| One of the most interesting weapons ever created is | | | | nobody knows exactly why. Speculation has led |
| the samurai sword. Samurai swords may appear to | | | | some to believe it may be due to different ores |
| be simple weapons - primitive, almost - but they are | | | | used, whereas some believe it may be down to the |
| actually one of the most sophisticated weapons ever | | | | natural aging of the blades and believe today's blades |
| created. The story of the samurai sword isn't just | | | | may, hundreds of years down the line, naturally |
| history but also science. Incredible new swords are | | | | darken by age. |
| still being made today for a hugely enthusiastic | | | | 2: Tangs should never be cleaned |
| market which embraces the new blades, yet for | | | | Sword care is extremely important, and swords |
| most collectors the old blades are still their main | | | | should always be - and need to be - maintained by |
| passion. Entire books have been written about | | | | trained and knowledgeable hands. However, the tang |
| samurai swords (old and new) so this list could easily | | | | should never - under any circumstances - be cleaned. |
| be hundreds of facts long, but I'll give you just 3 | | | | Tangs left in their natural state (if old and rusty, |
| very interesting facts about old samurai swords most | | | | that's their natural state) are one of the key ways in |
| people just don't know... | | | | which appraisers are able to go about the difficult |
| 1: Old blades are darker - and we don't know why | | | | task of determining the true age and provenance of |
| Japanese swords have, over hundreds of years, | | | | the blade, and to clean the tang is to destroy much |
| faced extremely turbulent times - including the | | | | of the value of the sword. |
| outright banning of blade production, during which | | | | 3: Old blades are often smaller than when they were |
| time almost a whole generation of smiths was lost | | | | forged |
| and the secrets to forging the blades almost lost | | | | It's true that during different periods and throughout |
| along with them. Much knowledge has been lost and | | | | different schools, different styles of blades emerged. |
| rediscovered and today the blades created are | | | | However, that's not what I'm talking about here. This |
| largely regarded as being as good as anything | | | | point is about how blades have actually shrunk with |
| created in the past. However, one key difference | | | | age - and this is actually a completely inevitable |
| between very old blades and newer blades is the | | | | process, which involves humans trying to preserve |
| color. Old blades are often much darker and still | | | | them in the traditional way. |