Katana with Tsuba Kyo Shoami

Katana (Japanese) is a two-handed curved Japanese sword with a length of 95-105 cm (the blade itself was on average 70-75 cm, but in any case for a katana more than two shaku (1 shaku = 30.3 cm). Here’s what writes about katana in his monograph Valery Khorev «Japanese sword. Ten centuries of excellence»:

“The katana is almost always shorter than the tati and have less deflection. A long blade is inconvenient for a pedestrian, since it will certainly catch the ground if you lower your hand down, and such a loss of time meant death. The deflection is also not accidental — the straighter the weapon, the more convenient it is for them to stab. As a result, the sad experience automatically formed the type that we are familiar with today: The length of the handle is from 25 to 30 cm, and the length of the working area (between the tsuba and the tip) is not more than 75 cm. Of course, the growth and length of the hands of a particular owner can change these numbers up or down.

The decoration of the katana differs from the slightly barbaric luxury of the tati. Its decor can be conveyed by the words “modesty”, “elegance”, in extreme cases — “restrained chic”, but no more. ”

Tsuba is a stylization of the iron tsuba Kyo Shoami, without a signature. Momoyama period. This tsuba can be dated to the beginning of the 16th century, it has a noticeable strong influence of Owari. Fuchi, kashira and manuki are made with a vegetable ornament as well as a tsuba.

The winding of the handle is made in the style of “hiner-maki”, the style is simple, reliable and practical.

Katana with Tsuba Kyo Shoami