uwe Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 Hi folks, here are some pics from an recent purchase, accompanied with a few questions. This signet "Beauty" comes with its original pole and looks not so bad at first glance. Closer inspection though reveals this "little" flaw in the kissaki area, as quite considerable Well, in case of an sword showing this kind of damage, i would tend to say.......OMG! Hence the questions are: 1. Are there applied the same rules to estimate flaws on yari as on swords? 2. How could arise a flaw like this? I assume, it`s not a forging flaw, rather a "sign of usage"! 3. Would you call it fatal at yari? I`m very curious..... Uwe PS: Regarding the mei, refer John`s post.... http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb//viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2960&start=0 Quote
cabowen Posted December 4, 2011 Report Posted December 4, 2011 The tip is the most difficult part to forge and harden correctly. This looks like a blister/forging flaw right near the tip that opened when the blade was thrust into something hard. As flaws go in a yari, this has to be about as ugly as you can get. One could anneal the blade, reshape it removing the tip, and then reharden. Outside of that, nothing can be done... Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted December 5, 2011 Report Posted December 5, 2011 In reply to a similar question, my sword sensei said that as Yari were traditionally flailed around, a flaw was, just as in a sword, a flaw, as the blade could snap off from there. He was talking about edges, though, and yours could still be used even with such a tip. Yari do not today command such high prices as Nihonto blades, so any damage will be correspondingly of less damage to the value, IMHO. Quote
uwe Posted December 5, 2011 Author Report Posted December 5, 2011 Chris and Piers, thanks a lot for your opinions. It wasn`t that expensive, so I think about an restoration without removing this flaw...........I virtually can see, how the wearer failed to thrust through the massive yukinoshita-do of his opponent....... :lol: Uwe Quote
drbvac Posted December 5, 2011 Report Posted December 5, 2011 IF I may? Chris: Could this type of blister not be opened up with a polish as well as damage from a thrust? Quote
cabowen Posted December 5, 2011 Report Posted December 5, 2011 I would think it certainly could be opened up during a polish but the fact that the tip is blunt and deformed makes me think this opened from an actual thrust into something very hard.... Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted December 6, 2011 Report Posted December 6, 2011 Aim for the soft spots between the armour overlaps, but it is said the bearers were told to aim specifically for the eyes. In actual combat use, I guess a spear would hit many large and hard objects on its travels. It could be used equally for non-lethal restraint, with deliberate placement against a breastplate for example, although I am sure most would prefer to reverse their spear for this. Quote
uwe Posted December 6, 2011 Author Report Posted December 6, 2011 Piers, Never heard before, that yari were used reverse in certain circumstances That was really new to me Uwe BTW. Eyes are very small targets ........ :lol: Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted December 7, 2011 Report Posted December 7, 2011 Small targets, yes, Uwe, but under the Mabi-sashi visor, the face was exposed. The yari can be held tilted upwards and it is a fairly easy stab. Big results for little effort. Even the possibility of such must have caused opponent ashigaru to hold back or shy away. Quote
uwe Posted December 7, 2011 Author Report Posted December 7, 2011 Piers, this makes sense to me. I daresay, that in this case,the mabizashi takes effect as an proper "blade-catcher". Uwe Quote
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