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1. KATANA

  • KATANA: The long-sword of the samurai which was carried with the cutting edge up.

2. Blade parts:

  • Sugata (Blade style): General characteristics of a blade including its shape.
  • Chu: Adjective with the meaning ' ' middle/middle '', as for example in Chu Kissaki (medium sized point). (See picture below).

Chu-Kissaki

  • Bohi: Fuller / Groove in the blade to reduce the weight or for purposes of better balance of the blade.
  • Chu-Kissaki: the tip of the blade.
  • Ha: the hardened range of the blade. (Measured in Rockwell).
  • Hada: Grain in steel, pattern of folding the steel in the blade.

  • Hamon: Temper line:

  • Hi: Fuller or groove on both sides of the blade.
  • Iori-mune: Spine of the blade in shape of a triangle.
  • Mei: inscription, nomally on the tongue, showing the name of the blacksmith, date of production and other information.
  • Mune: Blade Spine
  • Nagasa: Length of the blade, measured from the mune-machi to the blade top, also named ha-watari.
  • Nakago: The tongue of the blade.
  • Sori: Curvature of the blade - sometimes called Zori.
  • Tameshigiri: is the Japanese sword art of cutting rolled bamboo mats with a single strike.
  • without Niku: Our blades are very sharp edged with a "flatsided" edge geometry (not clamshell shaped) as describe in the following pictures:


3. KOSHIRAE

  • Koshirae: The complete mounting of the fittings of a sword without blade.
  • Fuchi-Kashira; Grip ring made of soft metal, usually engraved, between grip and crosspiece, mostly in same design as Kashira (grip endpiece - knob).
  • Habaki: Blade ferrule, Habaki makes sure the blade sits tight in the scabbard.
  • Mekugi: Peg in Bamboo wood.
  • Mekugi-ana: through which the meguki is inserted.
  • Menuki: Small metal parts for decoration, under the grip-wrapping, also for better handling.
  • Sageo: A lace on the scabbard to hold the sword in the belt (obi).
  • Samé: Stingrayskin, wrapped around the swordhandle, the small perls make the grip hold better in the hands. Skin is also used for to cover the scabbards.
  • Saya: Scabbard
  • Tsuba: Guard
  • Tsuka: Complete grip.
  • Tsuka-ito: Handle wrap.
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