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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2009 17:29:22 GMT
Thanks for the thorough responses guys! Now I know!
On another topic, does anyone know the story behind leather Ito? It seems like its a more stylistic thing as opposed to traditional katana wrappings. I dont know of any historical nihonto that have used leather wrap.
I could be wrong though, if anyone knows please enlighten me.
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Post by shadowhowler on Dec 9, 2009 17:57:29 GMT
Thanks for the thorough responses guys! Now I know! On another topic, does anyone know the story behind leather Ito? It seems like its a more stylistic thing as opposed to traditional katana wrappings. I dont know of any historical nihonto that have used leather wrap. I could be wrong though, if anyone knows please enlighten me. I dunno about the historical use of leather ito... someone better informed will, no doubt, chime in on that. I personaly do not like leather as ito myself... I don't like the feel of it in hand, and I don't like the look of it either.
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Post by randomnobody on Dec 9, 2009 18:18:27 GMT
Swords have been wrapped in stranger things than leather.
There was once a thread here where somebody shared photos of some sort of whale hair, and another was a fossilized semprini of some animal.
I'm sure leather was not rare, but silk was probably more accessible and preferred.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2009 18:47:18 GMT
Swords have been wrapped in stranger things than leather. There was once a thread here where somebody shared photos of some sort of whale hair, and another was a fossilized semprini of some animal. I'm sure leather was not rare, but silk was probably more accessible and preferred. I've seen Leather used, though I can't remember where precisely, and I have seen something else cool: painted, laquered rice paper ito. Weird, huh? But pretty stylish and VERY durable so I'm told. If I had the $$$ and know-how, I'd want a sword like that, it looks fantastic.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2009 18:54:21 GMT
Is leather ito more durable than silk?
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Post by shadowhowler on Dec 9, 2009 18:59:36 GMT
Is leather ito more durable than silk? Depends on the quality of the leather and the skill of the one doing the wrap... but as a rule I would suspect no, its not.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Dec 9, 2009 19:03:45 GMT
I'm not so sure about ito but I know the Japanese had a special class of people who dealt with leather for armor and other needs. they were considered unclean religiously and were shunned but yet also treasured because only they could provide the leather goods the country needed. my memory on their exact situation is a bit spotty I'd have to break out the right book again to tell you more, but it was very fascinating.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2009 19:14:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2009 23:34:54 GMT
I'm not so sure about ito but I know the Japanese had a special class of people who dealt with leather for armor and other needs. they were considered unclean religiously and were shunned but yet also treasured because only they could provide the leather goods the country needed. my memory on their exact situation is a bit spotty I'd have to break out the right book again to tell you more, but it was very fascinating. Yeah, tanners were pretty low on the social ladder, since the work they did was believed to make them unclean. They also probably smelled awful from all the chemicals and such involved. I know they considered dead stuff to be unclean, but I have no idea what they thought about leather. It seems like leather was a special case that they had no problems with.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2009 0:16:13 GMT
"Same" is referring to "Samegawa" - which (i think translates directly as) "Skin of the giant ray". Its usually the belly skin of stingrays that is found between the actual wooden core & the outer wrap of the handle. Quick note. The samegawa is from the back of the fish as opposed to the belly. Ah, yes you are correct. My bad...
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Dec 10, 2009 1:09:29 GMT
I'm not so sure about ito but I know the Japanese had a special class of people who dealt with leather for armor and other needs. they were considered unclean religiously and were shunned but yet also treasured because only they could provide the leather goods the country needed. my memory on their exact situation is a bit spotty I'd have to break out the right book again to tell you more, but it was very fascinating. That is indeed very fascinating! I'd be interested in the further info, if you have the time. ;D Thanks, Slayer
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 10:48:02 GMT
A rather strange Ito on a katana is the "suede" Ito on the Chikara Katana distributed by Global Gear and reviewed by Paul. Wasn't sure of this at first but the overall look of the Chikara is growing on me . Tempted I am. Un fortunately . Where will the urge to buy these swords end?
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