I was biting my tongue on that one, but I knew that I could rely on you. š
Swords
- Thread starter derrick
- Start date
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I was biting my tongue on that one, but I knew that I could rely on you. š
Yellow Saddle
Guru
- Location
- Loch side.
I've decided that maybe I don't want to be knighted anymore.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Just stick a pruning hook on a broom handle. That's near enough what they were - modified agricultural impliments.
Punkawallah
Veteran
āJustā? āStickā? Fie, Sir! Thatās the sort of thinking that finds you unhorsed before the Gates of Antioch, armed with only an eating knife!
It seems early (or more ad hoc) bills did have a longer shaft replacing that of the agricultural tool. More refined examples had the attention of a local blacksmith, who added a spike to the top -ouch!
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
When William the Conqueror (AKA William the Nancy to Ross Kemp) invaded he struck eastwards into Kent. The men of west Kent put up little resistance but the bloody minded lot of East Kent raised an army literally composed of farmers armed with farm implements.
They stopped William's lot from pushing further into Kent and harassed the invading army to an annoying degree all the way to London.
William was so impressed with their resolve he made a deal that if they notionally accepted him as their king he would otherwise leave them alone to manage themselves.
The Men of East Kent agreed, and that's where the county motto 'Invicta', undefeated, has its origin. To this day to be a Kentish Man or Kentish Maiden, ie, from west Kent, is to be a second class citizen in the County.
Another interesting consequence of this farm implement army and Williams acquiescence to them is that the hereditary system of Gavelkind persistednin Kent well into rhe first half of the 20th Century.
In the 60s my Gramps got a job in Kent as a park keeper in Ramsgate, right the other end of the country from us, and finally settled properly for the first time after fleeing the nazzies and he became a fiercely proud adopted Man of Kent. I think he'd have quite liked the French to invade so he could have at them with a hoe.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Sir?
This old maid (who is used to dressing small game) might flay your hide off in one inch strips with the aforementioned eating knife for such an insult.
Either that, or quote Shakespeare at you till your ears fall off!Actually, a Japanese Naginata is more to my tastes...
OP
OP
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Sir?
This old maid (who is used to dressing small game) might flay your hide off in one inch strips with the aforementioned eating knife for such an insult.
Actually, a Japanese Naginata is more to my tastes...
Katana looks so much nicer. plus I ain't got a pole that long.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Katana looks so much nicer. plus I ain't got a pole that long.
Mmmmm, they have some 16th century katanas and wakizashis in the British Museum. They're so beautifully crafted that they make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
The Japanese gallery is well worth a visit, btw. And it's far less crowded than the obvious ones that everyone knows about.
Punkawallah
Veteran
Sir?
This old maid (who is used to dressing small game) might flay your hide off in one inch strips with the aforementioned eating knife for such an insult.
Actually, a Japanese Naginata is more to my tastes...
āFlay your hideā? āNaginataā? āAroint thee, witch!ā :-)
The Royal Armouries in Leeds have an impressive Eastern collection, well worth a visit.
OP
OP
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
You can do far better than that. The tsuba (guard), handle (tsuka) and kashira (pommel) are, well, not that nice.
I would suggest looking at what's available in auctions, particularly specialist ones. Get something authentic if you want to splurge, and not something that's modern and mass-made.
classic33
Leg End Member
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
They do turn up at auction, but you'll have to cough up accordingly. AND know what you're looking at, as quality is very variable and modern reproductions are rife. This is from my local auction house:
1) Sold at the most recent auction. I suspect this katana is WW2 military issue, nothing special, probably a mass-produced NCO's sword as it's pretty plain. Blade is not in good condition mind, and would have been just made from stamped steel rather than in the traditional manner, as there's no obvious hamon. But it does have a nice enough guard and a shagreen handle under the wrappings.
https://auctions.rowleyfineart.com/...-details/2d20d512-4ad3-49bd-8413-b34c00e237f6
2) Put up for auction a year ago, but didn't sell. This is mis-labelled, as it's a wakizashi rather than a katana, but it's far better quality than the above katana. Again, I think this is a WW2-era blade, as no discernible hamon (the wavy pattern on the blade made by the steel being folded over hundreds of times), but probably an officer's wakizashi based on its overall appearance.
https://auctions.rowleyfineart.com/...-details/1e927317-c800-4b59-97df-b25d017d0606
1) Sold at the most recent auction. I suspect this katana is WW2 military issue, nothing special, probably a mass-produced NCO's sword as it's pretty plain. Blade is not in good condition mind, and would have been just made from stamped steel rather than in the traditional manner, as there's no obvious hamon. But it does have a nice enough guard and a shagreen handle under the wrappings.
https://auctions.rowleyfineart.com/...-details/2d20d512-4ad3-49bd-8413-b34c00e237f6
2) Put up for auction a year ago, but didn't sell. This is mis-labelled, as it's a wakizashi rather than a katana, but it's far better quality than the above katana. Again, I think this is a WW2-era blade, as no discernible hamon (the wavy pattern on the blade made by the steel being folded over hundreds of times), but probably an officer's wakizashi based on its overall appearance.
https://auctions.rowleyfineart.com/...-details/1e927317-c800-4b59-97df-b25d017d0606
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
That's still modern and mass-made. The giveaway is that the hamon is regular - it's been etched rather than occurring naturally as a result of the manufacturing process. Still, it's far "better" if you can put it that way, than the first one posted.
Yellow Saddle
Guru
- Location
- Loch side.
The wavey pattern is not from folded (Damascus) steel. But from clay stuck to the edge and left there whilst tempering. That gives you a hard edge but soft spine.