Redesigned wakizashi, by making it an o-wakizashi...
May 8, 2012 22:18:29 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 8, 2012 22:18:29 GMT
...or, in reality, a chisa katana...best of all: an o-katana/b]
Since I own a cheap wall-hanger "Last Samurai" wakizashi, as well as the katana from the same series of movie-oriented replicas, and, given by me that my Dad was an engineer in the aerospace industry for years, I'm taking a stab (figure of speech; no pun intended) at redesigning something that already exists, the same as my Dad did for 30 yrs. before retiring, thusly:
To start, a picture of what I have now, from Larp Swords, an online distributor of replica edged weapons:
images.google.com/imgres?q=larp+swords+katana+daisho&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1440&bih=756&tbm=isch&tbnid=3gh2mStCm8MZEM:&imgrefurl=http://www.larpswords.org/display-swords/&docid=BsvBq_pZIUgdcM&imgurl=http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00evBTutpJAlqm/Display-Samurai-Swords-Katana-Wakizashi-TZ2325-.jpg&w=1000&h=391&ei=r5epT7WuNazZiQLn19HECA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=494&sig=110078963062205776533&page=1&tbnh=56&tbnw=142&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0,i:103&tx=58&ty=25
(Refer to the reference photo immediately above for a comparison of a wakizashi and a katana side-by-side to generally see what I mean. I do actually have the katana now as a fairly complete daisho, but I'll be concerned with the wakizashi for the time being.)
Now, the name of the company that made the sword:
www.lcs4u.com/mercadolibre1/set3ultimosam6.jpg
(The picture immediately above will be shown to my Sensei for his translation.)
Reedit:
He thought the translation was 'hollywood hype', as did I, originally. It was merely a dedication by the sword to its owner.
A typical translation, inspired by the movie:"Since ancient times to the present, God is with those who serve with didnity and honor."
From: images.google.com/imgres?q=last+samurai+sword+inscription&hl=en&biw=1016&bih=586&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=GhFgK6oLCtvb6M:&imgrefurl=http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/last-samurai-sword.html&docid=M3U3UzTt8aDAaM&imgurl=http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/images/handmade_last_samurai2_540.jpg&w=302&h=302&ei=UhbAT_bxC_LoiAKVsLTcBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=236&vpy=121&dur=2156&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=103&ty=115&sig=103906123993570793251&page=1&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:75
Alright, since the rather bogus movie quotation was given, I have a personal rendition:
"I, this sword, belong to a fearless Samurai warrior in whom the present daty ideals of his society have come together and merged with the old, ancient ones of past history; thus demonstrating honorable dignity, while serving God with loyalty and devotion, as well as exemplary service, to those people who depend upon his courageously performed deeds of daring courage...and in so doing...reflect great honor and praiseworthy acceptance to the sword wielder, amongst his peers, as represented by this sword's inscription."
Note:
This descriptive sentence above is admittedly much more wordy than the the movie version. Please bear in mind that Native Americans like myself are capable of being highly descriptive in their utterances, since most of their native languages are very complex and thus given to highly verbose sentence structures.
Now, then, my wakizashi is structurally identical with the wakizashi in the first photo above. Only superficial fittings appear different. The blade and all else are the same. The same goes for the katana as well, which I own as part of a daisho.
Specifications for my "Last Samurai" wakizashi :
Length of cutting edge on mune: 18" (with straight ruler)
Length of habaki: 7/8"
Total blade length: 18 7/8"
Sori/sora: 13/32" (remeasured from kissaki to the front of habaki, with straight edge and ruler at the deepest part)
Tsuka length: 8"
Total sword length: 26 7/8"
Original blade thickness(kasani): 3mm (at mune, in front of habaki)
Original blade thickness(sakikasani/sakihaba): 1mm (at ha right behind the kissaki at the yokote)
Balance point: 13" in front of butt end of kishira
Rear width of blade: 1" (at the front end of the habaki)
Front width of blade: 9/16" (at where yokote should be;there just isn't one on this sword)
Length of curved lower ha (the bosi): 1" (between "yokote" and tip of kissaki)
NOTES:
This sword appears to be tip-heavy because the whole blade narrows in width slowly toward the tip. Also, the thickness of the blade remains the same along the whole length of the blade. Otherwise, the kasani(blade thickness) is also probably too narrow compared to the average wakizashi.)
Now, to begin with, physical structural modifications to what I've measured above, I'd make the taper continue along the length toward the kissaki until it becomes nearly what a katana would be in length (about 23"-24"). I expect the sword tip to be short in width and narrow in thickness at the kissaki on the mune. I anticipate that. Furthermore, I would cut a 'hi' into both sides(bo-hi); thus lightening the blade. Now it's almost as long as a katana while being not as heavy.
All I intend to do with the sword, is merely self defense and light cutting---mostly the former, not the latter. The tip needn't be absolutely as stout as a building support I-beam in terms of strength. A threatening intruder should be stopped as quickly as possible and most of his body isn't as tough as a x$ from a tree or a length of pipe. Even if I only get the sword as sharp as, say, a paring knife, and I perform a correct cut, he'll stop coming at me---especially if he is missing a hand or his intestines.
Remember the infamous "Shop at Home" video in which the salesman was demonstrating the 'strength' of a very sharp tactical wakizashi, and had the blade break with the pointed end stabbing him in the arm? And that was with a less-than-razor-sharp blade. As it is now, my wakizashi can actually cut an admittedly! ragged slice in a regular thickness restaurant napkin.
I'm simply trying to get a better tactical advantage in length and at the same time have a sword lighter than a katana and easier to handle as a result.
Also, I enjoy the discipline that can accompany this hobby. As a personal note, I had no idea why a traditional Kenjitsu practitioner would bow to an American-owned, legally authentic, 100+-yrs-old sword or daisho, made by a dedicated Japanese swordsmith. Now, after I put my time, muscular effort and physical strain into sharpening the wall-hanger-quality hardware I own now, I have a better idea of the profound efforts that went into making a traditional hihonto. And, being Native American, I assert, adds to the understanding in a way the average person may not understand. There are even more personal opinions I can entertain, but those will remain with me.
Now, for an actual picture that approximately shows what I mean; from this chat room board blog site:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=239&start=50
(Look the "Last Legends" 4000 series sword at the posted reply: "Larlim's New Acquisitions" about halfway down the page. NOTE: The first picture in his post is the one I'm referring to.)
Now, what I really like about the sword pictured is the apparent strong taper from habaki to kissaki. The sword should then balance more heavily toward the tsuka. Adding two(2) grooves(bo-hi) to the top of the blade would lighten it further. If more length was to be desired, the gain in weight would then be easier to manage.
Why is this important to me?
I'm bigger than most people (6'1"), but I'm 62 and my biceps' are 11" only around. Most men are more stout than I am. I'd rather have the option of more speed than more weight to cut with. Besides, kinetic energy varies with the square of the speed:
www.google.com/imgres?q=kinetic+ ... ,s:0,i:106
I assert: A correctly placed cut will go through a bigger target than a heavier sword if it's going faster when it hits.
Why do I suggest all this?
I'm gearing this design toward three types of handlers: an old man, a small man or a woman. Since I'm 62 now, I'm redesigning a sword that already exists to be used by me. That's assuming I actually had the money to commission a custom sword.
In addition, the new type of sword would be specifically designed by me as a self defense weapon against an intruding atacker who doesn't also have a gun. Now, even if he has a length of something light, like a piece of thin-wall electrical conduit, or something more stabstancial, like a 2 foot length of 2X4, I'm looking to:
A) Increase the distance between me and him with a longer, lighter blade that will deal with the man while avoiding the opposing hand weapon.
NOTE:
Miamoto Musashi killed Sasaki Kojiro with an oar bokken longer than Kojiro's sword by, say, 20cm or more. The obvious idea to me would have been to force Kojiro to mind the danger of having injuries from the bokken, and Musashi should have known that.)
That's what I'd like to have as insurance in a fight against a thug with a something in my hand he needs to respect.
(This thread will be as much personal reference material for me in a thought experiment, as it can be a point of future discussion.)
I'll reedit this initial post occasionally and the members can view more information if they wish. All members can certainly post comments and/or questions as they wish.
If possible, I'll make a line drawing and try to upload it to SBG Forum's IP server's hard drive. The 'img/img' function should also work.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
I've almost finished a line drawing of the sword I envision:
The blade width of a wakizashi, the length of an o-katana, with the blade thickness at least 2mm more than the average wakizashi, and finally, made of spring steel or tungsten tool steel for extra toughness. Razor sharp, of course.
I'll try and convert the drawing to either .JPG or .PDF formats for uploading.
Okay, here's the first set of drawings from KeepandShare, a file uploading host service provider,www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=4195794&da=y
www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=4205936&da=y
(These will be .PDF's that run automatically as long as you have a PDF compiler on your computer's hard drive. The first files to be uploaded will concern a sword designed by my me that's effectively a wakizashi blade as long as an o-katana---that is, 34"). Further, I'll also upload a line drawing of the wakizashi that I used as a baseline design for the redesigned sword. They'll be converted to .PDF's on more than one 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper, thus making thm life-sized compared to the original swords.
NOTE:
This file does indeed load and run on this borrowed computer, as of 25 Jun 2012.
Well, I see I made a mistake in the naming of files: there are three(3) separate files for the wakizashi and four(4) for the 'super wakizashi'---and none are labeled by number, so that the reader can print out a copy of each one and paste the parts together for side-by-side comparison. I may have to re-upload them after I label all files and clean up the lines on the original drawings.
--Lee
Since I own a cheap wall-hanger "Last Samurai" wakizashi, as well as the katana from the same series of movie-oriented replicas, and, given by me that my Dad was an engineer in the aerospace industry for years, I'm taking a stab (figure of speech; no pun intended) at redesigning something that already exists, the same as my Dad did for 30 yrs. before retiring, thusly:
To start, a picture of what I have now, from Larp Swords, an online distributor of replica edged weapons:
images.google.com/imgres?q=larp+swords+katana+daisho&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1440&bih=756&tbm=isch&tbnid=3gh2mStCm8MZEM:&imgrefurl=http://www.larpswords.org/display-swords/&docid=BsvBq_pZIUgdcM&imgurl=http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00evBTutpJAlqm/Display-Samurai-Swords-Katana-Wakizashi-TZ2325-.jpg&w=1000&h=391&ei=r5epT7WuNazZiQLn19HECA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=494&sig=110078963062205776533&page=1&tbnh=56&tbnw=142&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0,i:103&tx=58&ty=25
(Refer to the reference photo immediately above for a comparison of a wakizashi and a katana side-by-side to generally see what I mean. I do actually have the katana now as a fairly complete daisho, but I'll be concerned with the wakizashi for the time being.)
Now, the name of the company that made the sword:
www.lcs4u.com/mercadolibre1/set3ultimosam6.jpg
(The picture immediately above will be shown to my Sensei for his translation.)
Reedit:
He thought the translation was 'hollywood hype', as did I, originally. It was merely a dedication by the sword to its owner.
A typical translation, inspired by the movie:"Since ancient times to the present, God is with those who serve with didnity and honor."
From: images.google.com/imgres?q=last+samurai+sword+inscription&hl=en&biw=1016&bih=586&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=GhFgK6oLCtvb6M:&imgrefurl=http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/last-samurai-sword.html&docid=M3U3UzTt8aDAaM&imgurl=http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/images/handmade_last_samurai2_540.jpg&w=302&h=302&ei=UhbAT_bxC_LoiAKVsLTcBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=236&vpy=121&dur=2156&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=103&ty=115&sig=103906123993570793251&page=1&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:75
Alright, since the rather bogus movie quotation was given, I have a personal rendition:
"I, this sword, belong to a fearless Samurai warrior in whom the present daty ideals of his society have come together and merged with the old, ancient ones of past history; thus demonstrating honorable dignity, while serving God with loyalty and devotion, as well as exemplary service, to those people who depend upon his courageously performed deeds of daring courage...and in so doing...reflect great honor and praiseworthy acceptance to the sword wielder, amongst his peers, as represented by this sword's inscription."
Note:
This descriptive sentence above is admittedly much more wordy than the the movie version. Please bear in mind that Native Americans like myself are capable of being highly descriptive in their utterances, since most of their native languages are very complex and thus given to highly verbose sentence structures.
Now, then, my wakizashi is structurally identical with the wakizashi in the first photo above. Only superficial fittings appear different. The blade and all else are the same. The same goes for the katana as well, which I own as part of a daisho.
Specifications for my "Last Samurai" wakizashi :
Length of cutting edge on mune: 18" (with straight ruler)
Length of habaki: 7/8"
Total blade length: 18 7/8"
Sori/sora: 13/32" (remeasured from kissaki to the front of habaki, with straight edge and ruler at the deepest part)
Tsuka length: 8"
Total sword length: 26 7/8"
Original blade thickness(kasani): 3mm (at mune, in front of habaki)
Original blade thickness(sakikasani/sakihaba): 1mm (at ha right behind the kissaki at the yokote)
Balance point: 13" in front of butt end of kishira
Rear width of blade: 1" (at the front end of the habaki)
Front width of blade: 9/16" (at where yokote should be;there just isn't one on this sword)
Length of curved lower ha (the bosi): 1" (between "yokote" and tip of kissaki)
NOTES:
This sword appears to be tip-heavy because the whole blade narrows in width slowly toward the tip. Also, the thickness of the blade remains the same along the whole length of the blade. Otherwise, the kasani(blade thickness) is also probably too narrow compared to the average wakizashi.)
Now, to begin with, physical structural modifications to what I've measured above, I'd make the taper continue along the length toward the kissaki until it becomes nearly what a katana would be in length (about 23"-24"). I expect the sword tip to be short in width and narrow in thickness at the kissaki on the mune. I anticipate that. Furthermore, I would cut a 'hi' into both sides(bo-hi); thus lightening the blade. Now it's almost as long as a katana while being not as heavy.
All I intend to do with the sword, is merely self defense and light cutting---mostly the former, not the latter. The tip needn't be absolutely as stout as a building support I-beam in terms of strength. A threatening intruder should be stopped as quickly as possible and most of his body isn't as tough as a x$ from a tree or a length of pipe. Even if I only get the sword as sharp as, say, a paring knife, and I perform a correct cut, he'll stop coming at me---especially if he is missing a hand or his intestines.
Remember the infamous "Shop at Home" video in which the salesman was demonstrating the 'strength' of a very sharp tactical wakizashi, and had the blade break with the pointed end stabbing him in the arm? And that was with a less-than-razor-sharp blade. As it is now, my wakizashi can actually cut an admittedly! ragged slice in a regular thickness restaurant napkin.
I'm simply trying to get a better tactical advantage in length and at the same time have a sword lighter than a katana and easier to handle as a result.
Also, I enjoy the discipline that can accompany this hobby. As a personal note, I had no idea why a traditional Kenjitsu practitioner would bow to an American-owned, legally authentic, 100+-yrs-old sword or daisho, made by a dedicated Japanese swordsmith. Now, after I put my time, muscular effort and physical strain into sharpening the wall-hanger-quality hardware I own now, I have a better idea of the profound efforts that went into making a traditional hihonto. And, being Native American, I assert, adds to the understanding in a way the average person may not understand. There are even more personal opinions I can entertain, but those will remain with me.
Now, for an actual picture that approximately shows what I mean; from this chat room board blog site:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=239&start=50
(Look the "Last Legends" 4000 series sword at the posted reply: "Larlim's New Acquisitions" about halfway down the page. NOTE: The first picture in his post is the one I'm referring to.)
Now, what I really like about the sword pictured is the apparent strong taper from habaki to kissaki. The sword should then balance more heavily toward the tsuka. Adding two(2) grooves(bo-hi) to the top of the blade would lighten it further. If more length was to be desired, the gain in weight would then be easier to manage.
Why is this important to me?
I'm bigger than most people (6'1"), but I'm 62 and my biceps' are 11" only around. Most men are more stout than I am. I'd rather have the option of more speed than more weight to cut with. Besides, kinetic energy varies with the square of the speed:
www.google.com/imgres?q=kinetic+ ... ,s:0,i:106
I assert: A correctly placed cut will go through a bigger target than a heavier sword if it's going faster when it hits.
Why do I suggest all this?
I'm gearing this design toward three types of handlers: an old man, a small man or a woman. Since I'm 62 now, I'm redesigning a sword that already exists to be used by me. That's assuming I actually had the money to commission a custom sword.
In addition, the new type of sword would be specifically designed by me as a self defense weapon against an intruding atacker who doesn't also have a gun. Now, even if he has a length of something light, like a piece of thin-wall electrical conduit, or something more stabstancial, like a 2 foot length of 2X4, I'm looking to:
A) Increase the distance between me and him with a longer, lighter blade that will deal with the man while avoiding the opposing hand weapon.
NOTE:
Miamoto Musashi killed Sasaki Kojiro with an oar bokken longer than Kojiro's sword by, say, 20cm or more. The obvious idea to me would have been to force Kojiro to mind the danger of having injuries from the bokken, and Musashi should have known that.)
That's what I'd like to have as insurance in a fight against a thug with a something in my hand he needs to respect.
(This thread will be as much personal reference material for me in a thought experiment, as it can be a point of future discussion.)
I'll reedit this initial post occasionally and the members can view more information if they wish. All members can certainly post comments and/or questions as they wish.
If possible, I'll make a line drawing and try to upload it to SBG Forum's IP server's hard drive. The 'img/img' function should also work.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
I've almost finished a line drawing of the sword I envision:
The blade width of a wakizashi, the length of an o-katana, with the blade thickness at least 2mm more than the average wakizashi, and finally, made of spring steel or tungsten tool steel for extra toughness. Razor sharp, of course.
I'll try and convert the drawing to either .JPG or .PDF formats for uploading.
Okay, here's the first set of drawings from KeepandShare, a file uploading host service provider,www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=4195794&da=y
www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=4205936&da=y
(These will be .PDF's that run automatically as long as you have a PDF compiler on your computer's hard drive. The first files to be uploaded will concern a sword designed by my me that's effectively a wakizashi blade as long as an o-katana---that is, 34"). Further, I'll also upload a line drawing of the wakizashi that I used as a baseline design for the redesigned sword. They'll be converted to .PDF's on more than one 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper, thus making thm life-sized compared to the original swords.
NOTE:
This file does indeed load and run on this borrowed computer, as of 25 Jun 2012.
Well, I see I made a mistake in the naming of files: there are three(3) separate files for the wakizashi and four(4) for the 'super wakizashi'---and none are labeled by number, so that the reader can print out a copy of each one and paste the parts together for side-by-side comparison. I may have to re-upload them after I label all files and clean up the lines on the original drawings.
--Lee