Contents
What is Mekugi?
Mekugi are pegs, often nowadays a set of two, that are used to help secure the handle of a Japanese sword to the blade.
What are the dimensions of a katana?
Katana
| Katana (刀) | |
|---|---|
| Blade length | Approx. 60–80 cm (23.62–31.5 in) |
| Blade type | Curved, single-edged |
| Hilt type | Two-handed swept, with circular or squared guard |
| Scabbard/sheath | Lacquered wood, some are covered with fish skin, decorated with brass and copper. |
Why is a katana curved?
Because the katana’s blade was typically made thinner around the cutting edge, it heated and cooled at a different rate than the rest of the blade. The nuances in this heating and cooling rate essentially caused different shrinkage rates. And this is how the katana receives its curved blade.
How traditional Japanese swords are made?
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.
What do you call a katana without guard?
Koshirae (拵え) refers to the ornate mountings of a Japanese sword (e.g. katana) used when the sword blade is being worn by its owner, whereas the shirasaya is a plain undecorated wooden mounting composed of a saya and tsuka that the sword blade is stored in when not being used.
What does katana mean in English?
single-edged sword
: a single-edged sword that is the longer of a pair worn by the Japanese samurai.
What are the 3 samurai swords called?
Kissaki was the Samurai sword point that determined the sword quality. Japanese swords changed over time, but the three main Samurai sword types were: Katana, Wakizashi and Tanto. The most powerful Samurai, Shogun, used the Katana and Wakizashi swords.
What is the best length for a katana?
A typical katana would have measured somewhere between 60-70 cm, excluding the handle, and about 100 cm total. Keep in mind that the average height of a medieval-era Japanese male was much smaller (around 155 cm).
Which is better longsword or katana?
The longsword is a longer, heavier sword with more stopping power, while the katana is a shorter, lighter sword with a stronger cutting edge. Hopefully, this gives you a better understanding of the nuances between the longsword and the katana.
Can katanas be straight?
When used in film and stage, ninjatō are depicted as being shorter than a katana with a straight blade but they are utilized in a “nearly identical” manner as the katana.
What holds a samurai sword?
Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings (tosogu) that hold the blade of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored.
Where do you find the mekugi on a katana?
Tapered shape pegs must only be removed in one direction. In traditional wrap style, the Katana Mekugi is hidden under the tsuka ito and the Menuki. The pegs are held in place with the use of a blade stopper.
What does the mekugi stand for in Japanese swords?
Mekugi (目釘): The mekugi is a small peg for securing the tsuka to the nakago. Menuki (目貫): The menuki are ornaments on the tsuka (generally under the tsuka-ito); to fit into the palm for grip and originally meant to hide the mekugi. Mekugi-ana (目釘穴): The mekugi-ana are the holes in the tsuka and nakago for the mekugi.
How are the pegs held in place on a katana?
The pegs are held in place with the use of a blade stopper. A special tool like this that can help remove the pegs when cleaning the sword is referred to as Mekugi-Nuki. Craftsman used a removal tool that is made of brass and resembles a hammer that has a punch. The hammer can unscrew these pegs.
What’s the best way to make a mekugi?
Place the side of the rod against the file at a slight angle and start to rotate the drill. Your goal is to create a conical shape. If you are using a drill press, hold the file up against the side of the rod/bamboo making sure to support the opposite side with something like a piece of leather or wood block.