Difference between katana and tachi

[jeremy]

What is the difference between katana and tachi? I found this blade on aoi-art and want to know if it would be possible to mount it in buke zukuri katana koshirae, for iai use? It has the right length for me, and i love the hamon and overall shape, and is a reasonable price. Any thoughts or ideas?

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/katana/08046.html

Kind regards,

Jeremy Hagop

[John A Stuart]

Hi Jeremy, The difference between tachi and katana is primarily the koshirae and the way the sword was worn. There are long katana. A lot of old tachi were shortened when converting to new style of wearing the sword in the obi and because of laws enacted governing the length one may carry. 81 cm is very long for a sword used for iaido. Your sensei recommends that length? John

[jeremy]

Hi John,

 

Thank you for your response. 81cm is good for my height and build as I am about 6 foot 2 inches tall and about 190 pounds. So a 2-6-7 shaku blade should be OK.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jeremy Hagop

[Bushido01]

Hi Jeremy,

I also practice Iaido and Kendo. I recommend that you contact Tsurata San ( the owner of AOI) and find out how much does this blade weigh. This is a thick and long katana without bo hi and could be too heavy for Iaido practice regardless of your height. You may want to consider the weight of Tsuka and Tsuba in addition to the blade's weight.

Regards,

[kusunokimasahige]

As it was recently made i think you could well use this if you are of correct height.

 

its a gem indeed!

 

I am about 5.6 so it probably would be too long for me in iai practice

 

KM

[jeremy]

So, it would be possible to mount this tachi in buke zukuri katana koshirae given the shape and style of the blade?

 

Kind regards,

 

Jeremy Hagop

[John A Stuart]

Hi Jeremy, I would say so. I have a shinken that I use for kata, just under 82 cm, actually 81.75 cm long with 16" tsuka. I had this made especially for me. 6'5" and long limbed. It is at my limit for nukisuke and at that I use a specialised draw. I do not concentrate on iai, so, that's OK. I am concerned at this length for iaido. Enough said, if you are comfortable, so be it. John

[jeremy]

Hi John,

 

Thank you for your kind reply. I just wanted to know because of the koshizori and the overall sugata of the blade made me question whether or not it would be possible to mount it in katana koshirae. But it seems to be OK from what you have said. Thanks heaps.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jeremy Hagop

[Paul Martin]

Jeremy,

 

Tachi are not suitable for iai. The curvature is centered in the lower part of the blade. When thrust through the sash like a katana, the tsuka will rather acutely point towards the ground making nukitsuke rather awkward. The curvature of period tachi was adjusted by hammering the softer nakago to remove some of this curvature in order for them to be mounted as katana. In addition, the upper part of tachi (monouchi etc) are straighter in comparison to katana. Particularly with healthier blades, when drawn as a katana this will slice the inside of your saya more than usual and 1. wear it out quickly and 2. be rather hazardous after a while. Tachi were not really for designed for iai.