Sword Knife
2011
3 Things to Specifically Look for When Buying a Ninja Sword
There are many types of Japanese swords, or nihonto, available today. Both antique swords as well as modern versions can be purchased. Some modern Japanese swords are manufactured, but the authentic swords are made by swordsmiths. The various types of Japanese swords are classified according to the size of the sword and also the manufacturing method.
The katana is the most common type of Japanese swords and is a long, single-edged sword with a curved blade. These swords were used by the samurai as early as the 1400′s. Samurai were Japanese warriors in feudal Japan and were considered to be a nobility military class. Samurai used a variety of weapons, including spears and bow and arrows, but they are most well-known for their use of the sword, particularly the katana.
A ninjato is a sword that was commonly used by Japanese ninja. Ninja were specially trained stealthy warriors that used unconventional war techniques, such as assassination, sabotage, and martial arts. The original ninjato was shorter than the samurai katana. The typical ninjanto was a short sword with a handle the length of a katana. The scabbard was also comparable to a katana scabbard, making it longer than necessary to store the katana. This led the opponent to believe that the ninja’s sword was longer than it actually was and to the miscalculation of how long it would take the ninja to draw the sword. The blade of the early ninjatos was slightly curved. Modern ninjato swords, however, are straight and usually have a square hand guard.
Japanese, and specifically ninja, swords are often purchased as decorative items. The quality of the sword is not necessarily a factor when the sword will only be used as a show piece. If you are buying a ninja sword for use in training or competition, however, there are three things you need to be particularly aware of.
1. The heat treatment of a sword during manufacture determines the strength of the blade. Improper heat treatment can cause a ninja sword blade to be too soft and this can cause the blade to dent very easily. Verify that the blade was manufactured according to standards.
2. The ninja sword must be properly balanced. A sword that is not balanced correctly will not allow the user to control the sword as needed.
3. Check to make sure the ninja sword handle and blade are forged together. This will create a stronger sword.
So, whether you are in the market for an authentic sword or a replica keep these 3 in mind whether checking them out in a local store or on the internet.
About the Author
Troy Macraft is the Chief Editor for The MMA Zone. Troy has been in the martial arts since he was 3 and now is a black belt in 6 different styles including ninjitsu and
ninja weapons
. If you enjoyed this article about the ninja and would like to read more about
ninja swords
go to The MMA Zone.
Norman Sword : Cold Steel Knives
|
|
… |
|
|
… |
|
|
10 RED Inlay Fantasy Dragon Dagger Blade Knife Sword $9.58 Dragon Dagger!… |
|
|
Knives and Swords $9.28 Whether it’s the short gladius of the Roman Legionary or the North American Bowie knife, Knives and Swords looks at more than three hundred of the most important sharp-edged weapons from the last five thousand years. Learn all about legendary warriors and witness the cut-and-thrust of deadly sword duels. Meet famous warriors through history and the weapons they used, from the finely crafted swords… |
|
|
The Illustrated World Encyclopedia of Knives, Swords, Spears & Daggers: Through history in 1500 color photographs $22.63 An authoritative guide to sharp-edged weapons, from their origins in the Stone Age through to the 21st century… |
|
|
Bob Kasper’s Tactical Knives: Street Smart Training Tactics That Work in the Real World $15.35 Bob Kasper had that rarest of qualities among self-defense instructors: real-world “street smarts,” as opposed to the much more common “dojo smarts.” A former Marine and student of personal-defense pioneer Charles Nelson, Kasper had picked up his experience in close-quarter self-defense the hard way: on the street, where it really counted. As a Marine Corps–designated close-combat subject matter… |
|
|
Set 3 Ninja Stealth Black Throwing Knives with Nylon Case $6.85 The set of three throwing knives comes with a case that you can keep them in. Carry on your belt or in your backpack. When camping, bust them out and practice learning your new skill 6.5-Inch overall (knife) Set of three knives black nylon sheath included circle loop on the end of the knife…. |
|
|
Wicked Fantasy Bowie Knife $9.98 This is a wicked Bowie by any standards! Measuring 16 1/2″ overall, this knife features a 12″ stainless steel blade that offers cut-outs, reverse serrations, and partial upper and full lower blade swage. The handle offers a strong guard that offers a lower finger grip, a rubberized grip, and a lanyard hold. Includes a nylon sheath…. |
|
|
AccuSharp 001 Knife Sharpener $5.33 This knife shapener sharpens any double edge blade whether serrated or plain, thick or thin and it will do it faster than youd believe possible. AccuSharp sharpeners are the best, easiest and fastest sharpeners around. The difference is in the specially formulated, precision ground and mounted tungsten carbide blades…. |
|
|
… |
Comment