Q: What is the point of the yokote?
A: Keith Larman explains the function of correct shinogi zukuri geometry
Q: How is a sword made?
A: A katana begins with tamahagane. A crude form of steel. The smith takes his pieces of tamahagane and forges them into a billet. He then folds the metal up to
thirteen times in order to evenly distrubute the carbon and remove the impurities. After the billet is comlete, the core steel is made and the edge steel is wrapp
ed around the core steel and the two are welded together. The next step is to take the finished billet and draw it out and then hammer the steel into the correct s
hape. After some rough filing and shaping, the blank is ready for the application of clay. Once the clay is applied, the blank is heated to 600 degrees celcius and
quenched in water to create a hard edge and soft spine. The process is called yaki-ire. Once yaki-ire is finished, the clay is removed by a grinding wheel and the bl
ade is given its final shaping using hammer and stones. It is then sent off to the polisher.
Q: How is it polished?
A: The polisher uses many stones to bring out the hamon and jihada in the metal. Each stone is progressively finer. Eventually the polisher will use fingerstones to bring out the
hamon and jihada and finish the boshi. One katana can take up to two weeks to polish.
Q: What sword should I buy?
A: If you have the money, purchase a custom sword. If not, buy a Bugei katana. In the sword world, you get what you pay for. A $400 sword is not nearly as nice
or as well made as a $1,000 sword, which pales in comparison to a $10,000 sword.
Q: My saya rattles, whats up with that?
A: Saya rattling is something you have to deal with in the world of production swords. It is either rattling or too small. Factories generally do not spend the time to
get the saya just right. It is better to have some rattle than none at all, which is indicative of a too tight fit. Too tight can damage the sword.
Q: How do I sharpen my sword?
A: If your sword is worth less than $500 and you don't really care about it, a diamond sharpener works quite fine. Otherwise, a professional is the way to go.
Q: How do you care for your sword?
A: All you need to do for upkeep is plce a drop of choji oil or light mineral oil on both sides of the blade and wipe the blade using a cloth.
Q: Can I cut through stone with my sword?
A: No.
Q: What about another sword? Like in Kill Bill?
A: No. Swords are not made to cut through hard objects like stone or steel.
Q: What about a person? I heard the Japanese would test their swords on convicts.
A: Theoretically, the answer is yes.
Q: What if I don't like the koshirae? Can I change the fittings on my sword?
A: Yes, but keep in mind that it can be very costly. On a side note, the tsuka of the PK is epoxied to the tang.
Q: What should my Point of Balance be?
A: The historical point of balance is 5"-7". Aspects of POB
Q: What about ninja swords?
A: They are a Hollywood fiction. There is no evidence that ninja used swords different from other warriors.
Q: What about the straight swords I've seen. Didn't they exist?
A: Yes, they did exist and they are called chokuto. However, they do not have the "chisel-tip" made famous by the American knife industry. They are an early form of
katana and were "discarded" in favor of curved swords.
Q: Whats the deal with stainless steel?
A: Stainless steel is a poor choice for swords.
Q: What about cryo tempering?
A: SFU article on cryo tempering
Q: Where can I buy a good cheap sword?
A: A good cheap sword does not exist. In the world of swords, you get what you pay for. Unless someone is selling a nihonto for $10 and its actually worth $10,000. But
thats very rare.
Q: Does the hamon make a difference? Or is it purely aesthetic?
A: Differences are basically aesthetic.
Q: How do I remove the tsuka?
A: Gently remove the pins by use of a small hammer. Then gently remove the tsuka from the nakago.
Q: What about a DIY polish?
A: Hybrid Polish
Q: What's a Tameshigiri Polish?
A: A modern term denoting an incomplete polish.
Thread about Tameshigiri Polish
Q: I keep getting the feeling that Last Legend Swords are underpriced. Am I correct in this assumption?
A: I would actually say that LL is overpriced. I present my argument in this thread. Argument that LL is overpriced
