nozh2002
BANNED
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2003
- Messages
- 5,736
I found very interesting and informative article on this matter.
http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/kissaki.html
What is called now Ametican Tanto tip is Kamasu-kissaki.
"The line from the start of the kissaki to the top of it is almost straight.
Such a kissaki is especially called "kamasu-" even if the kissaki is long or short.
It looks very sharp.
This type has a little different meaning than other types.
Because, this type is an original shape of the kissaki before the 14th century.
So this type is very rare today.
The tip is very sharp and delicate so it is easy to be broken in a fight.
The kissaki line easily becomes round by re-polishing after use.
We can see kamasu type only in some old temple or shrine as a treasure.
They were put in there before use to celebrate Buddha or god.
Therefore we have to change the image of the kissaki shape when we think about the original in the period of samurai living before 14th century.
After the 15th century most of the kissaki shape is "chu-" and "o-kissaki". There has never been seen "ikubi-" or "ko-kissaki"."
So it was tip of all Nihhon-to before 1500. But from that time does not exist.
Funny part is that as author state - it was sharp and delicate too easy to break in a fight. Absolutely opposite to how it is positioned on the market here.
This is also very informative article about blade shapes:
http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/styles.html
In particular about tan-to:
"HIRA-ZUKURI
The most general style for TANTO.
"
As well you may see that there is no single beveled tan-toes as well as any other blades. There is assimetrica KATA-KIRIHA-ZUKURI but double beveled. So all this marketing about special single beveled fighting tactical blades in Japanese style is just creative marketing and has nothing to do with real Japanese tradition.
Thanks, Vassili.
http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/kissaki.html
What is called now Ametican Tanto tip is Kamasu-kissaki.
"The line from the start of the kissaki to the top of it is almost straight.
Such a kissaki is especially called "kamasu-" even if the kissaki is long or short.
It looks very sharp.
This type has a little different meaning than other types.
Because, this type is an original shape of the kissaki before the 14th century.
So this type is very rare today.
The tip is very sharp and delicate so it is easy to be broken in a fight.
The kissaki line easily becomes round by re-polishing after use.
We can see kamasu type only in some old temple or shrine as a treasure.
They were put in there before use to celebrate Buddha or god.
Therefore we have to change the image of the kissaki shape when we think about the original in the period of samurai living before 14th century.
After the 15th century most of the kissaki shape is "chu-" and "o-kissaki". There has never been seen "ikubi-" or "ko-kissaki"."
So it was tip of all Nihhon-to before 1500. But from that time does not exist.
Funny part is that as author state - it was sharp and delicate too easy to break in a fight. Absolutely opposite to how it is positioned on the market here.
This is also very informative article about blade shapes:
http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/styles.html
In particular about tan-to:
"HIRA-ZUKURI
The most general style for TANTO.
As well you may see that there is no single beveled tan-toes as well as any other blades. There is assimetrica KATA-KIRIHA-ZUKURI but double beveled. So all this marketing about special single beveled fighting tactical blades in Japanese style is just creative marketing and has nothing to do with real Japanese tradition.
Thanks, Vassili.
)
