"battle bulge" on a katana

J

JoeL

Joined
Oct 4, 1998
Messages
150
This feature is actually not put in intentionally. It came out if the katana is forged out traditionally. To understand that, we have to know a bit about the common shape of the katana (Shinogi-zukuri).

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The cross-section of a typical katana is like that.

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The sloping of the shinogi-ji of the X-section drawing is a bit exaggerated but that's the idea, it is not parrellel to each other.

The "battle bulge" corresponds to the top-end of the ko-shinogi which actually slopes forward (clam-shell shape) to form the point.
depending on the design, there will be a slight increase in thickness from the shinogi-ji to the Ko-shinogi-ji. The change is subtle but you'll see it clearly. If the shinogi-ji are parallell to each other, then there will not be a bulge.
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As Howard Clark once said on the Swordforum, "there are no parallel lines or surfaces on a traditionally made katana, and that's the challenge"

Joe

Hoope that Nara can get back to make some khukuri soon.
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JoeL. In the cross section picture there is an oval shape in the center of the blade. What is it? I now nothing about katanas.
 
Josh,

The oval shape thing is the core iron, supposed to have much lower carbon content and not very hardenable. The outer layer is the jacket iron which has more carbon content, usually about .6 to .7% and forms the cutting edge.

Joe
 
Thanks for sharing some great information, Joe. I'll admit that I'm totally ignorant of katanas but I know one is in my future.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
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Thanks Joel.
I "think" enlightenment is beginning to sink in.
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In simpler terms what I think you are saying is that the blade at the bottom line in the top pic is a bit thicker than the point above it or edge behind it?

Hopefully on of these days I will actually get to see, and handle, one of these myself.


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
JoeL, is this description right - "battle bulge" is a thinned spine except near the tip, like an AK, or a BM Stryker?

A name came upon my thought, "Unokubizukuri = shape of a bird's neck and head" Is this close to your idea?

Great ideas of wisdom have been accumulated to HI katanas. They are so tempting... more and more!

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(T_T) ...crying
\(^o^)/ ...cheerful
(ToT) ...crying
Mizutani Satoshi
 
The "battle bulge" on my Kothimoda Kobra Katana is neat looking and definitely adds to the appeal of this Nepali Katana style sword.

Harry
 
I'll have to beg, borrow or steal a digital camera in order to take some pix....

Not sure when this will be accomplished, but hope it is soon.

Harry
 
Mr. Satoshi,

You're right. But the transition is much less obvious than in the AK or BM stryker folder.

Here are some photos I took on the Shinshinto I have, a Unokubizukuri, with a false (decorative) Yokote. So the bulge is much more exaggerated.

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There is no specific name for that feature as it is just happened to be there. I think, after a few months of learning Toyama Ryu, the thinner of the spine helps balance the sword, while maintaining enough steel to ensure the usefulness of the point (kissaki).

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just a guess.

Joe

Hope that the files are not too large. I have taken photo of another Kamban Shinto, which has almost no bulge. I'll post them if the files turn out not too large
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Thanx, JoeL, for clearing my vague knowledge, and for the pics (also clear)!

You and other knowledgeable people make the quality of HI Everest katana so high! As Uncle Bill suggested, I might fly to Reno someday and get the fruit of...

............

Customs interrution! Customs interrution!

.........friendship between forumites.

Yes, I admit this will be major purpose to see Uncle Bill, and forumites if possible when I'll visit the Kantina.

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(T_T) ...crying
\(^o^)/ ...cheerful
(ToT) ...crying
Mizutani Satoshi
 
:
Great pix Joe!!!
Now I truly understand!!
Not quite what I had in my mind, but very close.

Bro and Harry, et al, who have the HI Katana....
Does the HI Katana point look similar to what is pictured here?

One of these days when I get some more bills paid off I am gonna have to have one of these!

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
Thanks for great pix, Joe!

Yes, the HI katana is similar but a bit more pronounced. It is about 95% faithful to the blade I took over to BirGorkha, the pre 1864 katana that was signed -- even though I hate to remember what happened to the tang on that one. Our model had a very distinct battle bulge and the kamis are replicating it just about to the tee.



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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
So THAAAAATTTS what yer talkin' about! I was wondering if it was the radius of the edge along the tip, but it's part of the tip contruction itself. My Jerry Hossom Millenium Black has one SERIOUS case of "Battle Bulge". The area just before the tip swells significantly, giving added strength (since the stock is so thin and the blade so long, this reinforces the tip for thrusting without fear of breakage. But this is a Bowie blade, not a sword)

Tom
 
Yup! Very close to what Joe has shown here is my kothimoda kobra katana. My prototype #2 katana also has the battle bulge, but less pronounced than the 3K.

Harry
 
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