![]() Traditional bokken are made from a wood called honoki, which only grows in Japan. This is a stabbing weapon, also always carried by the samurai, although it might be carried concealed in a place where it can be easily reached when needed. Some other modifications to the basic blade design can exist as well. Tanto – the tanto differs from the other two categories in that it may have either a single or double edged blade.The samurai always carried both the katana and the wakizashi, with this shorter sword used primarily indoors, where there wasn’t room for the longer katana. Wakizashi – the shorter version of the katana, measuring 11 to 23 inches in length.The katana was the main weapon of the samurai and was primarily used as an outdoor weapon. The blade must have a curve of more or less one inch. Along with the other types of swords, it has a full-tang for strength. Katana – three to four feet long, with the hilt accounting for roughly one-quarter the total length.The real difference between them is their length. There are three different swords in this category, all of which have the same basic design. There are actually many different types of Japanese swords, although the family of swords we know today is based upon the katana. The police and district attorney’s office would likely categorize the use of the bokken just like the use of a baseball bat in self-defense. While I wouldn’t want to face off against a pistol-wielding hood with one, I’d take one over a switchblade any day. But the bokken, being made of wood and not metal, is not legally considered a weapon therefore, it is legal to carry. ![]() Due to its length, it’s illegal to carry in most states, although not illegal to own. Carrying a katana falls under the same group of state laws regulating the carrying of knives. This brings up an interesting possibility with a wooden katana, that of carrying one as a self-defense weapon. While the bokken is made of wood, it is fully capable of inflicting injury, either in bruising the person struck with it, cutting them if it is sharpened, or even breaking small bones. This should not be confused with the shinai, which is a bamboo version of the katana, used in skirmish practice and competition. The general fascination with the katana readily carries over into woodworking, as there is a wooden version of the katana known as the bokken, used for training in the movements of kendo, the Japanese art of sword fighting. Today, a katana made by the traditional methods sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some steps require weeks to complete on one sword, working on it every day. Making a katana the original way involves the work of as many as 15 specialists, working over a period of six months. Commoners used other things as weapons, often tools that they used every day.īut the katana has earned a special place in history, partially due to the culture of the samurai, partially due to the artistry that went into making it and partially due to the technology that went into the blade, something that was not known in other parts of the world. Spears were the weapon of the infantry, as they were considerably easier and therefore less expensive to fabricate. In many cases, it was only the royalty and their knights who had swords to use, as making one would take a considerable amount of time from a skilled smith. Swords themselves are fascinating tools, hearkening back to a day when they were the ultimate weapon a soldier could own. There’s a lot of fascination today with the katana and no wonder. How to Cut a Groove or Channel on Wood Without a Router.Drying Wood in the Oven: The Ultimate How-To Guide.How to Remove and Replace Your Load Bearing Wall.How to Fix a Sagging Couch with Plywood.The Ultimate Guide to Building a Portable Generator Enclosure.The Ultimate Guide to Building a Bat House.Aquarium Cabinetry: A DIY Guide to Custom Aquarium Stands.The Ultimate Guide to DIY Birdhouse Design.The Uses of and Challenges in Cutting Formica.Exterior Walls Construction: The Start-to-Finish Guide.Install a Combination Boiler/Water Heater.The Ultimate Guide to Sealing Laminate Floors.
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