Hina Katana

[Chinook]

Hello Folks,  For your perusal I would like to present a Hina Katana newly added to my collection. I think of a Hina katana (sometimes referred to as a boys day sword) as I scaled down model of a standard sword; kind of like a model car or train.   Thak you,  Mark  Pederson.

[Brian]

Something for scale or some dimensions? Length etc isn't as important as width and size of nakago on stuff like this. Hard to compare with a regular wakizashi as shown.

[Gakusee]

The certificate states nagasa of 26cm

[vajo]

Looks longer then Tanto. Hmm is something wrong with the hozon?

[ggil]

Looks like a regular wakizashi. Boys day blade would be smaller motohaba. Do I need more caffeine?

[ROKUJURO]

When the SHINSA says it is a HINA KATANA then they should know. As others, I would have seen this as a regular WAKIZASHI in nice HAMIDASHI KOSHIRAE. So have fun enjoying it!.

[vajo]

Yes i see a nice wakizashi too in a fine koshirae. Good sword, i like it.

[Brian]

The certificate states nagasa of 26cm

Nagasa doesn't help much with these, hence the question. A wakizashi and a scaled down katana will have the same nagasa. Everything has to be to scale.

[Gakusee]

Agreed, Brian, but one can very roughly figure things out from the photo and the Nagasa. This looks rather chunky to me to be a boy’s sword and I am estimating the sakihaba to be around 1.9-2 cm give or take from the proportions. Seems like a wakizashi to me too, like most people above but.....

[EdWolf]

Maybe a stupid question but why don't we call this a tanto. The nagasa is 26cm. I thought that everything under 30cm makes it a tanto.

[vajo]

It doesn't look like a Tanto Ed.

[EdWolf]

Hi Chris, sure it doesn't look like a tanto but I always thought it was determined by length. There's a lot to learn. Thanks for the clarification.

Best regards, Ed

[nagamaki - Franco]

Maybe a stupid question but why don't we call this a tanto. The nagasa is 26cm. I thought that everything under 30cm makes it a tanto.

 

Shape, shinogi zukuri, yokote, ko wakizashi proper term (???)

 

 

 

p.s. after a while doing this it eventually sinks in that there will be exceptions to almost every rule.

Edited January 22, 2019 by nagamaki - Franco

[EdWolf]

Thanks Franco. Makes sense.

Best regards, Ed

[Chinook]

Hello Folks, I am sorry it took me so long to reply, I would like to add some meaurements, a photo and a opinion or two.

 

Hina Katana: OAL: about 38.5 cm      Nagasa: 26cm       Nakago length:  10.5 cm        Nakago kasane @ the shinogi:  4.8mm to 3.1mm      

 

Nakago Haba:  18.4mm to 15.4 mm       Weight:  145 gm.

 

 

Now for comparison A tanto of mine.      OAL length:  35.5cm        Nagasa:  25cm     Nakago Length:  10.6 cm       Nakago kasane:  8.6mm to 5.1cm       Nakago Haba:  22.6mm to 13.7mm     Weight:  255 gm.

 

 

 

Now please take note of the weight of both swords. The tanto is almost twice as heavy;  Why is that?  IMHO, the tanto was made for combat, not so for the hina katana , but then again the intended recipient was way to young for combat. Also it seems to me that the NBTHK put these little swords into thier own category so as not to me confused with other swords. Thanks for yor intrest.    Mark  Pederson.