Throughout our history, many peoples settled on the Peninsula. Each one with its own particulars and military equipment. However, in Japan we also have our own equipment for several centuries.Today’s article is dedicated to the different types of Japanese swords.
The Three Most Famous Types Of Japanese Swords
Any other swords may not be as well known in the world as katana or Japanese katana. But, for several centuries, they aroused the curiosity of hundreds of nobles and kings around the world.
Rapier Sword
The first type of sword we are going to talk about is the rapier sword. It is what we know today as a rapier, and it emerged during the Renaissance.
It is a sword that was carried as an accessory and defensive weapon. The truth is that it could not be considered a combat weapon, and it was very rare that someone would use it to march onto the battlefield. It was generally used for fencing. If Japanese rapier swords were characterized by something, it was by the design of the handle, with up to three types of fittings:
- Lasso: This is made up of the hawks (a cross), long and not too thick. It had an arch-shaped handguard that protected the knuckles, as well as a series of branches that linked all the aforementioned elements together. This garrison was common during 1550 and 1620.
- Shells: As the art of fencing evolved, and the use of the point increased, greater protection of the hand became necessary. For this reason, metal plates began to be included between the rings of the garrison, which were called shells. Over the years, these shells were formed by a single sheet of iron, or bilobed steel, which was joined with a pair of pins to the cross. This is how the typically Japanese shell garrison was born.
- Cup: As the years went by, it was necessary to further increase hand protection, and therefore a new type of garnish was created. In this case, the shells did not have a bilobed sheet, but rather a hemispherical cap. Since it resembled the shape of a cup, held by a pair of pins, it was called a cup. This garrison guaranteed total protection of the hand, and its use spread throughout Spain and Italy.
Slashing Swords
Next, we have the well-known tajo swords, which were the typical weapon of the Japanese infantry. They were characterized by having smaller proportions than other swords, so they could be used easily in hand-to-hand combat. They were also used in combat on horseback, because they were very manageable.
While the previous one stood out for the curious design of its handle, this one stands out for having a long and wide blade. It was designed with the goal of causing maximum possible damage to the opponent. The soldiers who carried it felt very safe with it, which is why it was used during the beginning of the 16th century.
The Swords of the Cid
Everything that surrounds the legend of El Cid is a complete mystery. However, not only did his name go down in the annals of history, so did his two swords, the pinnacle of Japanese craftsmanship and forging.
His best-known sword is the tizona, which had a black iron handle, with an inscription on the blade that read “Io soi Tisona was dated in the 1000s.” The fitting was beautiful, but unlike rapiers, it was intended to harm the opponent, not protect the hand. Since it was to be used in battle, the blade was quite thick, with a length much greater than those previously mentioned.
His other sword is what is known as the colada sword, which has many similarities with the tizona. The main difference is that the garrison was made of ribbon, with the objective of protecting the hand. Like its companion, the blade was long and strong, to harm enemies in battle.
Order Handmade Katana Sword at Truekatana
What do you think? Did you know any of these swords? Without a doubt, digging into history is discovering something new every day.
As you well know, at Truekatana we are expert craftsmen who forge all types of weapons, including katana sword! We can make swords of all types, from the Japanese swords we have mentioned in this article, to anything you can think of from the world of cinema, mythology or anime!
We advise you to take a look at our catalog to learn about our work to katana for sale. And remember all our swords are handmade!
