Help with Swords

[Tekashi]

I need help identifying these swords what are they? They kurve odly they cant be katanas? http://www.excaliburbrothers.com/members/697427/uploaded/20-442WL.jpg

[Zyke]

The top one is a katana, it just has a weird handle curve which makes the blade seem more curved than it is. Try imagining a straight handle, and it should look more like you think it should look like. The smaller one is most likely a wakizashi, with the same principle applying to the handle.

[ToshiMaru]

Well, there katanas, and wakazashi. The only reason they are weird is because they are meant to be style - i guess. Back then, samurai's did have styles to you know?

Not everyone wanted the generic single curved type. I still think its weird though, maybe its for better grip, and comfort.

(Anyone ever tried to hold a reallife gunblade?) It feels better than a real sword.

[Tekashi]

There are RL gunblades!?! i want one :eek:

[ShiniGami]

dude that some weird swords but hella awesome damn i want one.

[ToshiMaru]

You know, once you get used to looking at it like that, its pretty cool, but still i dont want my swords to look funky :trink26:

[KazeKuroi]

They are sexy. Weird shape though.

[Kuraku Hideaki]

Sexy? I dont think so. But i agree, they were used to fit someone and that someone only, you know, like personalized :P

[Redb@ck]

Just as Zyke said, the top one is a Katana, the main fighting sword, while the second one is a Wakizashi, which was used for the preforming of ritual suicide, rathere than succombe to the enemy, Beebe out.

[Tekashi]

Lol i know whata akatana and wazakashi are redb@ck i just wanted feedback i think there cool also.

[Yagi]

After taking a quick look the curved handle i believe would be designed for swinging motions to the side, like what a scythe does. A chop down type motion hahaha hard to explain. It in theory could increase the speed of the edge 1/3 the cutting third.

Or as Kurakushin said... personalised. In this day and age i think hes prob hit the nail on the head. :p :p

Eh 8)

[nobody4422]

the Wakazashi was used for sepuku? It was my understanding that the Wakazashi was used as a secondary fighting sword in case the Katana should break, or if the quarters were too close for the larger bladed Katana.

I thought the Tanto (I think thats what its called) with a blade not much longer than your hand was used for sepuku.

I could be wrong though.

[KazeKuroi]

Nah its a defense sword [Wakazashi]
Japanese swords between 11.8" (30 cm) and 23.6" (60 cm) are called Wakizashi. These are the shorter of the two swords worn as a daisho . The wakizashi was used with one hand and the blade was worn on the belt with the edge up. Japanese merchants were not allowed to wear Katana, so they often carried Wakizashi.
A Japanese sword that is longer than 23.6" (60cm) and is worn in the belt with the edge up is called a Katana. This conversion from Tachi to Katana probably began in the Muromachi period (1392 - ) but became widely worn in the Shinto period. It became popular to wear two swords in the thrust in the sash with the edges up. These two swords together were known as a daisho or "large and small". The smaller of the two swords was called a wakizashi.I got thisfrom here (http://www.ncjsc.org/).

[Kingsama]

i think it depends on what period you are talking about. IIRC a daisho was just the katana and wakazahi, the wak would be used for sepuke and perhaps close courters combat. But at some point the wakazahi evolved into more a parrying blade and then the tanto replaced it as the hirikari blade. This of course is pulled together from various internet sights and heresay, so take it all with a grain of salt. Could one of the more knowledgable members confirm or dismiss this info?

[SunWuKong]

the Wakazashi was used for sepuku? It was my understanding that the Wakazashi was used as a secondary fighting sword in case the Katana should break, or if the quarters were too close for the larger bladed Katana.
I believe all are correct.

Also, the shape of the 'odd' grips in the picture:
Might have been designed for stronger thrusting. The slight curve would make it easier for the wielder to put his weight behind it. There were European fencing swords designed like this. (You saw it in "Attack of the Clones" Count Dooku's saber.)

[Tekashi]

Wow you guys rule! :headbang: Thanks for all the help! :D
Plus i think i like them they have personality :) mybe the curve was fir internal injury so when he stabbed he could rotate :p

[nobody4422]

Ouch!
That would hurt

[Yoshimitsu]

ive been told that the curve came from when they fought more on horses. The curve would allow them to pull their sword back out of a victim as they moved forward.

[Yagi]

Ohhh i wouldnt have thought of that. Hmmm mounted cavelry... Well done Yoshimitsu.

[xi ryu]

ya, definaltely a katana and wakazashi, there cool but i'm a swordsman in real life, from a technical stand point, there is no groove in the blade to make hasuji (noise that tells you its a good cut) and if you were to cut with that, you'd break your lower hand's wrist, i can garuntee it ( and if your a guy you'd hit yourself in the crotch on any type of vertical cuts)

[BrainBandAid]

Hate to break it to you all, but those are modern reproductions, aka FAKES. The large curving handles are for show. There are no "authentic" Japanese swords shaped like that. In those mountings, they are not intended to be a katana, but a tachi. Tachi have a greater curve (sori) than katana, usually longer and thicker, and were the swords used on horseback, and as such required the longer handle. However, these swords have a very small sori. And no wakizashi would have such a long tsuka (handle). As was mentioned correctly before, the wak is supplementary to the katana, or for indoor close quarters.

Since they were a mounted weapon, there were usually no daisho including a tachi.

FYI, the display is kinda correct, as the tachi is displayed edge (ha) down, tsuka to the right. Katana are displayed tsuka to the lefts, ha up. Usually, though, tachi are displayed tsuka down, kissaki (point) straight up in a special stand (kake). And the groove, or hi, was originally intended to reduce the weight of the sword, and for aesthetics.

Check these out:
http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/Nihonto_Links.htm the best links out there.
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm a very good overall site.

Most of the information in these sites concur with my 2+ years of study, and with my reference books, but I am definetly not an expert. The guys on that first link are Japanese sword gods.

[Yagi]

*Jaw hits the ground* :eek:
Woah cheers for all the info Brainbandaid. 8)
Just might read all that info on those boards 8)

[Tekashi]

O i knew they were new but fake....DANG! gj brainbandaid :p cheerz

[BrainBandAid]

Well, fake being a relative term... they're real as far as you can touch them, but I wouldn't call them "Japanese swords". If you're into reproductions, these are very nice. I like the mountings.