Hello,
Yesterday I found this sword while surfing arround a little bit.
http://www.schwert-shop.de/Smartstor...?categoryId=87
I asked myself in which time this sword was used. I think it was used in the time when the samurais are no longer allowed to carry a sword arround. Maybe used as a hiddn Sword.
Can you tell me more about this? Are my thoughts correct?
I am from from germany so dont hit me to hard if I write something that doesnt make any sense
hmmm... too bad I cant read german...
Correct me if I'm wrong, for learning from ones mistakes is the best way to learn. -someone said something like it before but I put it in those words...
I believe you're correct. After the Meiji restoration, the custom of carrying a sword in public was outlawed and, to sidestep the law, many opted for tsuka and saya that looked very simple and could easily be mistaken for a waking cane. That way they could still defend themselves with a katana when attacked. Kaoru might have some more knowledge about this though.
Actually, it is my understanding that the non-decorative shirasaya is used for storing/transporting sword blades. This type of mounting is not meant for wearing/fighting - in fact, it would be dangerous to do so without a tsuba and a properly wrapped handle. Please feel free to correct me if worng!
Looks like a shirasaya to me in fact that is the page's title - just used to store and transport blades as you said. It's not a hidden sword - nothing special.Originally Posted by Tiki-kun
Hank.
Last edited by Hank; 4th August 2005 at 05:45 AM.
Jason W.
Doshikai Acton
We have a winner!
Yes, that is Shirasaya mounting. Shirasaya is merely a protective mounting for transporting the blade. (Often from the smith to the polisher, then the polisher to the mounter). It is NOT suitable for fighting, iaido, or kata. The sword that was hidden in a cane is refered to as Zaitochi (Sp?). Those were used post-1867 (Meiji Restoration Sword Ban), but most the time they were of inferior quality. The blade that you are specfically looking at is a Paul Chen blade mounted in Shirasaya. It is the Shinto base blade (http://www.casiberia.com/cas/product...asp?id=SH1001). You are very correct Tiki-kun (I just thought I would expand the explanation). Nikolaj, that is properly referred to as a Bohi (or Bo-Hi). The bohi (fuller on a european sword) is not used to release suction from the body, as often assumed (hence the incorrect name "blood grove") but because removing metal from the middle of the blade was an easy way to make the sword weigh less, but not compromise the edge. Japanese swords without bohi are very common and they are often stronger, but not as fast. Hence, most Iaidoka use a blade with bohi, since speed is the ultimate goal. Also, most Iaito have a bohi because it makes a nice swoosh sound when the hit is correct. But, I believe if we were to go back to days of the true samurai, we would see fewer blades with bohi. I hope this helped you all.
Sincerely,
Last edited by HokiIaidoka; 4th August 2005 at 06:50 AM.
Your comments about the bohi make sense. I saw SO many old swords in countless museums while living in Japan, and very few had a groove in the blade. Glad my iaito has one, though. Swish swish!
Hi HokiIaidoka-San... that was an incredibly informative and interesting post... thanks.
I knew that the Shirasaya was used for transportation etc... but it was good to have such a full explanation.
Now, back to our friend Saine...
You really have to forget this idea of carrying a sword around in the streets. You may have got away with it as a Samurai in feudal Japan, but you really will wind up in a lot of trouble if you're found with one of these in the streets of Germany!!!
Please forget this and your three-part bokken idea... This will only cause you trouble... Do not buy this sword, train in Kendo and take up Self-defence as well...
Mike Forte
Portsmouth Kendo Club - UK
..."The crab must go through life walking sideways.
This is much like our lives - we find that life causes us to turn this way and that and our path is never straight and clear. We must move sideways.
The crab must do this all his life and his body accommodates this. . . so brave to resign his life to such a Fate.
Ultimately, the crab represents the Life we must all lead and how, more often than not, we must accept our Karma..."
Do you really think I will carry around a REAL Sword?^^
I wouldnt even carry arround wodden swords in the streets, the Bokken-thing was just an idea I wanted to create more for fun than use. I wouldnt carry this arround, I just know how strict the policy in Germany is in self defense things.
A friend of mine once got a attacked in the streets by some drunken teenager. The teenager attacked him and he hit in his face and ran away. Later my FRIEND had to pay because the nose of the teenager was broken and the policy said that this wasnt self defense anymore...
Well, anyway I am gonna buy this sword and carry it arround in the streets. If someone comes close to me he is gonna feel my blade... I will the tell the policy that he came to close to me. "It was only self Defense officer! I thought it was a tanto he was drawing, not a pencil!"
No, no I am NOT gonna buy this... and I am not gonna wear any other sword arround in the streets, please dont think anything weong about me
I am from from germany so dont hit me to hard if I write something that doesnt make any sense
Thanks Saine-San (Vielen Dank!!!)...Do you really think I will carry around a REAL Sword?^^
I wouldnt even carry arround wodden swords in the streets, the Bokken-thing was just an idea I wanted to create more for fun than use. I wouldnt carry this arround, I just know how strict the policy in Germany is in self defense things.
A friend of mine once got a attacked in the streets by some drunken teenager. The teenager attacked him and he hit in his face and ran away. Later my FRIEND had to pay because the nose of the teenager was broken and the policy said that this wasnt self defense anymore...
Well, anyway I am gonna buy this sword and carry it arround in the streets. If someone comes close to me he is gonna feel my blade... I will the tell the policy that he came to close to me. "It was only self Defense officer! I thought it was a tanto he was drawing, not a pencil!"
No, no I am NOT gonna buy this... and I am not gonna wear any other sword arround in the streets, please dont think anything weong about me
I will now be able to sleep at night, kowing that the streets of Germany are safe from roaming bands of teenege Ronin with Shirasaya and three part bokken tucked in their hakama...!
Seriously though, I apologise for mis-judging your intentions...
Cheers
Mike Forte
Portsmouth Kendo Club - UK
..."The crab must go through life walking sideways.
This is much like our lives - we find that life causes us to turn this way and that and our path is never straight and clear. We must move sideways.
The crab must do this all his life and his body accommodates this. . . so brave to resign his life to such a Fate.
Ultimately, the crab represents the Life we must all lead and how, more often than not, we must accept our Karma..."
The idea is not to bad...I maybe start a Ronin Gang with Shirasayas tonight and go attack the goverment. We gonna rule the world! Muhahaha
Just kidding
Apologise accepted
I am from from germany so dont hit me to hard if I write something that doesnt make any sense
Hey Guys,
I was glad to help out, There are so many intelligent people on this forum I was surprised to find a thread where I was the first one to know the answer to the question (thus giving me the credit).
Nikolaj-don't sweat it, everyone uses the wrong term, but now you can be one of the few who don't
Sincerely,
PS. for more information on all these things, check out Sword Forum International (www.swordforum.com)
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