Altering the shape will allow more resistance when fighting in hand-to-hand combat. Wakizashi and tant, for instance, were not simply scaled-down versions of katana; they were often forged in a shape called hira-zukuri, in which the cross-sectional shape of the blade becomes an isosceles triangle.[125]. Some are found in new condition, but most have artificially aged by . Being so, if the sword or blade were in a more vertical position, it would be cumbersome, and awkward to draw. Ww2 Japanese Type 97 Army Officer's Shin Gunto Katana Sword With Green Scabbard . This fine example is a genuine WWII Japanese Type 95 NCO Samurai Sword or katana with aluminum handle construction and machine made blade. Examples of such are shown in the book "The Japanese Sword" by Kanzan Sato. Tokyo National Museum. This was a more comfortable way for the armored samurai to carry his very long sword or to draw while mounted. Archaeological excavations of the sh Tohoku region show iron ore smelting sites dating back to the early Nara period. The most common style of sword mounting from this era, shingunto mounts, used machine-made blades for the most part. 1900-1945. According to the Parliamentary Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Japanese Swords, organized by Japanese Diet members, many Japanese swords distributed around the world as of the 21st century are fake Japanese-style swords made in China. At the same time, kendo was incorporated into police training so that police officers would have at least the training necessary to properly use one. Was:199.00 USD Save 15% today, Deal ends soon! [11][137], Currently, there are several authoritative rating systems for swordsmiths. [79] The Umetada school led by Umetada Myoju who was considered to be the founder of shinto led the improvement of the artistry of Japanese swords in this period. [64], By the 15th century, Japanese swords had already gained international fame by being exported to China and Korea. The Bizen school had enjoyed the highest prosperity for a long time, but declined rapidly due to a great flood which occurred in the late 16th century during the Sengoku period. Differences in Japanese swords according to status. Type 98 Shin Gunto swords started production in 1938. If the angle of the block was drastic enough, the curve of the Japanese swords blade would cause the attacker's blade to slide along its counter and off to the side.[126]. Daish made as a pair, mounted as a pair, and owned/worn as a pair, are therefore uncommon and considered highly valuable, especially if they still retain their original mountings (as opposed to later mountings, even if the later mounts are made as a pair). Early models had uneven curves with the deepest part of the curve at the hilt. Perrin, Noel. Some blades, however, were hand-made, using non-traditional methods. Recently bought this off an auction. A few smiths continued their trade, and Honma went on to be a founder of the Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword (, Nippon Bijutsu Tken Hozon Kykai), who made it their mission to preserve the old techniques and blades. The ban was overturned through a personal appeal by Dr. Junji Honma. The Museum of Fine Arts states that when an artisan plunged the newly crafted sword into the cold water, a portion of his spirit was transferred into the sword. Nowadays, kinkoshi sometimes serves as shiroganeshi and tsubashi. [61][23] The export of Japanese sword reached its height during the Muromachi period when at least 200,000 swords were shipped to Ming Dynasty China in official trade in an attempt to soak up the production of Japanese weapons and make it harder for pirates in the area to arm. Daimyo hid some swords for fear that they would be confiscated by the Tokugawa Shogunate, so even some precious swords were not listed in the book. Their swords are often characterized as curved from the base, with irregular fingerprint-like patterns on the surface of the blade, while the hamon has a flashy pattern like a series of cloves, and there is little grain but a color gradient at the boundary of the hamon. $ 650.00. WWII Japanese Type98 Sword NIHONTO KOSHIRAE Imperial Japanese Army WW2 BLADE $507.69 $75.00 shipping 85 watching WW2 Japanese Sword Gunto Late War Type 1944 parts $110.00 $10.40 shipping WWII JAPANESE NAVY OFFICERS SWORD W SCABBARD FAMILY OVER 300 YEARS OLD BLADE J25 $1,195.00 $25.00 shipping or Best Offer 18 watching They were very highly sought after by Australian, US and British troops as souvenirs. To qualify as a dait the sword must have a blade longer than 2 shaku (approximately 24inches or 60 centimeters) in a straight line. Grain (hada) is sometimes difficult for beginners to recognize. These were called kodachi and are somewhere in between a true dait and a wakizashi. To retaliate, in 1719 the eighth Tokugawa shogun, Yoshimune, compiled a list of most famous swords. swords of this type I have seen as it has markings with Japanese characters. The forging of a Japanese blade typically took weeks or even months and was considered a sacred art. [100] During this time, China was craving steel blades on the Korean Peninsula. Wakizashi mounting. Almost no one was able to reproduce midare-utsurii until Kunihira Kawachi reproduced it in 2014. All types of Japanese military swords are currently being reproduced and/or faked. The most prominent part is the middle ridge, or shinogi. The cross-sectional shape of the blades of these early swords was an isosceles triangular hira-zukuri, and the kiriha-zukuri sword, which sharpened only the part close to the cutting edge side of a planar blade, gradually appeared. Depending on the size of the particles, they can be divided into two types, a nie and a nioi, which makes them look like stars or mist. [55], In the Nanboku-ch period (13361392) which corresponds to the early Muromachi period (13361573), huge Japanese swords such as dachi became popular. This connection to the spirit world premediates the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. Farmers and townspeople could wear daisho until 1683. Giving Up the Gun: Japan's Reversion to the Sword, 15431879. The Type 32 (Model 1899) had a machined blade and was manufactured at the Tokyo Hohei Kosho Arsenal. Suspending the sword by 'cords' allowed the sheath to be more horizontal, and far less likely to bind while drawing it in that position. The daish was not always forged together. The katana forged by Nagasone Kotetsu, one of the top-rated swordsmith, became very popular at the time when the book was published, and many counterfeits were made. For a long time, Japanese people have developed a unique appreciation method in which the blade is regarded as the core of their aesthetic evaluation rather than the sword mountings decorated with luxurious lacquer or metal works. The blade is repeatedly heat treated and hand forged to remove impurities. The length is measured in a straight line across the back of the blade from tip to munemachi (where blade meets tang). [33][81][70][35] Samurai could wear decorative sword mountings in their daily lives, but the Tokugawa shogunate regulated the formal sword that samurai wore when visiting a castle by regulating it as a daisho made of a black scabbard, a hilt wrapped with white ray skin and black string. Daggers (tant), were also carried for close combat fighting as well as carried generally for personal protection. For this, the block is again hammered, folded and welded in a similar fashion to the hadagane, but with fewer folds. The Type 94 Shin Gunto were the first models from 1934, although the Type 95 swords were produced already the next year. Mythology also suggests that when Emperor. The kot swords, especially the Bizen school swords made in the Kamakura period, had a midare-utsuri like a white mist between hamon and shinogi, but the swords since shinto have almost disappeared. The following are types of Japanese swords: There are bladed weapons made in the same traditional manner as Japanese swords, which are not swords, but which are still Japanese swords (nihont) (as "t" means "blade", rather than specifically "sword"): Other edged weapons or tools that are made using the same methods as Japanese swords: Each Japanese sword is classified according to when the blade was made. The shingane (for the inner core of the blade) is of a relatively softer steel with a lower carbon content than the hadagane. This sword was owned by Kusunoki Masashige. And most of them kept wearing wakizashi on a daily basis until the middle of the 18th century. Masamune, who learned from Shintgo Kunimitsu, became the greatest swordsmith in Japan. Previously, the curved tachi had been worn with the edge of the blade facing down and suspended from a belt. Bizen Fukuoka-Ichimonji school. Bizen Osafune school. A sht and a dait together are called a daish (literally, "big-little"[33]). WW2 Japanese officers gunto. Archaeological evidence of recovered Warabitet () show a high concentration in the burial goods of the sh and Hokkaido regions. The legitimate Japanese sword is made from Japanese steel "Tamahagane". In Japanese, the scabbard is referred to as a saya, and the handguard piece, often intricately designed as an individual work of artespecially in later years of the Edo periodwas called the tsuba. [109] Some samurai found it difficult to assimilate to the new culture as they were forced to give up their privileges, while others preferred this less-hierarchical way of life. The Meiji era also saw the integration of Buddhism into Shinto Japanese beliefs. However, when a domestic conflict occurred at the end of the Heian period, practicality was emphasized and a swordsmith was invited from the Bizen school. WWII Japanese Sword. [112] The government at the time feared that the warrior spirit (loyalty and honour) was disappearing within Japan, along with the integrity and quality of swords. The swords themselves are subdivided into six basic Japanese sword types corresponding to specific eras in history: Jokoto : Ancient swords, developed until the 10th century Koto : Old swords, manufactured between 900 and 1596 Shinto: New swords, produced from 1596 to 1780 Shinshinto: New new swords, made from 1781 through 1876 Gendaito Japanese mythology states that the sword is a symbol of truth and a token of virtue. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 21:36. They forged the blade using a combination of soft and hard steel to optimize the temperature and timing of the heating and cooling of the blade, resulting in a lighter but more robust blade. From there, fluidly continuing along the motion wrought by ten-uchi, the arms would follow through with the stroke, dragging the sword through its target. Each school forged swords under the supervision of a different temple. These are a thick back (mune), a thinner edge (ha), a curved tip (kissaki), notches on the edge (hamachi) and back (munemachi) which separate the blade from the tang (nakago). Swords and warriors are closely associated with Shinto in Japanese culture. In addition, The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, a public interest incorporated foundation, rates high-value swords in four grades, and the highest grade Special Important Sword (Tokubetsu Juyo Token, ) is considered to be equivalent to the value of Important Art Object. Although this forging method is not fully understood to date, one of the elements is heating at higher temperatures and rapid cooling. [53][71][72], From this period, the tang (nakago) of many old tachi were cut and shortened into katana. The object of appreciation is the shape of hammon and the crystal particles formed at the boundary of hammon. Typical WWII Imperial Japanese Army style fittings, with a single suspension ring from the scabbard, known as the New Military Sword (shin guntou) style. 70% of daito (long swords), formerly owned by Japanese officers, have been exported or brought to the United States. As such, blocking an oncoming blow blade-to-blade was generally avoided. Swords were no longer necessary, in war or lifestyle, and those who practiced martial arts became the modern samurai young children were still groomed to serve the emperor and put loyalty and honour above all else, as this new era of rapid development required loyal, hard working men. The precise way in which the clay is applied, and partially scraped off at the edge, is a determining factor in the formation of the shape and features of the crystalline structure known as the hamon. He insisted that the bold and strong kot blade from the Kamakura period to the Nanboku-ch period was the ideal Japanese sword, and started a movement to restore the production method and apply it to katana. 12th century, Heian period. Their swords are often characterized by a shallow curve, a wide blade to the back, and a thin cross-section. "Reception and transformation of foreign cultures in Thailand; focusing on the foreign trade items of the 13 th to 18th centuries", Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The sheath is decorated by fish skin, the yellow and white parts are mixed by chalcopyrite and copper. They forged the swords that were often worn by monk warriors called shei in Nara's large temples. The Yayoi period saw swords be used primarily for religious and ceremonial purposes. sh swords appear in various old books of this time, for example Heiji Monogatari (Tale of Heiji), Konjaku Monogatari (Anthology of tales from the past), Kojidan (Japanese collection of Setsuwa ), and Gikeiki (War tale that focuses on the legends of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his followers). In 1934 the Japanese government issued a military specification for the shin gunt (new army sword), the first version of which was the Type 94 Katana, and many machine- and hand-crafted swords used in World War II conformed to this and later shin gunt specifications. This motion causes the swordsman's grip to twist slightly and if done correctly, is said to feel like wringing a towel (Thomas Hooper reference). The hilt was typically wrapped in sharkskin or rayskin, and the scabbard was made of lacquered wood. WW2 Japanese type 98 officers gunto sword - $800 image 1 of 8 QR Code Link to This Post. National Treasure. Edo period. Katana, by Motoshige. There is an enormous difference in quality of both blades and mounts of this period. There are more than 100 Japanese swords designated as National Treasures in Japan, of which the Kot of the Kamakura period account for 80% and the tachi account for 70%.[11][12]. (top) Tant mounting, Late Edo period. Japanese army sword theme, hand forged . say that swords that are over 3 shaku in blade length are "longer than normal dait" and are usually referred to as dachi. According to the record of June 1, 1430 in the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, a Korean swordsmith who went to Japan and mastered the method of making Japanese swords presented a Japanese sword to the King of Korea and was rewarded for the excellent work which was no different from the swords made by the Japanese. The segments of the swing are hardly visible, if at all. The mei is the signature inscribed on to the tang of the Japanese sword. A Russo-Japanese War / WW2 period Japanese police (Sergeant's) dirk, ca. This sword has a cast aluminium tsuka (hilt) with a 4mm thick plain iron tsuba (guard). The follow through would continue the slicing motion, through whatever else it would encounter, until the blade inherently exited the body, due to a combination of the motion and its curved shape. The hilt has a pommel cap which acts to retain a nut which in turn secures the tang of the blade. However, some dait were designed with blades slightly shorter than 2 shaku. Such traditionally-made swords are gendaito or kindaito. Nearly all styles of kenjutsu share the same five basic guard postures. [43][44], In the middle of the Heian period (7941185), samurai improved on the Warabitet to develop Kenukigata-tachi (ja:) -early Japanese sword-. In these books, the 3 swordsmiths treated specially in "Kyh Meibutsu Ch" and Muramasa, who was famous at that time for forging swords with high cutting ability, were not mentioned. [105], The Meiji Period (18681912) saw the dissolution of the samurai class, after foreign powers demanded Japan open their borders to international trade 300-hundred years of Japanese isolation came to an end. As a result of this meeting, the ban was amended so that gunt weapons would be destroyed while swords of artistic merit could be owned and preserved. The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods: jkot (ancient swords, until around 900 A.D.), kot (old swords from around 9001596), shint (new swords 15961780), shinshint (new new swords 17811876), gendait (modern or contemporary swords 1876present)[10], Early examples of iron swords were straight tsurugi, chokut and others with unusual shapes, some of styles and techniques probably derived from Chinese dao, and some directly imported through trade. The Nihonto Meikan shows the earliest and by far the largest group of sh smiths from the beginning of the 8th century were from the Mokusa school, listing over 100 Mokusa smiths before the beginning of the Kamakura period. An unsigned and shortened blade that was once made and intended for use as a tachi may be alternately mounted in tachi koshirae and katana koshirae. Rare 1st Type with matching numbers "4428" on blade and scabbard. The Arisaka rifle Type 99 was a common sight during the fighting in the Pacific in World War II. [104] This period also saw introduction of martial arts as a means to connecting to the spirit world and allowed common people to participate in samurai culture. Then, in 2014, Kunihira Kawachi succeeded in reproducing it and won the Masamune Prize, the highest honor as a swordsmith. The hadagane, for the outer skin of the blade, is produced by heating a block of raw steel, which is then hammered out into a bar, and the flexible back portion. There are irregular fingerprint-like patterns on the surface of the blade, the hamon has a pattern of undulations with continuous roundness, and the grains at the boundary of the hamon are large. Great swordsmiths were born one after another in the Osafune school which started in the Kamakura period, and it developed to the largest school in the history of Japanese swords. Japanese WWII Type 95 NCO Sword. Ranging from small letter openers to scale replica "wallhangers", these items are commonly made from stainless steel (which makes them either brittle (if made from cutlery-grade 400-series stainless steel) or poor at holding an edge (if made from 300-series stainless steel)) and have either a blunt or very crude edge. Nagamaki. These include;Shin-gunto, NCO Shin-gunto, Kai-gunto, Kyu-gunto, Officers Parade sabers and Police sabers. There is an enormous difference in quality of both blades and mounts of this period. There are accounts of good quality stainless steel Japanese swords, however, these are rare at best. "Warabitet " gained its fame through the series of battles between Emishi people () and the Yamato-chotei government ( ) in the late eighth century. Testing of swords, called tameshigiri, was practiced on a variety of materials (often the bodies of executed criminals) to test the sword's sharpness and practice cutting technique. TRUEKATANA Ww2 Japanese Straight Sword, Wwii Japanese Army Officer's Shin Straight Gunto Sword Type 98 Spring Steel Ad vertisement by TrueKatanaUSA. It is often evaluated as a sword with a showy and gorgeous impression. Thanks to the efforts of other like-minded individuals, the Japanese swords did not disappear, many swordsmiths continued the work begun by Masahide, and the old swordmaking techniques were rediscovered. Antique WWII Japanese Military Officer's Sword with Scabbard $404.00 2 bids $111.72 shipping 3d 18h Original Japan Type 30 Arisaka Bayonet - Rocking Star - Toyokawa Bayo $99.99 1 bid $14.00 shipping 4d 23h WW2 Japanese Sword Bring Back $157.50 5 bids $20.00 shipping 1d 22h Original WWII Japanese Officer Dagger $201.00 12 bids $15.35 shipping 1d 22h Bizen has been a major production area of high quality iron sand since ancient times. By repeatedly folding and forging the blade, fine patterns such as fingerprints, tree rings and bark are formed on its surface. Almost all blades are decorated, although not all blades are decorated on the visible part of the blade. Tokyo National Museum. In addition, the whole body of the blade became whitish and hard. The practice of folding also ensures a somewhat more homogeneous product, with the carbon in the steel being evenly distributed and the steel having no voids that could lead to fractures and failure of the blade in combat. 1 Reviews. Japan saw this as a threat to national security and felt the need to develop their military technology. When unarmored, samurai would carry their sword with the blade facing up. The reasons for this are considered to be that Yamada was afraid of challenging the authority of the shogun, that he could not use the precious sword possessed by the daimyo in the examination, and that he was considerate of the legend of Muramasa's curse. [13][14] Japanese swords since the Sint period often have gorgeous decorations carved on the blade and lacquered maki-e decorations on the scabbard. Most blades that fall into the "sht" size range are wakizashi. While the straight tip on the "American tanto" is identical to traditional Japanese fukura, two characteristics set it apart from Japanese sword makes: The absolute lack of curve only possible with modern tools, and the use of the word "tanto" in the nomenclature of the western tribute is merely a nod to the Japanese word for knife or short sword, rather than a tip style. 13th century, Kamakura period. Reviews. These reproductions are being made in a variety of factories around the world. Their katana were often longer than 90cm (35.43in) in blade length, less curved, and had a big and sharp point, which was advantageous for stabbing in indoor battles. The nagamaki (, "long wrapping") is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword ( nihont) [1] [2] with an extra long handle, used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Ten-uchi refers to an organized motion made by arms and wrist, during a descending strike. Wwii Japanese Type 98 Army Shin Gunto Officer's Sword. [55], In later Japanese feudal history, during the Sengoku and Edo periods, certain high-ranking warriors of what became the ruling class would wear their sword tachi-style (edge-downward), rather than with the scabbard thrust through the belt with the edge upward. Quite good condition was inherited looking to sell. [103] In 1543 guns arrived in Japan, changing military dynamic and practicality of swords and samurai's. [85], In 1867, the Tokugawa Shogunate declared the return of Japan's sovereignty to the Emperor, and from 1868, the government by the Emperor and rapid modernization of Japan began, which was called the Meiji Restoration. In addition, whether the front edge of the tip is more curved (fukura-tsuku) or (relatively) straight (fukura-kareru) is also important. Masamune, Awatacuchi Yoshimitsu, and Go no Yoshihiro were dubbed the Three Famous Smiths, their swords became sought after by the Daimyo. However, Japanese swords of longer lengths also existed, including lengths up to 78cm (2 shaku 5 sun 5 bu). From the lessons of the Mongol invasion of Japan, they revolutionized the forging process to make stronger swords. Blades whose length is next to a different classification type are described with a prefix 'O-' (for great) or 'Ko-' (for small), e.g. Miyamoto Musashi refers to the long sword in The Book of Five Rings. These Type 98 'Shin Gunt' mounted swords were used by Commissioned Officers of the Imperial Japanese Army during WW2. The vast majority of these one million or more swords were gunt, but there were still a sizable number of older swords. Curvature, length, width, tip, and shape of tang of the sword are the objects for appreciation. The founder of the school was Sanj Munechika in the late 10th century in the Heian period. Important Cultural Property. In handachi, both styles were often mixed, for example, fastening to the obi was katana style, but metalworking of the scabbard was tachi style. This was due to the economic development and the increased value of swords as arts and crafts as the Sengoku Period ended and the peaceful Edo Period began. Even so, many Japanese swords were sold to American soldiers at a bargain price; in 1958 there were more Japanese swords in America than in Japan. Kazari tachi. [106] Haitrei (1876) outlawed and prohibited wearing swords in public, with the exception for those in the military and government official; swords lost their meaning within society. Daimyo would gift samurai's with swords as a token of their appreciation for their services. The variations in the form and structure of the hamon are all indicative of the period, smith, school or place of manufacture of the sword. These Japanese swords were often seen with Japanese troops, especially generals, during WW2. Some of the more commonly known types of Japanese swords are the katana, tachi, odachi, wakizashi, and tant. He is referring to the katana in this, and refers to the nodachi and the odachi as "extra-long swords". This motion itself caused the sword's blade to impact its target with sharp force, and is used to break initial resistance. [29] The date will be inscribed near the mei, either with the reign name; the Zodiacal Method; or those calculated from the reign of the legendary Emperor Jimmu, dependent upon the period.[30][31][32]. During this process the billet of steel is heated and hammered, split and folded back upon itself many times and re-welded to create a complex structure of many thousands of layers. A good help that could be bought by hundred gold, equipping it can dispel evil. [111] The practice of sword making was prohibited, thus swords during the Meiji period were obsolete and a mere symbol of status. [55][56], In the Kamakura period (11851333), high-ranking samurai wore hyogo gusari tachi (hyogo kusari no tachi, ), which meant a sword with chains in the arsenal. [132][133], It is said that the following three objects are the most noteworthy objects when appreciating a blade. on both sides of the blade. His popularity is due to his timeless exceptional skill, as he was nicknamed "Masamune in Yotsuya" and his disastrous life. Shipping. The first pattern, known as 'Ko,' was issued to cavalry NCOs and had a blade length of around 830mm. However, in 1588 during the AzuchiMomoyama period, Toyotomi Hideyoshi conducted a sword hunt and banned farmers from owning them with weapons. [107][108] The Meiji era marked the final moments of samurai culture, as samurai's were no match for conscript soldiers who were trained to use western firearms. A nice IJA Japanese Type 32 (B) Army Sword! Short WWII Japanese Army Officer's Sword Mounted With Old Blade and Silver Family Crest $ 325.00 Item Number: 66269 Japanese Type 19 Company Grade Officer Sword $ 295.00 Item Number: 66271 WWII Japanese Type 30 Arisaka Rifle Bayonet by Toyoda Automatic Loomworks Under Nagoya Arsenal Supervision With Wood Scabbard $ 225.00 Item Number: 66210 SOLD! World War II Japanese naval officers sword kai gunto. While they forged high-quality swords by order, at the same time, from the Muromachi period, when wars became large-scale, they mass-produced low-quality swords for drafted farmers and for export. Ko-Hki (old Hki) school. In fact, many had difficulty reaching the bolt when the butt was at the shoulder in a . This is an accurate and fully functional reproduction of a WW2 Gunto Japanese Officer Sword, clay tempered with a polished mirror-like surface. Kenjutsu is the Japanese martial art of using the Japanese swords in combat. Although a sturdy weapon, at just over 50 inches, the Arisaka Type 38 6.5mm (1905) rifle was a bit too long for the typical height of a Japanese infantryman. When the mounts are taken out of the equation, a tanto and wakizashi will be determined by length under or over 30cm, unless their intended use can be absolutely determined or the speaker is rendering an opinion on the intended use of the blade. [61][62] Also, there is a theory that koshigatana (), a kind of tant which was equipped by high ranking samurai together with tachi, developed to katana through the same historical background as sasuga, and it is possible that both developed to katana. [63] The oldest katana in existence today is called Hishizukuri uchigatana, which was forged in the Nanbokuch period, and was dedicated to Kasuga Shrine later. The sword was mostly considered as a secondary weapon until then, used in the battlefield only after the bow and polearm were no longer feasible. This distinctive tempering line found near the edge is one of the main characteristics to be assessed when examining a blade. The Mino school started in the middle of the Kamakura period, when swordsmiths of the Yamato school who learned from the Ssh school gathered in Mino. [132][133], Generally, the blade and the sword mounting of Japanese swords are displayed separately in museums, and this tendency is remarkable in Japan. No one could win the Masamune Prize unless he made an extraordinary achievement, and in the section of tachi and katana, no one had won for 18 years before Kawauchi.[14]. Mino Province was a strategic traffic point connecting the Kanto and Kansai regions, and was surrounded by powerful daimyo (feudal lords). [63], However, Toyotomi's sword hunt couldn't disarm peasants. [125], Japanese swords were often forged with different profiles, different blade thicknesses, and varying amounts of grind.