GENERAL DATA | |
OVERALL LENGTH:103 cm / 40.6 inch | BLADE LENGTH: 70 cm / 27.6 inch |
TSUKA LENGTH: 26 cm / 10.24 inch | BLADE WIDTH: 3.2 cm / 1.26 inch |
BLADE THICKNESS: 0.7 cm / 0.28 inch | BLADE HRC: 60 |
BLADE CRAFT | |
BLADE CRAFT: fully hand forged, hand polished (Shitaji togi + Shiage togi), clay hardened, water quenching | |
BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 carbon steel, folded forged 15 times | BLADE STRUCTION: Kobuse |
NAKAGO: full tang | KISSAKI: medium tip (chukissaki) |
HAMON: real hamon, clay hardened line | POLISHING STYLE: Shiage togi + Hadori |
SHARPNESS: ★★★★★ | MIRROR EFFECT: ★★★★★ |
MOUNTINGS | |
TSUKA(HANDLE): hard wood core, hineri maki | MEKUGI: 2 bamboo pegs |
TSUKA-ITO: black synthetic silk cord | SAMEGAWA: genuine white rayskin |
FUCHI / KASHIRA: plum blossom | MENUKI: red lion |
TSUBA(HAND GUARD): Zinc Alloy | SEPPA: high quality brass |
HABAKi: high quality brass | SAGEO: black synthetic silk specialized cord |
SAYA: glossy black lacquered wooden scabbard | |
PACKAGE | |
1 sword with saya | 1 silk bag |
1 sword certificate | 1 1-layer black wooden stand |
The kobuse is constructed of two different kinds of steel, the core steel and the outer steel, where the core steel is wrapped with the outer steel. As to the tempering, the outer steel is more sensitive than the core steel. In this case the outer steel is harder than the core steel. |
Before being quenched, a special clay mixture can be applied onto the blade to harden the edge and obtain different hardness on the blade. The clay mixture was a special recipe and considered a crucial trade secret, guarded protectively by sword making masters. It would contain such things as feathers, powdered bones, grass, etc. and would be applied to the edge of the blade before being quenched. During quenching, a chemical reaction between the clay mixture and the hot steel occurs during the sudden temperature drop and carbon is fed into the blade in high amounts, creating an extremely tough edge. A clay hardened blade can only be quenched in water, thus increasing the defect rate even more. | |
Another way for clay tempering is to apply clay along the blade but let edge exposed. Thus, while quenching the blade into water,the uncovered edge will cool down suddenly, but the rest of blade will cool down slowly. Such differential temperature change results in the different hardness of the blade. So the edge is tough enough to cut, where the back of blade is soft /flexible enough to absorb the impact during cutting. Such quenching process usually will leave beautiful wavy tempered line on the blade, as known as "hamon" in Japanese swords term. |
Polishing Process The polishing process is divided into two stages:Shitaji togi andShiage togi. Shitaji togi is Foundation polishing,to correct any bends in the blade.Shiage togi is the stage that places the mirrorlike finish on a blade.This sword used Shiage togi,it is a elaborate process to the blade,it uses small grindstone to polish the blade by hand to make the blade mirrorlike,it is a time-consuming work,it can effectively increase the sword's monetary,historic,artistic,and functional value. |
The Modern Style Polishing (Hadori Style Polishing ) |
It is designed to highlight the aesthetics of the blade. In this style polishing, the hamon appears white against the black, shining steel and the mirror finished shinogi-ji. It is so aesthetic that it makes a blade perfect for display. |
The white pattern that looks like hamon is called "HADORI". It is not a true hamon, but it is designed by polisher along the hamon to exaggerate it. When you look at the blade under a proper light, you can see the true hamon under the hadori. |
With the modern polishing style, you can see the blades with aesthetically "made-up face". |
This polishing style was developed by a famous polisher in the early 20th century. |