), and halberd-style (<i>naginata-hi</i>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Polishing">Polishing</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Polishing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Seattle_-_Cherry_Blossom_Fest_-_sword_01.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Seattle_-_Cherry_Blossom_Fest_-_sword_01.jpg/220px-Seattle_-_Cherry_Blossom_Fest_-_sword_01.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Seattle_-_Cherry_Blossom_Fest_-_sword_01.jpg/330px-Seattle_-_Cherry_Blossom_Fest_-_sword_01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Seattle_-_Cherry_Blossom_Fest_-_sword_01.jpg/440px-Seattle_-_Cherry_Blossom_Fest_-_sword_01.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3264" data-file-height="2448" /></a><figcaption>Japanese sword blade, sharpening stone, and water bucket at the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival, Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_polishing" title="Japanese sword polishing">Japanese sword polishing</a></div> <p>When the rough blade is completed, the swordsmith turns the blade over to a polisher (<span title="Japanese-language romanization"><i lang="ja-Latn">togishi</i></span>) whose job is to refine the shape of a blade and improve its aesthetic value. The entire process takes considerable time, in some cases easily up to several weeks. Early polishers used three types of stone, whereas a modern polisher generally uses seven. The modern high level of polish was not normally done before around 1600, since greater emphasis was placed on function over form. The polishing process almost always takes longer than even crafting, and a good polish can greatly improve the beauty of a blade, while a bad one can ruin the best of blades. More importantly, inexperienced polishers can permanently ruin a blade by badly disrupting its geometry or wearing down too much steel, both of which effectively destroy the sword's monetary, historic, artistic, and functional value.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (October 2020)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Mountings">Mountings</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Mountings"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings" title="Japanese sword mountings">Japanese sword mountings</a></div> <p>In Japanese, the <a href="/wiki/Scabbard" title="Scabbard">scabbard</a> for a <i>katana</i> is referred to as a <i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Saya" title="Japanese sword mountings">saya</a></i>, and the handguard piece, often intricately designed as an individual work of art—especially in later years of the <a href="/wiki/Edo_period" title="Edo period">Edo period</a>—was called the <i>tsuba</i>. Other aspects of the mountings (<i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Koshirae" title="Japanese sword mountings">koshirae</a></i>), such as the <i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Components" title="Japanese sword mountings">menuki</a></i> (decorative grip swells), <i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Habaki" title="Japanese sword mountings">habaki</a></i> (blade collar and scabbard wedge), <i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Components" title="Japanese sword mountings">fuchi</a></i> and <i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Components" title="Japanese sword mountings">kashira</a></i> (handle collar and cap), <i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Components" title="Japanese sword mountings">kozuka</a></i> (small utility knife handle), <i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Components" title="Japanese sword mountings">kogai</a></i> (decorative skewer-like implement), <i>saya</i> lacquer, and <i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Components" title="Japanese sword mountings">tsuka-ito</a></i> (professional handle wrap, also named <i>emaki</i>), received similar levels of artistry. </p><p>After the blade is finished it is passed on to a mountings maker, or <i>sayashi</i> (literally "sheath maker" but referring to those who make fittings in general). Sword mountings vary in their exact nature depending on the era but consist of the same general idea, with the variation being in the components used and in the wrapping style. The obvious part of the hilt consists of a metal or wooden grip called a <i>tsuka</i>, which can also be used to refer to the entire hilt. The hand guard, or <i>tsuba</i>, on Japanese swords (except for certain 20th century sabers which emulate Western navies') is small and round, made of metal, and often very ornate. (See <i><a href="/wiki/Koshirae" class="mw-redirect" title="Koshirae">koshirae</a>.</i>) </p><p>There is a pommel at the base known as a <i>kashira</i>, and there is often a decoration under the braided wrappings called a <i>menuki</i>. A bamboo peg called a <i>mekugi</i> is slipped through the <i>tsuka</i> and through the tang of the blade, using the hole called a <i>mekugi-ana</i> ("peg hole") drilled in it. This anchors the blade securely into the hilt. To anchor the blade securely into the sheath it will soon have, the blade acquires a collar, or <i>habaki</i>, which extends an inch or so past the hand guard and keeps the blade from rattling. </p><p>There are two types of sheaths, both of which require exacting work to create. One is the <i><a href="/wiki/Shirasaya" class="mw-redirect" title="Shirasaya">shirasaya</a></i>, which is generally made of wood and considered the "resting" sheath, used as a storage sheath. The other sheath is the more decorative or battle-worthy sheath which is usually called either a <i>jindachi-zukuri</i>, if suspended from the <i>obi</i> (belt) by straps (<i>tachi</i>-style), or a <i>buke-zukuri</i> sheath if thrust through the <i>obi</i> (katana-style). Other types of mounting include the <i>kyū-guntō</i>, <i>shin-guntō</i>, and <i>kai-guntō</i> types for the twentieth-century military. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Modern_swordsmithing">Modern swordsmithing</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Modern swordsmithing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-Original_research plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Original_research" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/40px-Ambox_important.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/60px-Ambox_important.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/80px-Ambox_important.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="40" data-file-height="40" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This article <b>possibly contains <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research" title="Wikipedia:No original research">original research</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit">improve it</a> by <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verifying</a> the claims made and adding <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Inline_citations" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">inline citations</a>. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">September 2007</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Traditional swords are still made in Japan and occasionally elsewhere; they are termed "shinsakuto" or "shinken" (true sword), and can be very expensive. These are not considered reproductions as they are made by traditional techniques and from traditional materials. Swordsmiths in Japan are licensed; acquiring this license requires a long apprenticeship. Outside Japan there are a couple of smiths working by traditional or mostly traditional techniques, and occasional short courses taught in Japanese swordsmithing.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A very large number of low-quality reproduction <i>katana</i> and <i>wakizashi</i> are available; their prices usually range between $10 and about $200. These cheap blades are Japanese in shape only—they are usually machine made and machine sharpened and minimally hardened or heat-treated. The hamon pattern (if any) on the blade is applied by scuffing, etching, or otherwise marking the surface, without any difference in hardness or temper of the edge.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The metal used to make low-quality blades is mostly cheap stainless steel, and typically is much harder and more brittle than true katana. Finally, cheap reproduction Japanese swords usually have fancy designs on them since they are just for show. Better-quality reproduction katana typically range from $200 to about $1000 (though some can go easily above $2000 for quality production blades, folded and often traditionally constructed and with a proper polish<sup id="cite_ref-twiggyssamuraitreasures_47-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-twiggyssamuraitreasures-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>), and high-quality or custom-made reproductions can go up to $15,000–$50,000.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These blades are made to be used for cutting and are usually heat-treated. High-quality reproductions made from carbon steel will often have a differential hardness or temper similar to traditionally made swords, and will show a hamon; they will not show a hada (grain), since they are generally not made from folded steel.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (April 2021)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>A wide range of steels are used in reproductions, ranging from carbon steels such as 1020, 1040, 1060, 1070, 1095, and 5160, stainless steels such as 400, 420, 440, to high-end specialty steels such as L6 and S7.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Most cheap reproductions are made from inexpensive stainless steels such as 440A (often just termed "440").<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> With a normal <a href="/wiki/Rockwell_hardness" class="mw-redirect" title="Rockwell hardness">Rockwell hardness</a> of 56 and up to 60, stainless steel is much harder than the back of a differentially hardened katana (HR50), and is therefore much more prone to breaking, especially when used to make long blades. Stainless steel is also much softer at the edge (a traditional katana is usually more than HR60 at the edge). Furthermore, cheap swords designed as wall-hanging or sword rack decorations often also have a "rat-tail" tang, which is a thin, usually threaded bolt of metal welded onto the blade at the hilt area. These are a major weak point and often break at the weld, resulting in a dangerous and unreliable sword.<sup id="cite_ref-sword-buyers-guide_51-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sword-buyers-guide-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Some modern swordsmiths have made high quality reproduction swords using the traditional method, including one Japanese swordsmith who began manufacturing swords in Thailand using traditional methods, and various American and Chinese manufacturers. These however will always be different from Japanese swords made in Japan, as it is illegal to export the <i>tamahagane</i> jewel steel as such without it having been made into value-added products first. Nevertheless, some manufacturers have made differentially tempered swords folded in the traditional method available for relatively little money (often one to three thousand dollars), and differentially tempered, non-folded steel swords for several hundred.<sup id="cite_ref-schoolofswords_52-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-schoolofswords-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Some practicing martial artists prefer modern swords, whether of this type or made in Japan by Japanese craftsmen, because many of them cater to martial arts demonstrations by designing "extra light" swords which can be maneuvered relatively faster for longer periods of time, or swords specifically designed to perform well at cutting practice targets, with thinner blades and either razor-like flat-ground or hollow ground edges. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notable_swordsmiths">Notable swordsmiths</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Notable swordsmiths"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Amakuni" title="Amakuni">Amakuni</a> legendary swordsmith who supposedly created the first single-edged longsword with curvature along the edge in the Yamato Province around 700 AD</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Akitsugu_Amata" title="Akitsugu Amata">Akitsugu Amata</a> (1927–2013)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hikoshiro_Sadamune" title="Hikoshiro Sadamune">Hikoshiro Sadamune</a> (1298–1349)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kanenobu" title="Kanenobu">Kanenobu</a> (17th century)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kenz%C5%8D_Kotani" title="Kenzō Kotani">Kenzō Kotani</a> (1909–2003)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Masamune" title="Masamune">Masamune</a> (c. 1264 – 1343)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Muramasa" title="Muramasa">Muramasa</a> (16th century)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nagasone_Kotetsu" title="Nagasone Kotetsu">Nagasone Kotetsu</a> (c. 1597 – 1678)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Okubo_Kazuhira" title="Okubo Kazuhira">Okubo Kazuhira</a> (1943–2003)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shint%C5%8Dgo_Kunimitsu" title="Shintōgo Kunimitsu">Shintōgo Kunimitsu</a> (13th century)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Masamine_Sumitani" title="Masamine Sumitani">Masamine Sumitani</a> (1921–1998)</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Maraging_steel#Uses" title="Maraging steel">Maraging steel for fencing blades</a> – highly breakage resistant, very good for pointed weapons, not good for edged</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width reflist-columns-2"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=PtBci2GslUkC&dq=nihonto+refers+to&pg=PA150">[1]</a> <i>The Development of Controversies: From the Early Modern Period to Online Discussion Forums, Volume 91 of Linguistic Insights. Studies in Language and Communication</i>, Author Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani, Publisher Peter Lang, 2008, <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/3039117114" title="Special:BookSources/3039117114">3039117114</a>, 9783039117116 P.150]</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=f-RsCs5dJRwC&dq=traditionally+made+a+Japanese+sword+nihonto&pg=PA144">[2]</a> <i>The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology, Complete Idiot's Guides</i>, Authors Evans Lansing Smith, Nathan Robert Brown, Publisher Penguin, 2008, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1592577644" title="Special:BookSources/1592577644">1592577644</a>, 9781592577644 P.144</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/tatara/nnp01.htm">The Tale of the Tatara</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-jsme-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-jsme_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-jsme_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jsme.or.jp/tsd/ICBTT/conference02/TatsuoINOUE.html">"International Conference"</a>. jsme.or.jp<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-05-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=International+Conference&rft.pub=jsme.or.jp&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsme.or.jp%2Ftsd%2FICBTT%2Fconference02%2FTatsuoINOUE.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-tate2005-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-tate2005_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220315073416/https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tetsutohagane1955/91/1/91_1_2/_pdf/-char/ja">History of Iron and Steel Making Technology in Japan ーMainly on the smelting of iron sand by Tataraー.</a> Mitsuru Tate (2005). Tetsu-to-Hagane Vol. 91. The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-yasuhis-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-yasuhis_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200929130900/https://tetsunomichi.gr.jp/history-and-tradition/tatara-history/part-1/">たたらの歴史たたら製鉄の進歩 (Progress of Tatara Iron Making).</a> <a href="/wiki/Yasugi,_Shimane" title="Yasugi, Shimane">Yasugi City</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-yasuout-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-yasuout_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211218202858/https://tetsunomichi.gr.jp/history-and-tradition/tatara-outline/part-1/">たたら」の発祥と発展 (Changes in Japanese Tatara Iron Making Technology).</a> Yasugi City</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-nagoyata-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-nagoyata_8-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211106174529/https://www.touken-world.jp/tips/10863/">たたら製鉄の歴史と仕組み.</a> Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Nagoya Touken World</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jsme.or.jp/tsd/ICBTT/conference02/TatsuoINOUE.html">Tatsuo Inoue; Science of tatara and Japanese sword ICBTT2002</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Irvine, Gregory. The Japanese Sword: The Soul of the Samurai. London: V&A Publications, 2000.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-samuraisword-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-samuraisword_11-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.samuraisword.com/glossary/index.htm#n">"Japanese Sword Terminology & Related Glossary ~ www.samuraisword.com"</a>. samuraisword.com<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-05-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Japanese+Sword+Terminology+%26+Related+Glossary+~+www.samuraisword.com&rft.pub=samuraisword.com&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samuraisword.com%2Fglossary%2Findex.htm%23n&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ReferenceA-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_12-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">"A History of Metallography", by Cyril Smith</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-hitachi-metals.co.jp-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-hitachi-metals.co.jp_13-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-hitachi-metals.co.jp_13-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/tatara/nnp0109.htm">"Hitachi Metals>Tale of tatara>Japanese Swords"</a>. hitachi-metals.co.jp<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-05-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Hitachi+Metals%26gt%3BTale+of+tatara%26gt%3BJapanese+Swords&rft.pub=hitachi-metals.co.jp&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hitachi-metals.co.jp%2Fe%2Ftatara%2Fnnp0109.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-samuraisword2-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-samuraisword2_14-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.samuraisword.com/glossary/index.htm">"Japanese Sword Terminology & Related Glossary ~ www.samuraisword.com"</a>. samuraisword.com<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-05-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Japanese+Sword+Terminology+%26+Related+Glossary+~+www.samuraisword.com&rft.pub=samuraisword.com&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samuraisword.com%2Fglossary%2Findex.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ReferenceB-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceB_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceB_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/tatara/nnp01.htm">"Hitachi Metals>Tale of tatara>About Tatara"</a>. hitachi-metals.co.jp<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-05-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Hitachi+Metals%26gt%3BTale+of+tatara%26gt%3BAbout+Tatara&rft.pub=hitachi-metals.co.jp&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hitachi-metals.co.jp%2Fe%2Ftatara%2Fnnp01.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-pbs.org-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-pbs.org_16-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-pbs.org_16-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-pbs.org_16-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/samurai/">"NOVA | Secrets of the Samurai Sword"</a>. pbs.org<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-05-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Japanse+Swordmaking+Process+~+www.samuraisword.com&rft.pub=samuraisword.com&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samuraisword.com%2FREFERENCE%2Fmaking%2Fjapanse_swordmaking_process.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Metallography'_Page_53-54-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Metallography'_Page_53-54_18-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>A History of Metallography</i> by Cyril Smith - The MIT Press 1960 Page 53-54</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Iron and Steel in Ancient Times</i> By Vagn Fabritius Buchwald -- Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab 2005 Page 65</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-books.google.com-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-books.google.com_20-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-books.google.com_20-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=STZeXB1y2fMC&dq=japanese+sword+differential+tempering.&pg=PA23">[3]</a> <i>Globalizing the Prehistory of Japan: Language, Genes and Civilization</i>, Volume 6 of Routledge Studies in the Early History of Asia, Author Ann Kumar, Publisher Taylor & Francis US, 2009, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0710313136" title="Special:BookSources/0710313136">0710313136</a>, 9780710313133 P.23</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-en20p30-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-en20p30_21-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Kazuhiko Inada (2020), <i>Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords</i>. pp30-31. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4651200408" title="Special:BookSources/978-4651200408">978-4651200408</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Warabite-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Warabite_22-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Warabite_22-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFShimomukai,_Tatsuhiko2000" class="citation book cs1">Shimomukai, Tatsuhiko (30 June 2000). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ir.lib.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/00029913"><i>The Review of the Study of History : Shigaku Kenkyu</i></a>. 広島史学研究会.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Review+of+the+Study+of+History+%3A+Shigaku+Kenkyu&rft.pub=%E5%BA%83%E5%B3%B6%E5%8F%B2%E5%AD%A6%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E4%BC%9A&rft.date=2000-06-30&rft.au=Shimomukai%2C+Tatsuhiko&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fir.lib.hiroshima-u.ac.jp%2Fen%2F00029913&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohn_T._Kuehn2014" class="citation book cs1">John T. 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Praeger. p. 34. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-59228-720-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-59228-720-8"><bdi>978-1-59228-720-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Military+History+of+Japan%3A+From+the+Age+of+the+Samurai+to+the+21st+Century&rft.pages=34&rft.pub=Praeger&rft.date=2014-01-15&rft.isbn=978-1-59228-720-8&rft.au=John+T.+Kuehn&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DOMmUAwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA34&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-en20p32-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-en20p32_24-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-en20p32_24-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Kazuhiko Inada (2020), <i>Encyclopedia of the Japanese Swords</i>. pp32-33. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4651200408" title="Special:BookSources/978-4651200408">978-4651200408</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-rekishi2050-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-rekishi2050_25-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>歴史人</i> September 2020. p.50. <a href="/wiki/Amazon_Standard_Identification_Number" title="Amazon Standard Identification Number">ASIN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DGRWN98">B08DGRWN98</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-rekishi2036-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-rekishi2036_26-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>歴史人</i> September 2020. pp.36–37. <a href="/wiki/Amazon_Standard_Identification_Number" title="Amazon Standard Identification Number">ASIN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DGRWN98">B08DGRWN98</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-rekishi2047-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-rekishi2047_27-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>歴史人</i> September 2020. pp.47. <a href="/wiki/Amazon_Standard_Identification_Number" title="Amazon Standard Identification Number">ASIN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DGRWN98">B08DGRWN98</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=inND87EFFF4C&dq=differential+quenching+sword&pg=PA124">[4]</a>, <i>By the Sword: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions</i>, Author Richard Cohen, Publisher Random House Digital, Inc., 2003ISBN 0812969669, 9780812969665 P.124</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=U6UdWcIx95YC&dq=differential+hardening+sword&pg=PT11">[5]</a> <i>Tàijí Jiàn 32-Posture Sword Form</i>, Author James Drewe, Publisher Singing Dragon, 2009, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1848190115" title="Special:BookSources/1848190115">1848190115</a>, 9781848190115 P.10</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=CGZPvLkmP3IC&q=kobuse">[6]</a> <i>The Craft of the Japanese Sword</i>Authors Leon 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-08-03</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Medieval+Swords+World&rft.atitle=Sword+Steels+%E2%80%93+Complete+Guide&rft.date=2019-07-20&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fmedievalswordsworld.com%2Fsword-steels-complete-guide%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://swordforum.com/metallurgy/stainlesssuitable.html">Is Stainless Steel Suitable for Swords?</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070806143312/http://swordforum.com/metallurgy/stainlesssuitable.html">Archived</a> 2007-08-06 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, Sword Forum online magazine, March 1999</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sword-buyers-guide-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-sword-buyers-guide_51-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/authentic-japanese-swords.html">"A Beginners Guide to Authentic Japanese Swords"</a>. sword-buyers-guide.com<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://schoolofswords.com/japanese-sword-education/what-makes-a-japanese-katana-real/">the original</a> on 2012-12-11<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-05-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=School+of+Swords+%26%23124%3B+Learn+about+real+swords+%26%23124%3B+Real+Japanese+Swords+%26%23124%3B+Real+European+Swords&rft.pub=schoolofswords.com&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fschoolofswords.com%2Fjapanese-sword-education%2Fwhat-makes-a-japanese-katana-real%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AJapanese+swordsmithing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Japanese_swordsmithing&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070705021034/http://www.ausblade.com/articles/34/">Construction of the Shinken in the Modern Age</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120305034308/http://www.sharpblades.net/japanese-sword-polishing-part-1">Japanese Sword Polishing Techniques</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211109022911/http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/tatara/nnp01.htm">The Tale of the Tatara by Hitachi Metals</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130105033550/http://www.thejapanesesword.com/tatara/">Japanese Sword History</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist 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.navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Japanese_(samurai)_weapons,_armour_and_equipment" title="Template:Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:inherit">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Japanese_(samurai)_weapons,_armour_and_equipment" title="Template talk:Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:inherit">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Japanese_(samurai)_weapons,_armour_and_equipment" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:inherit">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Japanese_weapons,_armour_and_equipment" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Japanese weapons, armour and equipment</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword" title="Japanese sword">Swords</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Chokut%C5%8D" title="Chokutō">Chokutō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/D%C5%8Dtanuki" title="Dōtanuki">Dōtanuki</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Gunt%C5%8D" title="Guntō">Guntō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Katana" title="Katana">Katana</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kodachi" title="Kodachi">Kodachi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Nagamaki" title="Nagamaki">Nagamaki</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ninjat%C5%8D" title="Ninjatō">Ninjatō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/%C5%8Cdachi" title="Ōdachi">Ōdachi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Shikomizue" class="mw-redirect" title="Shikomizue">Shikomizue</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tachi" title="Tachi">Tachi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tant%C5%8D" title="Tantō">Tantō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tsurugi_(sword)" title="Tsurugi (sword)">Tsurugi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Wakizashi" title="Wakizashi">Wakizashi</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Construction</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_Japanese_swords" title="Glossary of Japanese swords">Glossary</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Horimono" title="Horimono">Horimono</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings" title="Japanese sword mountings">Sword mountings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Japanese_sword_polishing" title="Japanese sword polishing">Sword polishing</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Swordsmithing</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tameshigiri" title="Tameshigiri">Tameshigiri</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Knives and daggers</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Kabutowari" title="Kabutowari">Kabutowari</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kaiken_(dagger)" title="Kaiken (dagger)">Kaiken</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kunai" title="Kunai">Kunai</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Yoroi-d%C5%8Dshi" title="Yoroi-dōshi">Yoroi-dōshi</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Polearms and spears</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Bisento" class="mw-redirect" title="Bisento">Bisento</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Hoko_yari" title="Hoko yari">Hoko yari</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kama-yari" title="Kama-yari">Kama-yari</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Naginata" title="Naginata">Naginata</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Sasumata" title="Sasumata">Sasumata</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Sodegarami" title="Sodegarami">Sodegarami</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Torimono_sand%C5%8Dgu" title="Torimono sandōgu">Torimono sandōgu</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tsukub%C5%8D" title="Tsukubō">Tsukubō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Yari" title="Yari">Yari</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Practice weapons</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Bokken" title="Bokken">Bokken</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Iait%C5%8D" title="Iaitō">Iaitō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Shinai" title="Shinai">Shinai</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Shinken" title="Shinken">Shinken</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Suburit%C5%8D" title="Suburitō">Suburitō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tanren_b%C5%8D" title="Tanren bō">Tanren bō</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><a href="/wiki/Japanese_armour" title="Japanese armour">Armour</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Auxiliary_armours_of_Japan" class="mw-redirect" title="Auxiliary armours of Japan">Auxiliary armours</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/B%C5%8Dgu" title="Bōgu">Bōgu</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/D%C5%8D_(armour)" title="Dō (armour)">Dō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/D%C5%8D-maru" title="Dō-maru">Dō-maru</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Haramaki_(armour)" title="Haramaki (armour)">Haramaki</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kabuto" title="Kabuto">Kabuto</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Karuta_(armour)" title="Karuta (armour)">Karuta</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kikko_(Japanese_armour)" title="Kikko (Japanese armour)">Kikko</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kusari_(Japanese_mail_armour)" title="Kusari (Japanese mail armour)">Kusari</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Men-yoroi" title="Men-yoroi">Men-yoroi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/%C5%8C-yoroi" title="Ō-yoroi">Ō-yoroi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Sangu_(armour)" title="Sangu (armour)">Sangu</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tatami_(Japanese_armour)" title="Tatami (Japanese armour)">Tatami</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Types</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brigandine" title="Brigandine">Brigandine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lame_(armor)" title="Lame (armor)">Lame</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lamellar_armour" title="Lamellar armour">Lamellar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Laminar_armour" title="Laminar armour">Laminar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mail_(armour)" class="mw-redirect" title="Mail (armour)">Mail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plate_armour" title="Plate armour">Plate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mail_and_plate_armour" title="Mail and plate armour">Mail and plate armour</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scale_armour" title="Scale armour">Scale</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><a href="/wiki/Japanese_clothing" title="Japanese clothing">Clothing</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Fundoshi" title="Fundoshi">Fundoshi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Hachimaki" title="Hachimaki">Hachimaki</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Hakama" title="Hakama">Hakama</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kyahan" title="Kyahan">Kyahan</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Shitagi" title="Shitagi">Shitagi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tabi" title="Tabi">Tabi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Uwa-obi" title="Uwa-obi">Uwa-obi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Waraji" title="Waraji">Waraji</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Samurai accoutrements</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Abumi_(stirrup)" title="Abumi (stirrup)">Abumi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Daish%C5%8D" title="Daishō">Daishō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Horo_(cloak)" title="Horo (cloak)">Horo</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kaginawa" title="Kaginawa">Kaginawa</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kate-bukuro" title="Kate-bukuro">Kate-bukuro</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kubi_bukuro" title="Kubi bukuro">Kubi bukuro</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kura_(saddle)" title="Kura (saddle)">Kura</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Uchi-bukuro" title="Uchi-bukuro">Uchi-bukuro</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Yebira" title="Yebira">Yebira</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Chain and rope weapons</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Chigiriki" title="Chigiriki">Chigiriki</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kubotan" title="Kubotan">Kubotan</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kusarigama" title="Kusarigama">Kusarigama</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kusari-fundo" title="Kusari-fundo">Kusari-fundo</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kyoketsu-shoge" title="Kyoketsu-shoge">Kyoketsu-shoge</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Rope_dart" title="Rope dart">Jōhyō</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Clubs and truncheons</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Kabutowari" title="Kabutowari">Hachiwari</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Jitte" title="Jitte">Jitte</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kanab%C5%8D" title="Kanabō">Kanabō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tekkan" title="Tekkan">Tekkan</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_war_fan" title="Japanese war fan">Tessen</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Staff weapons</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/B%C5%8D" title="Bō">Bō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Hanb%C5%8D" title="Hanbō">Hanbō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/J%C5%8D" title="Jō">Jō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tanb%C5%8D" title="Tanbō">Tanbō</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Yubi-bo" class="mw-redirect" title="Yubi-bo">Yubi-bo</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Projectile and throwing weapons</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Artillery_of_Japan" title="Artillery of Japan">Artillery</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Fukiya" title="Fukiya">Fukiya</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Makibishi" title="Makibishi">Makibishi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Oyumi" class="mw-redirect" title="Oyumi">Oyumi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Shuriken" title="Shuriken">Shuriken</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ya_(arrow)" title="Ya (arrow)">Ya</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Yumi" title="Yumi">Yumi</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><a href="/wiki/Firearms_of_Japan" title="Firearms of Japan">Firearms</a> and guns</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Baj%C5%8D-zutsu" title="Bajō-zutsu">Bajō-zutsu</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Bo-hiya" title="Bo-hiya">Bo-hiya</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/%C5%8Cdzutsu" title="Ōdzutsu">Ōdzutsu</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Tanegashima_(gun)" title="Tanegashima (gun)">Tanegashima</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Improvised and other weapons</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Kama_(weapon)" class="mw-redirect" title="Kama (weapon)">Kama</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kiseru" title="Kiseru">Kiseru</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Metsubushi" title="Metsubushi">Metsubushi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ono_(axe)" title="Ono (axe)">Ono</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/%C5%8Ctsuchi" title="Ōtsuchi">Ōtsuchi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Shobo" title="Shobo">Shobo</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Suntetsu" title="Suntetsu">Suntetsu</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Signal devices</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Japanese_war_fan" title="Japanese war fan">Gunbai</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Hata-jirushi" title="Hata-jirushi">Hata-jirushi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Horagai" title="Horagai">Horagai</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kabura-ya_(Japanese_signal_arrow)" class="mw-redirect" title="Kabura-ya (Japanese signal arrow)">Kabura-ya</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Nobori" title="Nobori">Nobori</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Saihai" title="Saihai">Saihai</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Sashimono" title="Sashimono">Sashimono</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Uma-jirushi" title="Uma-jirushi">Uma-jirushi</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">Users</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Ashigaru" title="Ashigaru">Ashigaru</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Edo_period_police" title="Edo period police">Edo period police</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Kunoichi" title="Kunoichi">Kunoichi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Ninja" title="Ninja">Ninja</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Onna-musha" title="Onna-musha">Onna-musha</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/R%C5%8Dnin" title="Rōnin">Rōnin</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Samurai" title="Samurai">Samurai</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Shinsengumi" title="Shinsengumi">Shinsengumi</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/S%C5%8Dhei" title="Sōhei">Sōhei</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Yabusame" title="Yabusame">Yabusame</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Yamabushi" title="Yamabushi">Yamabushi</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Japanese_armour" title="Category:Japanese armour">Japanese armour</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Weapons_of_Japan" title="Category:Weapons of Japan">Weapons of Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Japanese_swords" title="Category:Japanese swords">Japanese swords</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Treasures_of_Japan_(crafts:_swords)" title="List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts: swords)">National Treasure swords</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Military_equipment_of_Japan" title="Category:Military equipment of Japan">Military equipment of Japan</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: 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