The ancient Japanese Samurai sword has gained worldwide prominence due to its efficiency and stylishness. Ancient folklore has it that these swords were mainly used as weapons by designated Samurai warriors in times past. In recent times, the Sword has become more accessible, and it’s easy to see replicas on movie scenes.
Samurai swords have distinctive features that make them more versatile than other sword types. Some of these features include the long curly blades as well as its stylish handle. Even though customizations can be made on the swords, most of its features are usually constant. Acquiring one of these swords is a thing of pride, and you must know what components make up your Sword. This article highlights some of the components of a typical Japanese Samurai sword.
The Sword’s blade
The blade of a sword makes up for a huge chunk of its length, and it’s the part that determines the effectiveness of the Sword. The sword blade is typically made from wrought steel that undergoes a series of purification processes to refine the steel. Sword blades are identifiable by some of the following features
Edge: Swords could either have a single edge or double edge. Double-edged swords are usually sharpened on both sides of the blade, and it’s more than capable of damaging both sides. A wide range of Japanese swords is available as double-edged swords, while swords like the Katana have a single edge.
Tip: The blade of some Japanese swords have a curved tip, while others have a straight tip. It’s been postulated that the curved edges of the tip often prove advantageous in combats, but this is quite unproven.
Tang: The tang of a sword refers to the part covered by the hilt of the Sword. Usually of two variations, full tang and partial tang, the full tang has an equal width as the remaining part of the blade and even extends way beyond the hilt via the Sword’s pommel. However, the partial tang does not usually measure beyond half the length of the blade.
The Sword’s Handle
It’ll be unsafe to hold a sword via its blades; this is why it has a handle. The handle has many parts, and some of those parts are highlighted below;
Hilt: This part of the Sword makes it possible to comfortable handle the Sword. The Sword’s hilt is usually fastened to the blade’s tang; it’s made of leather or wood.
Guard: The component of the Sword that provides the needed safety to the bearer of the Sword. The Sword’s guard is the part that prevents the blade from sliding down and causing damage to the bearer. The guard is also the part responsible for preventing the bearer’s hand from sliding down the handle to the blade of the Sword.
Pommel: The pommel is that part of the Sword that holds the hilt in place as a result of its bigger size. Pommels have a huge role in keeping the Sword from falling every time the bearer handles it.
Final Thought
It’s not just enough to buy your quality Samurai sword from www.samuraiswordsmith.com; it’s also essential to know the components that make up a typical sword.
