a photo of O-Dachi

[Nobody]

I found this photo on the net and just wanted to show it to you. Although the O-Dachi is not the longest one in existence, I can easily feel its greatness as compared with a person on the photo. It is the O-Dachi as known as Nenekirimaru (祢々切丸) and is owned by Nikko Futarasan Shrine (日光二荒山神社). The blade length is about 2.2 m, and the length of its Koshirae is about 3.4 m.

 

http://www.futarasan.jp/cgi-bin/imgsys/image_c.cgi?147

[Bungo]

it says.........

身の長さは7尺１寸２分、拵えの総長は1丈１尺３寸2分あり、

 

but how about the weight ?

 

milt THE ronin

[Nobody]

but how about the weight ?

Hi milt,

 

I could not find the official data for the weight. But according to an article on the net, it seems to be about 22.5 kg.

[Mike]

Here is some more info and photos on these expetional swords

http://japantrip.tripod.com/nodachi/nodachi.html

Mike

[kusunokimasahige]

BIZARRE!!!!!!!!!

 

this one is by norimitsu

 

http://japantrip.tripod.com/nodachi/norimitsu.html

 

imagine trying to wield that in a battle.........

 

KM

[Mike]

The book "The art of Japanese polishing" by Takaiwa, Yoshihara & Kapp has a photo of Fujishiro Okisato polishing the same Norimitsu O-dachi (p. 155).

In battles the sword was carried on the back of the warrior valet, and when the time had come the warrior drowned it while sitting on his horse. This obviously wasn't the most convenient weapon and I couldn't find any materials describing it use. Anyhow this had not last long.

I have read that sometimes O-dachi were made as a gift to a shrine, such as this Norimitsu which resides at Kibitsu shrine in Okayama prefecture.

Mike

[John A Stuart]

Hi Mike, The jindachi was carried by attendants but these large shrine swords would have been impossible to wield. John

[Nobody]

Hi,

 

There is a picture of a samurai shouldering an O-Dachi at battlefield.