Japanese Sword  - Nihonto

Japanese sword, also called Nihonto, has developed in response to the sword's evolution as a weapon. to be efficient,  reliable, and practical. Japanese sword is known to be crafted by wrapping a core of soft (that is, low-carbon) steel  in a jacket of hard (high-carbon) steel,and then harden only the edge of the blade by heat-treating it. 
Ever since seeing Japanese sword at the first time, people have been captivated by the elegance and complexity of art          

 
Koshirae (mount)
Koshirae is the decoration or presentation of Nihonto, and most collectors are spending time
and fund to Koshirae, in order to give a life to blade, associating with artistic fitting.
Tachi mount type was started from Heian era (AD 800) and several different mounting styles; but,
Tachi mount is still used in important ceremonial events in Japan as of today.
Handachi (half Tachi) mount was from late Muromachi era (AD 1500), known as longer war period.
Tachi was used among mostly imperial related and higher rank Samurai, Handachi was widely used
among mostly middle rank Samurai, in other word, Handachi  might be called
battle field mount, also Tachi or Handachi (Ashi-kanamono type) style mounting was preferred to use
at horse back riding fight.
Thus, ex-Imperaial military in 1915-1940 also used Tach or Handachi mounts, with Ashi-kanamono.
During Edo era (AD 1615 - 1912), there were no war or major fightings, the mounting style bacame
typical Katana style Koshirae.

Artful Japanese Chasing and material
The three major traditional Japanese chasing was applied to craft the Japanese sword fittinghas:
1. Zogan (inlay): Zogan is not plating. Carve metal surface and insert other metal, in order to draw lines, patterns; but not  cover entire surface. The artistic value will be higher.

2.Iroe (plating): Iroe is not painting. Usually use gold, silver, or copper alloy (copper, Bronze, Brass - Red to Yellow) powder
   mixed with mercury and apply small or large
   metal surface; then, evaporate mercury in burn out oven. But, it has been changed to
   use chemical reaction to plate from eary Showa era, instead of evaporating mercury due to health reason. The artistic value will be high.

3. Oxidation: In order to generate "Shibumi" (frosted taste), oxidation technics is applied.<BR>
On the other hand, the recent lower grade reproduction fitting is frequently used painting technics to make patina such as black or copper/bronze/silver/gold metal color, using metal paint (available Wal-Mart and craft shops).

Japanese Sword fitting material

Traditionally, Iron (casting), Gold, Silver, Copper and Copper mixed alloyes are used as the primary material to most metal fitting. Many different types of Copper alloy (see below) are adopted to create the complicated artistic tastes:

a. Ichibu-otoshi: Mixed silver (90%) and copper (10%), equivalent to coin silver (SV900), used widely such as       Gin-Kazari-Saiku.

b. Shiro-Shibuichi: Mixed silver (60%) and copper (40%), close to silver color and maintain
 mechanical strength of copper, color is extremely mysterious.

c. Kuro-Shibuichi: Mixed silver (40%) and copper (60%), close to silver color and maintain
 mechanical strength of copper, color is extremely mysterious.

d. Shibuichi (Rou-gin): Mixed with silver (25 - 29 %), dark satin (whitish pink black)
color is extremely mysterious, and also well accepted, and the highest value in copper alloy family.

e. Shaku-dou: Mixed with gold (3 - 9%), the oxidized color purple-black seems to be rich and well accepted.Shakudou was only used in Japan, and not used other countries.
During AD 4th century, Japan had large amount of gold, and used much higher amount of gold, mixed with copper, called "Shi-kin".

f. Sei-dou (Bronze): Mixed with Tin (less than 10%), the color is vary, depends on the percentage of Tin (from reddish to golden yellow) use for major artistic objects. Japanese 10-yen coin is Seidou.

g. Tan-dou: Mixed with less than 0.05% of lead and zinc (Copper must be over 78 - 96%), beautiful golden color (looks like 14K - 18K gold), and flexibility were used in furniture, building, artistic objects.

h.Ohu-dou (Brass): Mixed with 30 - 40% zinc (Copper will be 60% - 70%),
golden color and strength. Japan started using Brass from mid of Edo era for coin and
volume production items after Dutch trading firm introducted in mid of 1700. Also called "Shinchu". Japanese 5-yen coin is Ohu-dou. (If Copper amount is higher than 71.5% must be called Tan-dou, or Seidou mixed with small amount of Tin.
 

i. Youhaku-dou: Mixed with Nickel and Zinc, the color is silver looks, used for decoration objectives,
this was introduced later and rarely used in sword fitting.  Japanese 100-yen coin is Youhaku-dou.

Reproduction fitting
Reproduction fitting became common from the mid of Edo era (AD 1700), due to significantly
decreased war or battle. Under Tokugawa shogunate, Samurai held sword, but no chance to use (or blade never came out from Saya) in real war/battle, and limited number of Samurai job opportunities, which poor Samurai sold family treasure class fitting and swords, and substituted to reproduction fitting and fake swordsmith sword. In early Meiji, ex-Imperial government prohibited to carry swords, the production of reproduction fitting was significantly reduced. However, after Japan-Russia war in Meiji era, the demand of Gunto or civilian sword for military purpose was increased. Once again, the production of reproduction fitting were increased. However, all modern (Gendai) made fitting are not reproduction, there are still Shiroganeshi (craftman/artist) are keep making fitting using generation to generation technics.

Reproduction fitting are repeatedly producing on or after AD 1700 in Japan, and today producing
in-and-outside Japan, and reproduction fitting is selling in antique shops, auction... under the name of
original article or genuine antique; however, according to the proffesionals, over 50% of them seems to be the reproduction fitting; in fact, frequently seen the same design fitting in several antique shops, auction. The difference among reproduction fitting will be primary material (silver, copper, bronze,
brass, white-metal, Zinc, lead) and design. Patina/Inlay/Zogan will be vary, e.g. Silver(gold) Zogan looks were easily made by scratching a part of fitting in sterling silver (20K gold) bar, bronze or copper patina was most common and made by painting in metal paint. Thus, the primary material and design will make the differnce by not only looks/real feeling, but also wear of patina or antique looks oxidation in longer period.
   

Common knowledge of Nihonto
 
All Nihonto are made as full-custom-made, there are no mass-production Nihonto.
Therefore, each fitting part will be costly piece.First, Blade will be made each sword-smith (not machine), each Tang part (Kiku) of blade is different from shape, size, width (Mune) thickness; second, length, Curve (Sori),thickness of blade as well as Habaki design also differ from each blade (even the same swordsmith made blades). Thus, each Tsuka and Saya should be different, and never the same Tsuka or Saya was available, except for mass-production blades.
All Nihonto fitting is made not only artistic decoration, but also mechanical strength support
purpose, e.g. Fuchi and Kashira are installed for the mechanical support of both Tsuka end, and Menuki is for mid part of Tsuka. Also, Koiguchi, Kojiri, Ashigane, Semegane (Kashiwaba) of Saya are for mechanical strength of Saya, in order to avoid crack or separation. Therefore, mechanicaly strength material is used, such as copper, brass, bronze, steel. silver, or gold. Never use lower melting temperature metal material due to the lack of mechanical strength, as same as piping line material (copper, brass, steel).
Specially, lead made menuki might create health problem as frequently appeared in medical announcements,  easily bent character of lead was avoided,and not produced over 35 years in Japan due to health regulation. 
Mass-production (machine made or semi-machine made) Japanese swords are commercial based products with standardized size to meet standardized Tsuka, Saya, Fitting... In order to provide lower cost of mass-production swords, most fitting is made by White-metal(spelter) or Zinc type lower melting metal with bronze, copper, silver, gold patina painting.
Also plastic fiber material is used to Tsuka Ito and Sageo,and some Tsuka and Saya are made by plastic parts.   

 Guide of Katana Tsuka and Blade length

In general, the legnth of Tsuka should meet to the length of blade, and blade length should
fit to the body height (see our non-sales site):

The above tables are generally for Katana only, not for Tachi, Waki-gatana, Ko-dachi, Wakizashi, Tanto...  by different usage.