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...So when it gets wet, it can continue it's natural process of decomposing. Leather really needs care... just like my swords, if I didn't oil my sword, it would start to rust... (not really, it's stainless, but habit is good to have.
I got a few carbon steel blades. Oiling is all part of the joy of ownership. Recently acquired a couple with bog oak scales. Serious mojo there. I put a mustard patina on one of them.
I own Masamune katana for only short time and already have to agree. Taking care of blade after training is really pleasing experience, making it nice clean and shiny again. There is surely some symbolism in sword traditions of Japan and China, probably some purification of the mind and soul. Heh, would definitely beliefe that to be true.
Currently I own two blades, this stainless steel one and plastic training one, which I use often for practice. Can use that one for hitting stuff, just not for cutting.
As it happens I have a Cheness 30" spring steel katana that I got after an unexpected windfall many years ago. 5160 spring steel. Crane tsuba. It has had criminally little use as the blade is very long and I have relatively little space, but I did enjoy it for some time after I got it.
More practical is my Hanwei Practical Plus Tanto(see what I did there?). That gets handled quite a bit. I'm really more of a knife person than a sword person. I have more knives than I count, although these days I'm more into the non-locking pocket folders as our knife laws are quite strict over here.
I do have some Scandi type blades, mainly from Finland. Soft spot for Marttini knives, and some puukko that look and feel exactly like the sort of thing a wood elf would carry. I've picked upsome Ukrainian made knives recently, from BPS Knives. Amazing value for money those. BPS Savage is the one with the bog oak scales. After I applied the patina you could see the face of a fierce looking bog creature or woodwose emerging froim the pattern, which kind of blew me away at the time.
My other bog oak knife is a recently acquired Michael May folding pruning knife, which is (just)with legal parameters enough that I can actually carry it around without risking prosecution. Just like carrying a mini sickle it is. Also carbon steel, and handmade in Sheffield at an old traditional knifeworks. It was stretching my budget to get it, but when I saw it I had to have it.
Sharpening and stropping is a great pleasure once you get the hang of it. I eyeball it on a flat stone rather than using fancy tools. You can feel when metal is being taken off the edge. Extremely satisfying.
So yeah, big knife nut I am. I consider it one of the kinks in my otherwise relative wokeness.
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An error, it was the 33" O-Katana from Cheness. So a really really long blade!
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No wait, it was the 30" version.. I was so long ago. I need to measure it
I have too many blades to keep track of. A few favorites were "Thor" the American Bowie, from back when making a knife was a love affair, and "Slash" my favorite 14 inch butcher knife. I have 2 Samurai swords that just found me one day. They were hidden away in a secret compartment that I had discovered when the measurements of the house didn't add up. The compartment also had 2 compound bows, arrows, and some other interesting things. The swords are very different. One is a green-plastic handled military affair that looks like something a soldier would have brought back from a cheap souvenir store in 1960's Asia, but it is stainless and holds an edge. The other is obviously much older, with the handle partially rotting off and the steel showing it was likely a mixed metal, so it was likely a good blade when it was made, now rotting from lack of care in the secret compartment, with a leather wrapped and black lacquered saya that is also rotting away. I'm actually more fond of my hatchets, I was just cutting up an apple outside with one of the hatchets the other day and my lady commented with "how the f#$k are you cutting apple slices with that giant hatchet?"
I would hope that everyone that thinks they are backyard Samurai' get the chance to be stabbed at least once in their lives. No training or practice can replace that experience.
I have too many blades to keep track of. A few favorites were "Thor" the American Bowie, from back when making a knife was a love affair, and "Slash" my favorite 14 inch butcher knife. I have 2 Samurai swords that just found me one day. They were hidden away in a secret compartment that I had discovered when the measurements of the house didn't add up. The compartment also had 2 compound bows, arrows, and some other interesting things. The swords are very different. One is a green-plastic handled military affair that looks like something a soldier would have brought back from a cheap souvenir store in 1960's Asia, but it is stainless and holds an edge. The other is obviously much older, with the handle partially rotting off and the steel showing it was likely a mixed metal, so it was likely a good blade when it was made, now rotting from lack of care in the secret compartment, with a leather wrapped and black lacquered saya that is also rotting away. I'm actually more fond of my hatchets, I was just cutting up an apple outside with one of the hatchets the other day and my lady commented with "how the f#$k are you cutting apple slices with that giant hatchet?"
I would hope that everyone that thinks they are backyard Samurai' get the chance to be stabbed at least once in their lives. No training or practice can replace that experience.
Sounds like the previous owner was some kind of prepper, with that hidden cache. It would be nice to restore the rotted one.
Sword injuries can be horrific and you only have to screw up once. Closest I've come to being stabbed was when I stuck myself in the forearm while fooling about with one of my knives. Blade went in about an inch, and I still have the scar. I wasn't able to stop the bleeding on my own so ended up going to A&E. I got a kick out of it to be honest, which is probably a little bit unhinged of me.
Another time I managed jam a jewellers screwdriver right though my index finger and past the knuckle while I was fixing a pair of glasses. I pulled it out before I could think about it. It was sore for weeks after that.
Sounds like the previous owner was some kind of prepper, with that hidden cache. It would be nice to restore the rotted one.
Sword injuries can be horrific and you only have to screw up once. Closest I've come to being stabbed was when I stuck myself in the forearm while fooling about with one of my knives. Blade went in about an inch, and I still have the scar. I wasn't able to stop the bleeding on my own so ended up going to A&E. I got a kick out of it to be honest, which is probably a little bit unhinged of me.
Another time I managed jam a jewellers screwdriver right though my index finger and past the knuckle while I was fixing a pair of glasses. I pulled it out before I could think about it. It was sore for weeks after that.
Are we twins? Lol.
The best was a double-bit axe that I accidentally got stuck in my leg bone and I had to crank pretty hard to get it out. I splashed some water on it, and used some leather and duct tape to squeeze the gash closed, then hiked 5 miles out of that wilderness area. I went to the doctor the next day (long trip out of that area), and they just shook their heads and put some staples over the already closed up gash. I had a knife buried into my thigh by someone, which caught me by surprise. They stabbed deep and yanked it back out, and the red sticky geyser was impressive and they got away while I was trying to stop the bleeding. I got a rod through the palm of my hand, so crucifixion style. That didn't bleed much at all, which surprised me. I also pulled that out myself and never went to the doctor. I have had so many stitches and staples that I started just super gluing and stitching myself. The worst was a chainsaw, mainly because it doesn't leave you anything to put back together.
Anyway, back on the subject, I meditated about the rotted sword, and I felt it wishes to be left as is now. Just let me die in peace. So, I haven't looked at any possible value that would entice me to think otherwise. I put it in a wooden casket, and last time I peeked in, there are more crumbles and dust coming from the wood and leather. So it is falling apart quickly, and when I find the right spot, it will be buried with honors. I will just assume it had a great life and a lot of excitement, and deserves some peace now.
I own Masamune katana for only short time and already have to agree. Taking care of blade after training is really pleasing experience, making it nice clean and shiny again. There is surely some symbolism in sword traditions of Japan and China, probably some purification of the mind and soul. Heh, would definitely beliefe that to be true.
Currently I own two blades, this stainless steel one and plastic training one, which I use often for practice. Can use that one for hitting stuff, just not for cutting.
What practice do you do ? I have never owned a real traditional sword , I had a mock up set of katana and wakizashi on a little lacquered stand - just as an ornament . A friend collected a few , and other antique associated trinkets ; he even got a full set of armor , with a certification of who owned it and what battles it was in ! What amazed me was how little and short it was ! and the crazy form and weird mask on it . On part of the old moldy material I was looking at, I found blood stains . Apparently the demise of the owner (according to documentation ) was he was in a battle, horse went down and he got pinned under it and managed to fight off two guys while that was happening , but then got over powered by numbers against him .
I have ( still, in the magic box - storage ) original wooden handled cross hilt chromed bladed matching sword and dagger that was part of initiation ritual gear . I had them made from scratch to my design .
A crazy giant 'pagan ritual ' sword that a friend made for me - it was from a huge old circular saw blade from an old closed down timber mill . The history of that metal ! Sword - 3000 , Trees - 0 . Huge long flared blade, crescent moon hilt and a ball pommel . Huge, unwieldy and has become a garden ornament
Various swords, long and short down to dagger ( 'tanto' ) but wooden , as I like to match with them . I did years of aikido and kobudo and an obscure old form of Okinawan karate which was all incorporated into my sword 'style' ( or varieties of style ) . Not 'blades' as such , put they have been through a lot of 'sword play ' (one can tell on examination , the boken - wooden katana - or the staffs , on close examination will have a patina of little dents all over them - as opposed to smooth ones that have just 'gone against the air ' - kata and kihon ) . But yes, it is relaxing even to sand them back and give them a good oiling .
Interesting point you made about cleaning the blade and any mystical association - as the sword was the Samurai 'soul' .
I have too many blades to keep track of. A few favorites were "Thor" the American Bowie, from back when making a knife was a love affair, and "Slash" my favorite 14 inch butcher knife. I have 2 Samurai swords that just found me one day. They were hidden away in a secret compartment that I had discovered when the measurements of the house didn't add up. The compartment also had 2 compound bows, arrows, and some other interesting things. The swords are very different. One is a green-plastic handled military affair that looks like something a soldier would have brought back from a cheap souvenir store in 1960's Asia, but it is stainless and holds an edge. The other is obviously much older, with the handle partially rotting off and the steel showing it was likely a mixed metal, so it was likely a good blade when it was made, now rotting from lack of care in the secret compartment, with a leather wrapped and black lacquered saya that is also rotting away. I'm actually more fond of my hatchets, I was just cutting up an apple outside with one of the hatchets the other day and my lady commented with "how the f#$k are you cutting apple slices with that giant hatchet?"
I would hope that everyone that thinks they are backyard Samurai' get the chance to be stabbed at least once in their lives. No training or practice can replace that experience.
No need for that .... just sell them on line I have seen some great ( horrible ) accidents .
Or people that use wall hangers ... that can apply to wooden weapon too ; is it designed for actual use or display ?
Here is some fun - two 'demos' ; one, guy in karate outfit in an outdoors demo with a crowd watching , holds the sword up in the air above his head , in preparation to cut down.... and the blade flies off the handle and up behind his head and comes down somewhere in the audience !
The other , two guys in a club I was in - another outside demo - they decided they could do this after a bit of practice ; one lies down with a watermelon on his stomach , the other cuts the watermelon in half ... and I am pretty sure ... is not supposed to cut the other guy either .
The cut stopped a fraction too short , the halves did not fall to either side bu were still joined by the underside part of the melon skin, so swordsman thinks ' I will just give it a little horizontal slice ... while lying down guy thinks 'if I just push my stomach up a bit that will be enough to make the melon split and fall off .' Result ; bottom guy went to the emergency ward and got 28 stitches across his belly .
Are we twins? Lol.
The best was a double-bit axe that I accidentally got stuck in my leg bone and I had to crank pretty hard to get it out. I splashed some water on it, and used some leather and duct tape to squeeze the gash closed, then hiked 5 miles out of that wilderness area. I went to the doctor the next day (long trip out of that area), and they just shook their heads and put some staples over the already closed up gash. I had a knife buried into my thigh by someone, which caught me by surprise. They stabbed deep and yanked it back out, and the red sticky geyser was impressive and they got away while I was trying to stop the bleeding. I got a rod through the palm of my hand, so crucifixion style. That didn't bleed much at all, which surprised me. I also pulled that out myself and never went to the doctor. I have had so many stitches and staples that I started just super gluing and stitching myself. The worst was a chainsaw, mainly because it doesn't leave you anything to put back together.
Anyway, back on the subject, I meditated about the rotted sword, and I felt it wishes to be left as is now. Just let me die in peace. So, I haven't looked at any possible value that would entice me to think otherwise. I put it in a wooden casket, and last time I peeked in, there are more crumbles and dust coming from the wood and leather. So it is falling apart quickly, and when I find the right spot, it will be buried with honors. I will just assume it had a great life and a lot of excitement, and deserves some peace now.
Crikey, did that knife hit your femoral artery? I'm surprised you're still alive! My meagre little(by comparison) stab wound ended up glued shut at the hospital. It was great honestly, having blood drip out of my coat sleeve during triage. The screwdriver through my finger don't bleed at all, but swelled and ached for ages. Stupid cheapshit soft metal tools, kept needing to grind the tip flat and in the process it got quite sharp.
I would still want to take that blade apart and clean it up, replace any fittings that needed it. getting a decent fit for a replacement saya might be tricky though. Or if you have the right tools it might be fun to rework the blade into something new? Like Anduril, that blade that was forged anew!
A crazy giant 'pagan ritual ' sword that a friend made for me - it was from a huge old circular saw blade from an old closed down timber mill . The history of that metal ! Sword - 3000 , Trees - 0 . Huge long flared blade, crescent moon hilt and a ball pommel . Huge, unwieldy and has become a garden ornament
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Here is some fun - two 'demos' ; one, guy in karate outfit in an outdoors demo with a crowd watching , holds the sword up in the air above his head , in preparation to cut down.... and the blade flies off the handle and up behind his head and comes down somewhere in the audience !
The other , two guys in a club I was in - another outside demo - they decided they could do this after a bit of practice ; one lies down with a watermelon on his stomach , the other cuts the watermelon in half ... and I am pretty sure ... is not supposed to cut the other guy either .
The cut stopped a fraction too short , the halves did not fall to either side bu were still joined by the underside part of the melon skin, so swordsman thinks ' I will just give it a little horizontal slice ... while lying down guy thinks 'if I just push my stomach up a bit that will be enough to make the melon split and fall off .' Result ; bottom guy went to the emergency ward and got 28 stitches across his belly .
A lot of old saw blades seem to get recycled into knives. I mean why waste good steel like that? Lawnmower blades are supposed to be good as well.
Yikes about that accident! Katana tsuka are usually only held in place by a couple of bamboo pegs which really need close attention and maintenance, or the blade can go flying as you described. Poor guy with the 28 stitches!
