What is the name of the sword? Samurai swords
The European sword consists of two main parts:
The structure of a European one-handed sword
1) Handles, which in turn consists of pommel (apple), handle, guard (cross), tang
2) blade blade, which in turn consists from fuller, blade and point.
Blade
Blade- has many interpretations united by a common message. A blade is: 1) the cutting part of a bladed weapon or knife (literary dictionary, Ushakov); 2) the cutting and piercing part of edged weapons (literary dictionary, Ozhegov); 3) strip, generally the steel part of a cold, sharp weapon (except for a bayonet) and a knife (literary dictionary, Dahl).
And yet, what concept should be the key? It would be right to contact legal concept words blade- an extended metal warhead of a bladed weapon with an edge, with an edge and one or two blades, or with two blades, which is part of a strip, this definition is enshrined in GOST R 51215 98. This is the generally accepted understanding of the word - blade.
However, we will also derive a specific concept of blade associated with the reality of the Zbroevy Falvarak workshop, blade from the ZF workshop, this is an extended metal warhead of a product, with a point, with a point and one or two blades, or with two blades, which is part of a strip, externally and structurally similar to edged weapons.
The main feature: the master craftsmen of the Polar Division do not make edged weapons, but make mass-sized copies).
1) Let's take a closer look at the individual parts of the hilt:
Finial (apple):
pommel- this element of the sword’s structure is intended for its balancing, only a balanced sword is suitable for skillful fencing with it; in different schools of weapons making, the balance may be different. However, it is considered a generally accepted way to measure the balance of a sword - this is measured using the fingers of the hand, as a rule, a good balance for a European blade should be four fingers from the sword guard.
How to establish balance using your fingers?
We take the blade of the sword and look at its balance, for this we place the blade on one finger of the hand, removing or bringing the finger closer to the guard, we find the point when neither side outweighs the other. This is where the balance will be.
In addition, the pommel serves to rest the hand, this is especially important because during a fight the sword begins to slide until the hand rests on the pommel.
Sword hilt:
Sword hilt – designed to hold the sword with the hand. The handle of the sword should fit comfortably in your hand, because an inconvenient handle will affect your fencing capabilities. Therefore, when buying a sword, you need to pay attention to how well the hilt fits your hand. At the moment, it is possible to confidently identify and classify swords by the number of grips on the handle with the hand. So at the moment swords are divided into:
— One-handed swords
— One-and-a-half-handed swords
— Two-handed swords
Usually under one-handed swords refers to light European blades designed for quick fencing with one hand; such swords are usually light and have a blade from 50 to 80 cm and are a classic weapon for both participants in the role-playing movement and participants in the medieval reconstruction movement.
Under swords with one-and-a-half grip(bastards), refers to swords that can be held with either one hand or two. Depending on the situation, a fencer can fence with one hand and hold the shield with the other, but if necessary, he can take such a sword in two hands and fence with it, holding it with both hands, thereby reducing the fatigue of one hand. By medieval standards, a one-and-a-half-handed sword was chest-high to the owner. This length allows you to hold an enemy who has a one-handed sword at a greater distance and thus be able to strike from a greater distance. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for a bastard sword to become a weapon for a beginner who is just starting out on the path to understanding the basics of fencing. This type of sword is widespread both among role-players and medieval reenactors.
Two-handed swords , as usual, these are large, heavy knightly swords of the espadon type; fencing with such a sword requires significant physical strength and skill. This sword is designed to be held and fencing with two hands; thanks to its blade length of more than 110 cm, it is a long-range weapon. By medieval standards, the two-handed sword was up to the owner's chin. In general, two-handed swords are very dangerous in fencing, as they often cause significant injuries. At the moment, swords of this type are quite rare in the role-playing and reenactment movement. In the role-playing movement, this sword has gained relevance due to the fact that such swords, thanks to the rules of combat interaction in a role-playing game, cause more damage to the enemy than a one-handed or one-and-a-half-handed sword. But their production requires a significant amount and high quality of material, coupled with high skills of the craftsman - therefore, two-handed swords are much less common than one-and-a-half-handed or two-handed swords. In addition, such swords often become artifacts or some other symbol of magic in role-playing games. In the movement of medieval reenactors, the double-dealer is not very common due to the fact that to work with both hands during fights or buhurts, a fencer needs a very high-quality protective armor complex.
The indicated classification and sizes of swords are relative and taken from our experience and the experience of other masters. So, for example, in Japan, a sword 50 cm long, like a wakizashi, or a sword 70 cm long, like a katana, have a two-handed grip. With the same success, the European bastard can be with a two-handed grip.
Like the pommel, the handle is included in the system blade balancing. This statement especially applies to swords made according to the “welded glass” system, and then according to the system of “steel pipe”, “welded steel plates”. For historical swords this is less relevant, because the hilt of such swords is made of wood, although, for example, the ninja sword, shinobi-ken, has an all-metal hilt.
Guards (crosspieces, also called “armchair”)
Sword guard– this element of the sword hilt is designed to protect the hand during fencing, from blows from the enemy’s sword blade. Different countries and peoples have created guards of different shapes. In addition, the guard performs the function of balancing the sword.
Shank
on the guard may or may not be present. It is believed that the presence of a tang on the sword allows the blade to better absorb impact energy and thereby protect the blade from vibration and loosening in the hilt.
2) Let's take a closer look at the individual parts of the blade:
Sword Blade
Sword Blade- the sharp edge of a cutting, chopping weapon (explanatory dictionary, Ozhegov); the sharp side (working part) of the blade (Historical Dictionary). So, the blade is the fighting, cutting part of the blade.
- groove, longitudinal recess on the blade. The first and most obvious function of the fullers is to lighten the blade: with the same dimensions, the blade with the fullers has noticeably less weight. If the fullers are formed by a cutting tool in a homogeneous material, then with a slight decrease in mechanical strength (compared to the workpiece), weight is noticeably lost (especially with wide fullers on a long blade). When bending and torsioning, the middle part of the blade is slightly loaded, so it can be removed almost painlessly. In cross-section, the blade with symmetrical wide valleys is similar to an I-beam, which is known in architecture for its significant rigidity with low mass. According to some sources, the I-beam profile in architecture was borrowed specifically from bladed weapons. If the fuller is made by forging, then in this place (usually closer to the butt) the blade material is strengthened, which allows the blade to be formed by forging without fear of significant deformation (curvature) in the plane of the blade, or strong “lifting” of the blade tip above the butt line. During heat treatment, the thin blade and thick blade spine heat up and cool unevenly. The fullers even out temperature conditions, reducing the mass of the thick part of the blade. The blade-hilt balance changes in valleys. On some types of knives, wide blades prevent sticking (freezing in winter conditions) of the product being cut onto the blade, reducing the area of contact between the blade's base and the cutting plane. The most significant function on short-bladed weapons and instruments is the aesthetic function. The dol gives the blade external swiftness and aggressiveness, adds a third dimension (depth) to the plane of the knife, carries an associative load, because it is associated in culture with the romance of long-bladed weapons, criminal Finns and is emotionally colored called “blood.”
Blade edges
- this is the part of the sword directly intended for delivering a chopping blow to the enemy. Depending on the type and type, the sword can be double-edged, i.e. have two edges, or have only one, like a falchion, saber, broadsword, katana. There were also triangular blades and tetrahedral blades (estok, konchar), but they were exclusively piercing weapons and served to pierce armor. The internal section of the blade is different, it can be a rhombus, an oval, etc.
tip
– the tip is intended for piercing. In the early Middle Ages, the sharper part was often simply rounded off. But already during the Crusades, the edge of the sword began to be sharpened to deliver piercing blows to the weak points of the armor.
Sheath
– designed to protect the sword from the external environment, as well as to carry the sword.
Mouth of the sword sheath
– a metal plate that performs a decorative function and also serves to strengthen the entrance to the sheath, preventing the halves of the sheath from moving apart.
Scabbard tip
- a metal plate that performs a decorative function like the mouth of the sword, in addition, it serves to tighten the skin that is usually covered with the sword.
The mouth and tip appeared during the Crusades. And they were borrowed from the scabbards of eastern swords.
Sword. Of course, it is the most famous and revered type of bladed weapon. For several thousand years, the sword not only faithfully served many generations of warriors, but also performed the most important symbolic functions. With the help of a sword, a warrior was knighted; it was necessarily one of the items used during the coronation of European crowned persons. The good old sword is still widely used in various military ceremonies and no one even thinks of replacing it with something more modern.
The sword is widely represented in the mythology of various peoples of the world. It can be found in Slavic epics, Scandinavian sagas, the Koran and the Bible. In Europe, the sword was a symbol of the status of its owner, distinguishing a noble person from a commoner or slave.
However, despite all the symbolism and romantic aura, the sword was primarily a melee weapon, the main function of which was to destroy the enemy in battle.
The medieval knight's sword resembled a Christian cross; the arms of the cross formed a right angle, although this did not have much practical significance. Rather, it was a symbolic gesture that equated the knight's main weapon with the main attribute of Christianity. Before the knighting ceremony, the sword was kept in the church altar, purifying this murder weapon from filth. During the ritual itself, the sword was given to the warrior by the priest. Pieces of sacred relics were often placed in the hilts of combat swords.
Contrary to popular belief, the sword was not the most common weapon either in ancient times or in the Middle Ages. And there are several reasons for this. Firstly, a good fighting sword has always been expensive. High-quality metal was scarce and expensive. Making these weapons took a lot of time and required highly skilled blacksmiths. Secondly, wielding a sword at a high level required many years of hard training; learning to wield an ax or spear was much easier and faster. The future knight began to be trained from early childhood...
Various authors provide excellent data on the cost of a combat sword. However, one thing is certain: its price was high. In the early Middle Ages, the price for an average blade was equal to the cost of four cows. An ordinary one-handed sword made by a famous master was even more expensive. The weapons of the highest nobility, made of Damascus steel and richly decorated, cost fabulous amounts of money.
This material will give the history of the development of the sword, from ancient times to the late Middle Ages. However, our story will mainly concern European weapons, because the topic of bladed weapons is too broad. But before moving on to a description of the main milestones in the development of the sword, a few words should be said about its design, as well as a classification of this weapon.
Anatomy of a sword: what the weapon consists of
A sword is a type of bladed weapon with a straight, double-edged blade, designed to deliver slashing, slashing and piercing blows. The blade occupies most of the weapon; it can be more suitable for delivering slashing or, conversely, piercing blows.
For the classification of bladed weapons, the shape of the blade and the method of sharpening it are very important. If the blade has a bend, then such a weapon is usually classified as a saber. For example, the well-known Japanese katanas and wakizashi are two-handed sabers. Weapons with a straight blade and one-sided sharpening are classified as broadswords, cutlasses, grand messers, etc. Swords and rapiers are usually classified into separate groups.
Any sword consists of two parts: the blade and the hilt. The cutting part of the blade is the blade, and it ends with a tip. The blade may have a stiffening rib and a fuller, which makes the weapon lighter and gives it additional rigidity. The unsharpened part of the blade near the hilt is called the ricasso or heel.
The hilt of the sword consists of a guard, a hilt and a pommel or pommel. The guard protects the fighter’s hand from impacts against the enemy’s shield, and also prevents it from slipping after a blow. In addition, the cross can also be used to strike; it was actively used in some fencing techniques. The pommel is essential for proper balance of the sword and also prevents the weapon from slipping.
Another characteristic of a sword is the cross-section of the blade. It can be different: rhombic, lenticular, etc. Any sword has two tapers: according to the thickness of the blade and its length.
The center of gravity of the sword (balance point), as a rule, is located slightly above the guard. Although, this parameter can also change.
A few words should be said about such an important accessory as the sword scabbard - the case in which the weapon was stored and transported. Their upper part is called the mouth, and the lower part is called the tip. Sword sheaths were made of wood, leather, and metal. They were attached to a belt, saddle, and clothing. By the way, contrary to popular belief, they did not wear a sword on their back because it was inconvenient.
The weight of the weapon varied within very wide limits: the short gladius sword weighed 700-750 grams, and the heavy two-handed sword weighed 5-6 kg. However, as a rule, a one-handed sword weighed no more than 1.5 kg.
Classification of fighting swords
Combat swords can be divided into several groups depending on the length of the blade, although such a classification is somewhat arbitrary. In accordance with this characteristic, the following groups of swords are distinguished:
- A short sword with a blade length of approximately 60-70 cm;
- A long sword with a blade from 70 to 90 cm. Such a weapon could be used by both foot and horse warriors;
- Swords with a blade length above 90 cm. Most often, such weapons were used by cavalrymen, although there were exceptions - for example, the famous two-handed swords of the late Middle Ages.
According to the grip used, swords can be divided into one-handed, one-and-a-half and two-handed. The one-handed sword had dimensions, weight and balance that made it possible to fencing with one hand; in the second hand the fighter, as a rule, held a shield. A one-and-a-half or one-and-a-half-handed sword could be held with either one or two hands. It should be noted that this term was introduced by weapons experts only at the end of the 19th century; contemporaries did not call these swords that way. The bastard sword appeared in the late Middle Ages and was in use until the middle of the 16th century. A two-handed sword could only be held with two hands; such weapons became widespread after the advent of heavy plate and plate armor. The largest of the combat two-handed swords weighed up to 5-6 kg and dimensions exceeded 2 meters.
The most famous and popular classification of medieval swords was created by the English researcher Ewart Oakeshott. It is based on the shape and design of the weapon's blade. In addition, Oakeshott designed the designs for the crosspieces and pommels. Using these three characteristics, you can describe any medieval sword, bringing it to a convenient formula. Oakeshott's typology covers the period from 1050 to 1550.
Advantages and disadvantages of the sword
As mentioned above, learning to wield a sword with dignity was very difficult. This required many years of training, constant practice and excellent physical fitness. A sword is the weapon of a professional warrior who has dedicated his life to warfare. It has both serious advantages and significant disadvantages.
The sword is good for its versatility. They can stab, chop, cut, and repel enemy blows. It is suitable for both defensive and offensive combat. Strikes can be delivered not only with a blade, but also with a cross, and even a pommel. However, like any other universal tool, it performs each of its functions worse than a highly specialized tool. You can really stab with a sword, but a spear (at a long distance) or a dagger (at close range) will do it much better. And the ax is more suitable for chopping blows.
The combat sword is perfectly balanced and has a low center of gravity. Thanks to this, the sword is a maneuverable and fast weapon, it is easy to fencing with, you can quickly change the direction of attack, make feints, etc. However, such a design significantly reduces the “armor-piercing” capabilities of the sword: it is quite difficult to cut through even simple chain mail. And against plate or plate armor, the sword is generally ineffective. That is, against an armored enemy, practically only piercing blows can be used.
The undoubted advantages of the sword include its relatively small size. This weapon could be carried with you at all times and, if necessary, instantly used.
As mentioned above, making a sword was a very complex and time-consuming process. It required high qualifications from the master. A medieval sword is not just a strip of forged iron, but a complex composite product, usually consisting of several parts of steel with different characteristics. Therefore, mass production of swords was only possible in the late Middle Ages.
The Birth of the Sword: Ancient Times and Antiquity
We don't know when or where the first sword appeared. It is likely that this happened after man learned to make bronze. The oldest sword was found on the territory of our country, during excavations of a tomb in Adygea. A bronze short sword found there dates back to the fourth millennium BC. It is currently on display in the Hermitage.
Bronze is a fairly durable material that allows you to make decent-sized swords. This metal cannot be hardened, but under severe loads it bends without breaking. To reduce the likelihood of deformation, bronze swords often had impressive stiffening ribs. It should also be noted that bronze is highly resistant to corrosion, thanks to which we today have the opportunity to examine authentic ancient swords that have come down to us in fairly good condition.
Bronze weapons were made by casting, so they could be given the most complex and intricate shapes. As a rule, the blade length of bronze swords did not exceed 60 cm, but examples of more impressive sizes are known. For example, during excavations in Crete, archaeologists discovered swords with a meter-long blade. Scientists believe that this large sword was probably used for ritual purposes.
The most famous blades of the Ancient World are the Egyptian khopesh, Greek makhaira and kopis. It should be noted that due to the one-sided sharpening and curved shape of the blade, according to the modern classification, all of them do not belong to swords, but are rather cutlasses or sabers.
Around the 7th century, swords began to be made from iron, and this revolutionary technology spread very quickly throughout Europe and the Middle East. The most famous iron swords of Antiquity were the Greek xiphos, the Scythian akinak and, of course, the Roman gladius and spatha. It is curious, but already in the 4th century, swordsmiths knew the basic “secrets” of sword production, which would remain relevant until the end of the Middle Ages: making a blade from a package of steel and iron plates, welding steel blade plates onto a soft iron base and carburizing a soft iron blank.
Xiphos is a short sword with a characteristic leaf-shaped blade. At first, they were armed with hoplite infantrymen, and later with soldiers of the famous Macedonian phalanx.
Another famous iron sword of Antiquity is the akinak. The Persians were the first to use it; the akinak was borrowed from them by the Scythians, Medes, Massagetae and other peoples. Akinak is a short sword with a characteristic crosshair and pommel. Later, a large sword (up to 130 cm) of a similar design was used by other inhabitants of the Northern Black Sea region - the Sarmatians.
However, the most famous blade of Antiquity is, without a doubt, the gladius. Without much pretense, we can say that with its help the huge Roman Empire was created. The gladius had a blade length of about 60 cm and a wide cutting edge, which made it possible to deliver powerful and accentuated piercing blows. This sword could also cut, but such blows were considered additional. Another distinctive feature of the gladius was its massive pommel, designed to better balance the weapon. The short stabbing blows of the gladius in the closed Roman formation were truly deadly.
Another Roman sword, the cavalry spatha, had an even greater influence on the further evolution of bladed weapons. In fact, this sword was invented by the Celts, the Romans simply borrowed it. This large sword was much better suited for arming horsemen than the “short” gladius. It is curious that at first the spatha did not have an edge, that is, it could only be used to chop, but later this defect was corrected, and the sword gained versatility. For our story, the spatha is very important, because it was from it that the Merovingian-type sword originated, and therefore all subsequent European blades.
Middle Ages: from the Roman spatha to the knight's sword
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe plunged into dark times for several centuries. They were accompanied by the decline of crafts and the loss of many skills and technologies. The tactics of warfare itself were simplified; the Roman legions welded together with iron discipline were replaced by numerous barbarian hordes. The continent plunged into chaos of fragmentation and internecine wars...
For several centuries in a row, armor was almost not used in Europe; only the richest warriors could afford chain mail or plate armor. The situation was similar with the spread of bladed weapons - the sword from the weapon of an ordinary infantryman or horseman turned into an expensive and status item that few could afford.
In the 8th century, the Merovingian sword, which is a further development of the Roman spatha, became widespread in Europe. It got its name in honor of the French royal Merovingian dynasty. It was a weapon designed primarily for slashing. The Merovingian sword had a blade from 60 to 80 cm long, a thick and short crosspiece and a massive pommel. The blade practically did not taper to the tip, which had a flat or rounded shape. A wide and shallow valley stretched along the entire length of the blade, making the weapon lighter. If the legendary King Arthur really existed - which is still debated by historians - then his famous Excalibur should have looked like this.
At the beginning of the 9th century, the “Merovingians” began to be supplanted by the Carolingian type sword, which is often called the Viking sword. Although, these swords were produced mainly on the continent, and they came to the Scandinavian lands as goods or military booty. The Viking sword is similar to the Merovingian, but it is more graceful and thin, due to which it has better balance. The Carolingian sword has a better-defined edge, making it convenient for piercing blows. It can also be added that at the turn of the first and second millennium, metallurgy and metalworking made great progress. Steel became better and its quantity increased significantly, although swords were still expensive and relatively rare weapons.
Starting from the second half of the 11th century, the Carolingian sword gradually turned into a Romanesque or knightly sword. This metamorphosis is associated with changes in the protective equipment of warriors of the era - the increasing spread of chain mail and plate armor. It was quite problematic to break through such protection with a slashing blow, so a weapon was needed that could effectively stab.
In fact, the Romanesque sword is a huge group of bladed weapons that was in use during the high and late Middle Ages. Compared to the Merovingian sword, the Romanesque sword had a longer and narrower blade with a narrow and deep fuller, noticeably tapering towards the tip. The handle of the weapon also becomes longer, and the size of the pommel decreases. Romanesque swords have a developed hilt, which provided reliable protection for the fighter’s hand - an indisputable sign of the development of the art of fencing of that era. In fact, the variety of swords of the Romanesque group is enormous: weapons of different periods differed in the shape and size of the blade, hilt, and pommel.
The Age of Giants: from the bastard to the flaming flamberge
From about the middle of the 13th century, plate armor became a ubiquitous form of protective equipment for warriors. This led to a further change in the Romanesque sword: it became narrower, the blade received additional stiffening ribs and an even more pronounced tip. By the 14th century, the development of metallurgy and blacksmithing made it possible to turn the sword into a weapon accessible even to ordinary infantrymen. For example, during the Hundred Years' War, a sword of not very high quality cost only a few pence, which was equal to the daily earnings of an archer.
At the same time, the development of armor made it possible to significantly reduce the shield, or even abandon it altogether. Accordingly, now the sword could be taken with both hands and delivered a stronger and more accentuated blow. This is how the bastard sword appeared. Contemporaries called it a “long or combat sword” (war sword), implying that weapons of such length and weight were not carried with them just like that, but were taken exclusively to war. The bastard sword also had another name - “bastard”. The length of this weapon could reach 1.1 meters, and the weight - 2.5 kg, although in most cases the bastard sword weighed about 1.5 kg.
In the 13th century, a two-handed sword appeared on European battlefields, which can be called a real giant among bladed weapons. Its length reached two meters, and its weight could exceed five kilograms. This great sword was used exclusively by infantry, their main purpose being a devastating slash. No sheath was made for such weapons, and they were worn on the shoulder, like a spear or pike.
The most famous two-handed swords are the claymore, zweihander, spandrel and flamberge, which is also called a flaming or curved two-handed sword.
Claymore. Translated from Gaelic, this name means “big sword”. Although, of all the two-handed swords, it is considered the smallest. The length of the claymore ranges from 135 to 150 cm, and its weight is 2.5-3 kg. A special feature of the sword is the characteristic shape of the cross with arms directed towards the tip of the blade. The claymore, along with the kilt and broadsword, is considered one of the most recognizable symbols of Scotland.
Slasher. This is another great two-handed sword that is considered a "classic" of this type of weapon. Its length could reach 1.8 m, and its weight ranged from 3 to 5 kg. The most popular espadon was in Switzerland and Germany. A special feature of this sword was its pronounced ricasso, which was often covered with leather or fabric. In combat, this part was used for additional grip on the blade.
Zweihander. The famous sword of the German mercenaries - Landsknechts. They were armed with the most experienced and powerful warriors who received double pay - doppelsoldners. The length of this sword could reach two meters and weight – 5 kg. It had a wide blade, almost a third of which was unsharpened ricasso. It was separated from the sharpened part by a small guard (“boar’s tusks”). Historians still argue about exactly how the zweihänder was used. According to some authors, it was used to cut the shafts of pikes, others believe that the sword was used against enemy horsemen. In any case, this great two-handed sword can be called a real symbol of the famous medieval mercenaries - the Landsknechts.
Flamberge. A wavy, flaming or curved two-handed sword, so called for the blade's characteristic "wavy" shape. Flamberge was especially popular in Germany and Switzerland in the 15th-17th centuries.
This sword was about 1.5 m long and weighed 3-3.5 kg. Like the Zweihander, it had a wide ricasso and an additional guard, but its main feature was the curves that covered up to two-thirds of the blade. The curved two-handed sword is a very successful and ingenious attempt by European gunsmiths to combine the main advantages of a sword and a saber in one weapon. The curved edges of the blade significantly enhanced the effect of a chopping blow, and a large number of them created a saw effect, inflicting terrible, non-healing wounds on the enemy. At the same time, the end of the blade remained straight, and the flamberge could be used to deliver piercing blows.
The curved two-handed sword was considered an “inhumane” weapon and was banned by the church. However, the German and Swiss mercenaries did not care much about this. True, warriors with such a sword should not have been captured; at best, they were killed immediately.
This great two-handed sword is still in service with the Vatican Guard.
Decline of the sword in Europe
In the 16th century, a gradual abandonment of heavy metal armor began. The reason for this was the widespread and significant improvement of firearms. “Nomen certe novum” (“I see a new name”), said Francesco da Carpi, an eyewitness to the defeat of the French army at Pavia, about the arquebus. It can be added that in this battle the Spanish riflemen “carried out” the color of the French heavy cavalry...
At the same time, bladed weapons became popular among the townspeople and soon became an integral part of the costume. The sword becomes lighter and gradually turns into a sword. However, this is another story, worthy of a separate story...
The reign of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1603 was associated with the disappearance of the art of wielding a spear. The bloody wars were replaced by the era of technology and the improvement of military competition with swords. The art associated with it was called “kenjutsu”, over time it turned into a means of spiritual self-improvement.
The meaning of the samurai sword
Real samurai swords were considered not just the weapons of a professional warrior, but also a symbol of the samurai class, an emblem of honor and valor, courage and masculinity. Since ancient times, weapons have been revered as a sacred gift from the Sun Goddess to her grandson, who rules the earth. The sword was to be used only to eradicate evil, injustice and protect good. He was part of the Shinto cult. Temples and sacred places were decorated with weapons. In the 8th century, Japanese clergy participated in the production, cleaning, and polishing of swords.
The samurai had to always keep a warrior's kit with him. Swords were given a place of honor in the house, a niche in the main corner - tokonoma. They were stored on a tachikake or katanakake stand. When going to bed, the samurai placed his swords at arm's length at his head.
A person could be poor, but have an expensive blade in an excellent frame. The sword was an emblem emphasizing class status. For the sake of the blade, the samurai had the right to sacrifice his own life and his family.
Japanese warrior kit
Japanese warriors always carried two swords with them, which indicated that they were samurai. The warrior's set (daise) consisted of a long and short blade. The long samurai sword katana or daito (60 to 90 cm) is the main weapon of the samurai since the 14th century. It was worn on the belt with the point up. The sword was sharpened on one side and also had a hilt. The combat masters knew how to kill with lightning speed, in a split second by extending the blade and making one swing. This technique was called “iaijutsu”.
A short samurai wakizashi sword (shoto or kodachi), half as long (from 30 to 60 cm), was worn on the belt with the tip up, and was used less often when fighting in cramped conditions. With the help of wakizashi, warriors cut off the heads of killed opponents or, when captured, committed seppuku - suicide. Most often, samurai fought with a katana, although special schools taught fighting with two swords.
Types of samurai swords
In addition to the daisho set, there were several types used by warriors.
- Tsurugi, chokuto - the oldest sword, used until the 11th century, had straight edges and was sharpened on both sides.
- Ken is a straight ancient blade, sharpened on both sides, used in religious rites and rarely used in battle.
- Tati is a large curved sword (point length from 61 cm), used by horsemen, worn with the tip down.
- Nodachi or odachi - an extra-large blade (from 1 m to 1.8 m), which is a type of tachi, was worn behind the rider's back.
- Tanto - dagger (up to 30 cm long).
- Bamboo swords (shinai) and wooden swords (bokken) were used for training. The training weapon could be used in combat with an unworthy opponent, such as a robber.
Commoners and men of the lower classes had the right to defend themselves with small knives and daggers, since there was a law on the right to carry swords.
Katana sword
Katana is a samurai fighting sword, included in the standard weapon of a warrior along with a small wakizashi blade. It began to be used in the 15th century thanks to the improvement of tati. The katana is distinguished by an outwardly curved blade and a long, straight handle that allows it to be held with one or two hands. The blade has a slight bend and a pointed end, used for cutting and piercing blows. The weight of the sword is 1 - 1.5 kg. In terms of strength, flexibility and hardness, the samurai katana sword ranks first among other blades in the world; it cuts through bones, rifle barrels and iron, and is superior to Arab damask steel and European swords.
The blacksmith who forged weapons never made accessories; for this purpose he had other craftsmen subordinate to him. A katana is a construction set assembled as a result of the work of a whole team. Samurai always had several sets of accessories worn on occasion. The blade was passed down from generation to generation for centuries, and its appearance could change depending on the circumstances.
History of the katana
In 710, the legendary first Japanese swordsman Amakuni used a sword with a curved blade in battle. Forged from dissimilar plates, it had a saber shape. Its form did not change until the 19th century. Since the 12th century, katanas have been considered the swords of aristocrats. Under the reign of the Ashikaga shoguns, a tradition arose of wearing two swords, which became the privilege of the samurai class. A set of samurai swords was part of military, civilian and festive costume. All samurai wore two blades, regardless of rank: from private to shogun. After the revolution, Japanese officials were required to wear European swords, and then katanas lost their high status.
Secrets of making a katana
The blade was forged from two types of steel: the core was made from tough steel, and the cutting edge was made from durable steel. The steel was cleaned by repeated folding and welding before forging.
In the manufacture of a katana, the choice of metal, special iron ore with admixtures of molybdenum and tungsten, was important. The master buried the iron rods in the swamp for 8 years. During this time, the rust ate away the weak points, then the product was sent to the forge. The gunsmith turned the rods into foil with a heavy hammer. The foil was then folded and flattened repeatedly. Therefore, the finished blade consisted of 50,000 layers of high-strength metal.
Real samurai katanas have always been distinguished by a characteristic hamon line, which appears as a result of the use of special forging and hardening methods. The handle of the tsuka sword was wrapped in stingray skin and wrapped in a strip of silk. Souvenir or ceremonial katanas could have handles made of wood or ivory.
Katana Proficiency
The long hilt of the sword allows it to be maneuvered effectively. To hold the katana, use a grip, the end of the handle of which must be held in the middle of the left palm, and with the right hand, squeeze the handle near the guard. The synchronized swing of both hands made it possible for the warrior to achieve a wide amplitude of the swing without spending a lot of effort. The blows were struck vertically at the enemy's sword or hands. This allows you to move your opponent's weapon out of the attack's path so you can hit him with the next swing.
Ancient Japanese weapons
Several varieties of Japanese weapons are of the auxiliary or secondary type.
- Yumi or o-yumi are combat bows (from 180 to 220 cm), which are the oldest weapons in Japan. Bows have been used in combat and in religious ceremonies since ancient times. In the 16th century they were supplanted by muskets brought from Portugal.
- Yari - a spear (5 m long), a weapon popular in the era of civil strife, was used by infantry to throw the enemy off a horse.
- Bo is a military fighting pole, nowadays classified as a sporting weapon. There are many options for the pole, depending on the length (from 30 cm to 3 m), thickness and cross-section (round, hexagonal, etc.).
- Yoroi-doshi was considered a dagger of mercy, resembled a stiletto and was used to finish off opponents wounded in battle.
- Kozuka or kotsuka is a military knife mounted in the sheath of a combat sword, often used for household purposes.
- Tessen or dansen uchiva is a military fan of a commander. The fan was equipped with sharpened steel spokes and could be used in an attack, as a battle hatchet and as a shield.
- Jitte - an iron war club, a fork with two teeth. Used during the Tokugawa era as a police weapon. Using jitte, police intercepted samurai swords in battles with violent warriors.
- Naginata is a Japanese halberd, a weapon of warrior monks, a two-meter long pole with a small flat blade at the end. In ancient times, it was used by foot soldiers to attack enemy horses. In the 17th century it began to be used in samurai families as a feminine
- Kaiken is a combat dagger for aristocratic women. Used for self-defense, and also by dishonored girls for suicide.
During the period of internecine civil wars in Japan, firearms and guns with flintlocks (teppo) were manufactured, which began to be considered unworthy when the Tokugawa came to power. Since the 16th century, cannons also appeared in Japanese troops, but the bow and sword continued to occupy the main place in the samurai's weapons.
Katana-kaji
Swords in Japan have always been made by people of the ruling class, often relatives of the samurai or courtiers. With the growing demand for swords, feudal lords began to patronize blacksmiths (katana-kaji). Making a samurai sword required careful preparation. The forging of swords resembled a liturgical ceremony and was filled with religious activities to protect the owner from evil forces.
Before starting work, the blacksmith observed a fast, abstained from bad thoughts and actions, and performed a ritual of cleansing the body. The forge was carefully cleaned and decorated with shime - ritual attributes woven from rice straw. Each forge had an altar for prayer and for moral preparation for work. If necessary, the master dressed in kuge - ceremonial clothing. Honor did not allow an experienced craftsman to make low-quality weapons. Sometimes a blacksmith would destroy a sword that he could have spent several years crafting because of one single flaw. Work on one sword could last from 1 year to 15 years.
Japanese sword production technology
The melted metal obtained from magnetic iron ore was used as weapon steel. Samurai swords, considered the best in the Far East, were as durable as Damascus swords. In the 17th century, metal from Europe began to be used in the production of Japanese swords.
The Japanese blacksmith shaped the blade from a huge number of iron layers, thin strips with different carbon content. The strips were welded together during melting and forging. Forging, stretching, repeated folding and new forging of metal strips made it possible to obtain a thin beam.
Thus, the blade consisted of many fused thin layers of different carbon steel. The combination of low-carbon and high-carbon metals gave the sword special hardness and toughness. At the next stage, the blacksmith polished the blade on several stones and hardened it. It is not uncommon for samurai swords from Japan to take several years to complete.
Murder at a Crossroads
The quality of the blade and the skill of the samurai were usually tested in battle. A good sword could cut three corpses laid on top of each other. It was believed that new samurai swords should be tested on humans. Tsuji-giri (killing at the crossroads) is the name of the ritual of testing a new sword. The victims of the samurai were beggars, peasants, travelers and just passers-by, whose number soon numbered in the thousands. The authorities posted patrols and guards on the streets, but the guards did not perform their duties well.
Samurai, who did not want to kill innocents, preferred another method - tameshi-giri. By paying the executioner, one could give him the blade that he used during the execution of the condemned man.
What is the secret of the sharpness of the katana?
A real katana sword can sharpen itself as a result of the ordered movement of molecules. Simply by placing the blade on a special stand, the warrior would again receive a sharp blade after a certain period of time. The sword was polished in stages, through ten reducing grits. Then the master polished the blade with charcoal dust.
At the last stage, the sword was hardened in liquid clay; as a result of this procedure, a matte, thin strip (yakiba) appeared on the blade. Famous masters left their signature on the tail of the blade. After forging and hardening, the sword was polished for half a month. When the katana had a mirror shine, the work was considered completed.
Conclusion
A real samurai sword, the price of which is fabulous, is usually handmade by an ancient master. Such tools are difficult to find, as they are passed down in families as heirlooms. The most expensive katana have mei - the mark of the master and the year of manufacture on the shank. Many swords were decorated with symbolic forging, drawings that ward off evil spirits. The sword sheath was also decorated with ornaments.
Claymore (claymore, claymore, claymore, from the Gaulish claidheamh-mòr - “big sword”) is a two-handed sword that became widespread among the Scottish highlanders since the end of the 14th century. Being the main weapon of infantrymen, the claymore was actively used in skirmishes between tribes or border battles with the British. Claymore is the smallest among all its brothers. This, however, does not mean that the weapon is small: the average length of the blade is 105-110 cm, and together with the hilt the sword reached 150 cm. Its distinctive feature was the characteristic bend of the arms of the cross - downwards, towards the tip of the blade. This design made it possible to effectively capture and literally pull out any long weapon from the enemy’s hands. In addition, the decoration of the horns of the bow - pierced in the shape of a stylized four-leaf clover - became a distinctive sign by which everyone easily recognized the weapon. In terms of size and effectiveness, the claymore was perhaps the best option among all two-handed swords. It was not specialized, and therefore was used quite effectively in any combat situation.
Zweihander
The Zweihander (German: Zweihänder or Bidenhänder/Bihänder, “two-handed sword”) is a weapon of a special unit of landsknechts who are on double pay (doppelsoldners). If the claymore is the most modest sword, then the zweihander was indeed impressive in size and in rare cases reached two meters in length, including the hilt. In addition, it was notable for its double guard, where special “boar tusks” separated the unsharpened part of the blade (ricasso) from the sharpened part.
Such a sword was a weapon of very narrow use. The fighting technique was quite dangerous: the owner of the zweihander acted in the front ranks, pushing away with a lever (or even completely cutting) the shafts of enemy pikes and spears. To own this monster required not only remarkable strength and courage, but also significant swordsmanship, so the mercenaries did not receive double pay for their beautiful eyes. The technique of fighting with two-handed swords bears little resemblance to conventional blade fencing: such a sword is much easier to compare with a reed. Of course, the zweihander did not have a sheath - it was worn on the shoulder like an oar or spear.
Flamberge
Flamberge ("flaming sword") is a natural evolution of the ordinary straight sword. The curvature of the blade made it possible to increase the lethality of the weapon, but in the case of large swords, the blade was too massive, fragile and still could not penetrate high-quality armor. In addition, the Western European school of fencing suggests using the sword mainly as a piercing weapon, and therefore curved blades were not suitable for it. By the XIV-XVI centuries. /bm9icg===>ekam, advances in metallurgy led to the fact that the chopping sword became practically useless on the battlefield - it simply could not penetrate armor made of hardened steel with one or two blows, which played a critical role in mass battles. Gunsmiths began to actively look for a way out of this situation, until they finally came to the concept of a wave blade, which has a series of successive anti-phase bends. Such swords were difficult to manufacture and expensive, but the effectiveness of the sword was undeniable. Due to a significant reduction in the area of the damaging surface, upon contact with the target, the destructive effect was increased many times over. In addition, the blade acted like a saw, cutting the affected surface. The wounds inflicted by the flamberge did not heal for a very long time. Some commanders sentenced captured swordsmen to death solely for carrying such weapons. The Catholic Church also cursed such swords and branded them as inhumane weapons.
Slasher
Espadon (French espadon from Spanish espada - sword) is a classic type of two-handed sword with a tetrahedral cross-section of the blade. Its length reached 1.8 meters, and the guard consisted of two massive arches. The center of gravity of the weapon often shifted towards the tip - this increased the penetrating ability of the sword. In battle, such weapons were used by unique warriors who usually had no other specialization. Their task was to, waving huge blades, destroy the enemy battle formation, overturn the first ranks of the enemy and pave the way for the rest of the army. Sometimes these swords were used in battles with cavalry - due to the size and weight of the blade, the weapon made it possible to very effectively chop the legs of horses and cut through the armor of heavy infantry. Most often, the weight of military weapons ranged from 3 to 5 kg, and heavier examples were awarded or ceremonial. Sometimes weighted replicas of combat blades were used for training purposes.
Estoc
Estoc (French estoc) is a two-handed piercing weapon designed to pierce knightly armor. A long (up to 1.3 meters) tetrahedral blade usually had a stiffening rib. If previous swords were used as a means of countermeasures against cavalry, then the estok, on the contrary, was the weapon of the horseman. Riders wore it on the right side of the saddle so that in case of loss of the pike they would have an additional means of self-defense. In horse fighting, the sword was held with one hand, and the blow was delivered due to the speed and mass of the horse. In a foot skirmish, the warrior took it in both hands, compensating for the lack of mass with his own strength. Some examples of the 16th century have a complex guard, like a sword, but most often there was no need for it.