Anime Swords and Wonder
For me, the most striking thing about anime is the courageous extremes that the designers take in creating its signature style. Some, who love a reality bound sense of proportion, do not appreciate it. But for those of us who can allow our minds to accept the absurd, not only accept, but take pleasure in it, there is no other medium more predisposed to artistic excess than anime. Now for example, there is one area in particular which take extreme liberty in design. I'm referring to the weapons used by anime characters, especially the swords. I remember first seeing the absolutely enormous blade held by the main character in Final Fantasy VII. Of course ones first response is shock, then...
SS676 Musha Katana - A Sword Worth Owning
Razor sharp and thick blades are the main reasons why the Musha Katana swords are now becoming popular not just in Japan but all over the world. A product from an academy renowned for their superiority in sword-making, Chris Zhou, Musha swords must not be only admired for their beauty. These samurai swords are also very functional and not to mention that it is economical, making them easier to purchase by those who like to have Japanese swords but have limited budgets. For those who really love collecting different swords, you will surely be glad to know that the SS676 formerly known as the Musashi Katana sword is now called Musha Katanas. Musashi has just change their line of swords into two...
The original Claymore swords were massive, two-handed, double-edged broadswords that were wielded during the 16th to 18th Centuries by hard-bitten, hard-fighing Scottish Highlanders. Used for both cleaving and smashing in melee combat, they were the Highlanders' weapons of choice during their continual uprisings against the English and in their bloody and seemingly-constant inter-clan battles. Their design almost always incorporated a cross-hilt with downsloping arms that had quatrefoils (a design that is somewhat similar to a four-leaf clover) on the ends. These Claymore swords required a great deal of strength to use effectively: they were usually around 4 1/2 feet long and they typically weighed...
No sword was ever wielded with greater bravery than the Claymore sword. They are one of the truly great swords of the world, and thanks to their popularity, they are a piece of history that lives on today. The original Claymore swords were massive, two-handed, double-edged broadswords that were wielded during the 16th to 18th Centuries by hard-bitten, hard-fighing Scottish Highlanders. Used for both cleaving and smashing in melee combat, they were the Highlanders' weapons of choice during their continual uprisings against the English and in their bloody and seemingly-constant inter-clan battles. Their design almost always incorporated a cross-hilt with downsloping arms that had quatrefoils (a design...
Do you have any medieval swords? If you do, then you probably know what the hype is all about. Something about buying a medieval sword is very magical and surreal to most people. With so many options available right now, which style is best for you? In this article I hope to explain the basics of medieval swords to you so that your next purchase goes very smoothly! When you hear the word medieval sword, what type of image comes into your head? I usually picture a long, double-edged sword with a straight hand guard. You might picture a Japanese Samurai sword with a curved blade and round hand guard. No matter what type of medieval sword you prefer, there are a few ideas that you should keep in mind...
Ever since humans learned how to shape metal, the sword has been the weapon of choice for many warriors. It is a sturdy, durable weapon that has been a fixture in the hands of soldiers for thousands of years. Military swords have been used in combat in nearly every continent and come in a myriad of styles. The process of creating traditional Japanese military swords is not really a process - it is an art. These swords are made using an intricate process developed by the Chinese and improved by the Japanese. The method involves an extraordinary amount of labor, and frequently, several workers would create swords through an assembly-line like process. The sword maker must heat, fold and hammer the...
Fantasy Swords - Why Own a Fantasy Sword?
The Slicing Sword Some people are simply fans of fantasy literature and movies, so it is natural for them to wan to own the amazing swords from these great stories that help the heroes on their way to victory. Fantasy swords are the manifestation of unlikely characters that gain super-human powers and overcome some great evil that plagues the world. They have special features that the swords of real life history could never have such as unbelievable strength and speed, magical sensors that warn of dangers and blades that cut through the very core of evil itself. The swords of fantasy stories are unique in design and purpose and they appeal to people who enjoy the endless possibilities that far...
Samurai Katana - The Amazing Power and Appeal...
Twenty years ago, when I was kid, my samurai spirit was sent free when I opened the very first Ninja Turtles comic! It dramatically began with my all-time favorite hero's unforgettable words, "My name is Leonardo...I hold my katana in a relaxed ready position...I sense my body quivering with tense energy, waiting to be triggered into savage, slashing release!" I was "mondo" HOOKED! I have collected ton of Ninja Turtles comics since then, and the image that sticks with me is the on-going depiction of the fearless leader, Leonardo, with his samurai katana shining with fierce expectation of the battle that has just begun. What I didn't realize then is that the creative genius behind the Ninja Turtles...
Samurai Katana - A Blend of Art, Religion, and...
The samurai katana is one of the most famous swords in history. The finest samurai katana were superbly crafted and a sword forged by a celebrated swordsmith was one the most prized gifts a samurai could receive. The great swordsmiths treated their craft as a blend of art, religion, and science. They dressed themselves like priests before forging a particularly fine samurai sword, which started life as only a crude lump of iron. This was beaten time and time again and heated in a furnace to make the finest steel. The raw steel was then folded and beaten repeatedly until the rough sword blade was like hundreds of thin individual blades welded together. A samurai sword blade usually had a very...
40 Inch Blue Japanese Katana Sword W Dragon...
This 40 inch Blue Japanese Katana Sword w Dragon Tsuba and Scabbard is a truly wonderful replica of the samurai swords popularized in many Japanese samurai movies exported to the West in the 50s 60s and 70s. These are the best recognized Japanese sword through literature and film due to its association with its owner: a member of the Japanese warrior class called the Samurai. Who Were the Samurai? The ancestors of this 40 Inch Japanese Katana Sword w Dragon Tsuba and Scabbard were found around the waists of Samurai warriors who were the only members of Japanese society allowed to wear katana. Any peasants found in possession of a katana by a member of the warrior caste would be executed on the spot...
Suzuki Katana AY50 Race Tuning Guide
One of the earlier race inspired scooters by Suzuki, featuring upside-down Showa forks and Carbon fibre look dash panels, the Suzuki Katana was an instant hit and quickly became popular for tuning, with plenty of performance race parts from Malossi and numerous other manufacturers. Early Suzuki Katana's had the Suzuki air cooled engine in them, whilst later Suzuki Katana's had Suzuki's new liquid cooled engine, and where designated AY50R for the race production version. One notable feature of the Suzuki Katana's are their very low gearing, which means the engine does more revolutions per wheel revolution compared to other scooters, this provides very quick acceleration but a lower top speed, even on...
If you know anything about Japanese swords, you most definitely have heard of the Katana and Wakizashi. These are the two primary swords that a warrior would carry at all times in ancient Japan. So what is the difference between these two important swords, and what is their significance? In this article I will compare the Katana and Wakizashi to help you decide which one is more practical for you! A Japanese samurai would traditionally carry two swords: a katana and a wakizashi. These two swords are collectively referred to as "daisho" which means large and small in Japanese. The Katana is the larger sword of the two and is usually recognized by its single-edged blade and distinct curvature. The...
Perfection in Ancient Japan - Evolution of the...
Swords first appeared in Japan in 240 - 280 A.D. when China sent two double-edged tsurugi swords as gifts to Queen Himeko. It is unknown for sure, but it is generally believed the art of forging steel into swords spread from China to Japan sometime during the third and fourth centuries. Straight, single-edged swords called chokuto have been found dating to the fifth century. More advanced hardening methods during the forging process developed during the sixth century. Around the eight century swords became curved to help accommodate fighting on horseback. These early swords were called tachi, and were characterized by a long, curved, single-edged blade. Two common types of tachi during this...
Musashi Rose Blossom Katana Sword (SS782BL)
The vibrant colors of flowers call our attention to them many times without fail. In spring when the snow has melted who among us can behold the beauty of the first blossoms and not smile? Children will pick flowers for their mothers, fathers will put flowers in the hair of their daughters, and young men will often take the risk of gifting a flower to a young woman who has caught their eye and captivated their heart. It is amazing that so simple a thing could attract such attention. After all, a flower does not try to be beautiful. It is beautiful simply because it exists as what it is. In much the same way, true Samurai were said to be the way they were without effort. While there were many who...