Japanese Knife/Sword books??

Brian Ayres

Brian Ayres

Joined
Feb 4, 2011
Messages
1,429
So,

My first love of knives and swords truly started with my friends "katana" he mad when we were 13-14. Vince was 3-4 years older and he took a piece of 1/4"x1-1/2"x36" steel and put a convex edge on it with a mild steel tsuba welded on to it. No actual grind.... :o just one big ol convex edge....:eek:

That thing was a beast(to a 14 year old)... Much to his parents and my parents dismay we hacked through several fence posts(sorry dad...) and had all kinds of fun with it.

My fascination with Japanese swords and knives continues today.

I am wanting to construct a Tanto and eventually a wakizashi.

What I'm looking for is a book or five that detail the traditional construction of japanese swords and knives.

The trouble I'm having is my googlefu isn't easily directing me to any one or two particular books. There are too many choices, and none that look right...:confused:

I would like to make them mostly in the traditional style. I have several pictures I've collected over time detailing the parts of Japanese swords, but the typical dimensions and materials used I do not have...
I would also like to see how a more American style katana, wakizashi etc, like Phil Hartsfield made his, is done.

Do any of you have a favorite book or two on Japanese blades?

Or, even any favorite websites??
 
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Search Bladeforums with this engine:
http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=011197018607028182644:qfobr3dlcra

There are lots of good books and DVDs on Japanese swords and such, The stickies mention a few, IIRC. Here are some other information and book referrences -
Setsuo Takaiwa's book on "Japanese Sword Polishing" is a must have if you want to get serious about hamons and blade polishing.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...SOLD-Japanese-Sword-reference-library-4-books
These four are good books.

Post#40
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-for-a-new-BBQ-Challenge-The-Camp-Sword/page2

Post #8
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/663988-Clay-Quench-Question

Additionally,
The whole series of DVDs by Walter Sorrells are great.
Wally Hayes has a DVD called "Katana", about making a modern style Japanese sword. It would be a good starter project.

Other sutuff:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/608046-Japanese-knife-terminology
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/488024-Wooden-Sheath-Tutorial-Tanto
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/596142-Makiing-Blades-Japanese-style - post #7
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/828823-Japanese-style-wraps
 
Woo Hoooo!!! Thanks Stacy. It's a good thing I'm recovering from surgery. I will spend the next couple days perusing the selections.

I remember when words like Eutectoid, Martensite,Retained Austentite and the difference between Cryo and Sub-Zero quench confused me and gave me a headache. I literally read every sticky when I started, and read all 300 pages of past threads(I know, get a life)... I see I will be possibly spending even more time with this new pursuit of knowledge...

I think I will have a bigger and longer headache remembering the proper terms for features on a Tsuba alone... Seriously....
Seppa Dai,Sekigane,Kogai Bitsu,Mimi,Fukurin,Udenake Ana,Nakago Ana,Hitsu Ume, and Kadzuka Bitsu.

Absolutely fascinating!!

I have ordered 2 books already. Let the journey begin!
 
A couple suggestions:

Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868
Classical Weaponry of Japan by Serge Mol

The former is the companion book to the exhibit at the Met, which was held in 2010. The latter is not about swords at all, but about practically everything else - knives, shuriken, sticks, improvised weaponry, truncheons, fans, and more.
 
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