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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 10:01:07 GMT
I am looking for some soft leather or synthetic material sheaths that I could wear on my back instead of carry on my belt. Where could I find something like this for a Katana that already has a wooden sheath meant to be worn on your side?
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 12:36:04 GMT
the only thing i can think of is the sword of hiro nakamura from the show heroes. for whatever ridiculous reason he wears it on his back in hte show and the "replica" has a leather holder for wearing it on your back. before i knew what i was doing with swords and still collecting slo's i tried drawing from my back and learned why you don't do it its just awkward and especially for jsa eliminates all the different drawing techniques
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 14:46:44 GMT
The Daywalker sword is worn on your back with a pretty good harness. I have seen them made from fairly good quality leather too. Mind you it would have to be modified to hold a regular Katana.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 18:32:52 GMT
i think the daywalker one might make it even harder to draw with a katana given the curve
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Post by randomnobody on May 10, 2009 18:50:30 GMT
Back in my younger days, when I was particularly bored, I used to take some old shoe strings, either one or two strings, and tie them around the sheath/scabbard/call-it-what-you-will of one or another of my swords, creating a sort of suspension system which I would then use to wear the sword on my back. I didn't find drawing, or even sheathing, that terribly awkward... The most notable differences were in my curved swords versus straight swords; the curved ones I had to hang diagonally and they'd often hang edge-down since they tended to balance this way anyhow, and this made determining how do draw them a bit odd, but once I got it sorted it was easy. Not so much sheathing...that was easier with the straight blades. I'm not aware of many decent systems in the mass-production market that would work well with a curved katana, there are a few out there for claymores and the like, and some for smaller straight swords, but you'll probably have to make your own for a curved sword.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 19:28:25 GMT
What about with the Oniyuri which is shorter?
I think there are many advantages to carrying it on your back. For one thing its easier to run with it on your back.
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Post by randomnobody on May 10, 2009 19:41:49 GMT
I, uh...I run just fine with a sword on my hip. Though I'd hate to have it snag something while on my back...
Though the shorther blade would make things easier in this case, I imagine.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 19:49:13 GMT
As long as the blade is short enough to draw, I really dont see the problem in carrying it on your back.
I am not interested in historical accuracy. I am not worried about another sword fighter drawing his sword first, or having to block. I am more interested in running through forest and brush and just goofing around and having fun chopping stuff. For me personally, carrying the sword on my belt is a little less convenient for certain outdoor activities. Wearing it on my back just seems like it would be more comfortable, and I am not too concerned with practicing Iaito and I am not worried about another sword fighter beating me to the draw.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 19:52:45 GMT
For example....what if there was a major disaster or world war and I was traveling down through latin America with nothing but a motorcycle, the stuff on my saddle bags and the stuff on my back. I think strapping it to my back would be a much better idea than strapping it to my belt.
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Post by randomnobody on May 10, 2009 19:55:09 GMT
I think I would disagree with that. It'd be much easier to draw from your hip while on a motorcycle than having to reach over your shoulder. This is quite possibly why cavalry for thousands of years wore their swords not on their back, but at their hip.
Though for some tasks I can see the advantage to keeping the sword "out of the way" on your back, rather than the obstacle it could present in your belt in some cases.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 19:59:13 GMT
Im sure it would be easier to draw from the hip in almost all cases, but I think it would get in the way and throw off my balance while trying to ride. A motorcycle is also much lower to the ground than a horse is, and there are those big wheels. If the sheath hit or caught something it wouldnt be good for riding.
Maybe it would be nice to have an adjustable belt that could be worn either on your back or on your side. Maybe having a latch so that the sheath runs parallel to the strap while on your back, but then it detaches so it can hang freely when worn as a belt.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 20:35:04 GMT
Wearing a sword on a motorcycle is a good way of getting pulled over.
Bag them for traveling. Period.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 20:44:48 GMT
The scenario I laid out is one where you probably wouldnt have to worry much about police. We are talking rural latin America where people walk around with machetes and dont get hassled for it, and space would be very limited in my saddle bags.
It was just a hypothetical example of how the option of carrying it on your back could be less in the way than carrying it on your side, despite being more difficult to draw.
And its not like carrying certain types of swords on your back has no historical basis. It just isnt traditional for Katanas. Generally this was done because its easier to carry, not because its easier to draw from.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 21:07:03 GMT
I also hear that in some traditional Japanese texts it advises warriors to carry their swords on their back while climbing walls for a siege.
Obviously it is not an ideal position to draw from, but that is not the point.
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Post by sparky on May 10, 2009 22:34:11 GMT
I also hear that in some traditional Japanese texts it advises warriors to carry their swords on their back while climbing walls for a siege. Obviously it is not an ideal position to draw from, but that is not the point. I didn't think about a siege, but I was thinking it would be kinda cool tramping around the mountains . I used to keep a set of throwing knives at the collar of my jacket, easier to get than a sword I admit. Any way after watching, I think it was called, Romancing the Stone where the guy had a sling for his shoot gun on his back I just think it's cool for everything ;D .....er....um..... I might be a nerd.....
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 23:18:19 GMT
The whole drawn from back this is just Hollywood, like straight bladed ninjato's and platemail that could be slashed with a knife. Its just ......... well .......... nevermind.
My mate did the whole draw from his back thing, surprise surprise the blade came out, shaved a section of hair and skin from the back of his head, he bled a fair bit but was just alcohol and bandaid worthy and I used the clippers to clean the hair away. It wasnt the sharpest kat but if it had been a well made and scary sharp kat then the ambulance might of been the caller.......... Just food for thought.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2009 0:14:15 GMT
I am well aware of all that.
Carrying it on your back is not meant to be a battle ready position. Its a compromise between carrying it on your belt which can be cumbersome and keeping it packed away where it takes even longer to get to it. Its more comfortable for transport and a bit more available than having it packed away.
It has historical basis and practical application. The samurai used sheaths for their backs for climbing walls and other purposes. They would not go into battle with them on their back, because its not the best position to do a quick draw from, but they did use them for transport.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2009 0:19:59 GMT
Fair enough, just take a long cord, tie at bottom and up near the tsuba and put over your shoulder, find that works pretty well and if its for transport and you wanted it on your hip quick for battle ready it would be easy to sling off your back and slide into your waist wrap, belt, whatever ........ or even get two leather sword frogs and attach a buckled belt between them from KoA
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2009 0:30:10 GMT
Ill try it. I guess I just need a leather shealth and Ill try to make something I can sling over my back, if nothing better is already available.
I probably wont be climbing any walls for a siege, but I do live near a state park and I would like to take my sword with me for some tree pruning. There are some waterfalls around here but I would have to climb up some steep hill sides and hold on to tree roots to get there.
I wont be trying any quick draws. Ill probably remove it from my back entirely before I draw it.
Thank for the input.
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Post by randomnobody on May 11, 2009 6:33:11 GMT
I'm going to say that's probably illegal. At least, the state parks here really don't like people wandering with weapons or damaging the trees. I'd look into that first. I'd also not bother with the leather. Jut tie some strings around the scabbard as it is and toss it over your shoulder. Then try not to get arrested.
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