Kronos

Looks interesting. I'm not planning to go but hopefully they'll have a Japanese Swords seminar sometime soon that I would love to attend if I can get myself up to leeds.

I'm most of the way through reading it, I've found it a very good beginners book so far

I was under the impression you should always point it tip up no matter if it's Katana or Tachi to stop the oil pooling in the bottom.

Thanks for the replies, some have been very insightful, yet it has the inevitability of more questions. I suppose I shouldn't of posted them all in one topic as they're rather big subjects in there own right. John, I agree with alot of what you've said. Quality materials and time would of played a major role, yet it leaves me wondering about the quality of Shinsakuto as they have the materials and all the time in the world given the ease of modern life in comparison. Maybe it is just waiting for a particularly talented Kaji, but as I have seen with other skills that are no longer needed to the extent they once were with traditional tools such as stone masonry, there's a massive void between then and modern practitioners. Paul, I must yield that the first question was a poor choice. It may of been more prudent to ask something more specific such as the merits of different Kissaki, but from my understanding these things changed alot due to different needs for different periods, so it's hard to put my finger on something that has remained constant yet there's a noticeable difference between a good and simply average blade except overall build quality which would require volumes :D It could be argued that the differences becoming blurred could improve the overall manufacture with more uniformity towards a more ideal product, this clearly wasn't the case but it is interesting to me as that has happened with many different things. I suppose that would also destroy the "art" aspect thast is so varied and wonderful, much like the pop music I so detest that now all sounds the same but sells.

Hello, I've had a long fascination with Japanese swords and have finally decided to take the interest further and purchase my first Nihonto (after a long time of saving which will also give me time to read up and research as much as possible so I have a better idea of what I'm doing). However since reading alot in the last few days I still have alot of burning questions that I can't find easy answers for. Maybe because they're stupid questions who knows, but here are the things I'd most like to know that I feel will give me a much better general overview of the subject. Firstly what makes a good sword from a practical point of view? For example if I was dropped into the Sengoku jidai why would I want a Masamune blade over another. Now this may be rather ambiguous but I feel having a better idea of what makes a good weapon first and foremost will give me a good base to start from in my studies. Added to that I find something special about a tool that is the best at what it is designed to do so would be one of the primary characteristics I look for when I eventually decide to purchase. Secondly in regards to the artistic side, how does this relate to performance? is it simply that a nice hamon, abundant nie etc was originally a sign of a well made blade and it evolved from there, or alternatrively a completely artistic endeavour set aside from performance? Although I feel the answer will be a combination of both. Finally I've read that during the Kamakura period was the height of excellence for swordmaking, but I have only been able to find a little on this. What differentiated these swords from other time periods? Was it just an abundance of swordsmiths that created a generally overall larger pool of master smiths? better workmanship for various social and/or political reasons? (Minamoto and the Taira, but if so why didn't the same happen during the sengoku?) Or simply techniques created that have since been lost because of the experimentation and differences between the dens? Any links to more information about the Kamakura period and swordsmithing at this time particularly would be most helpful. Thankyou for your time.