Japanese Blade Reference Info and Images

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I have posted links in other threads, but figured it wouldn't hurt to stick them all together here. I'll add this thread to the stickys.

This is a great diagram and nomenclature image of a Japanese knife blade. It is worth printing out on presentation paper and framing.
http://www.zknives.com/knives/kitchen/misc/jbladeant.shtml

Here is a glossary of Japanese kithen knife terms that goes with the above diagram:
http://www.zknives.com/knives/kitchen/misc/jpnktknvterms.shtml

This is a very good list of Japanese kitchen knife types, descriptions, and uses. Clicking on an image will give you more info, including length specs, and clicking on the image in that window will give you a larger image to get a good look at the shape and features.
http://www.zknives.com/knives/kitchen/misc/usetype/all/index.shtml

Here is a very clear explaination of cladding on knife and sword blades:
http://www.zknives.com/knives/articles/jpnknifecladtypes.shtml

This is the wiki page for Japanese knives. It has a lot of good descriptions and info.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cutlery

Edge Grinds:
http://www.zknives.com/knives/articles/knifeedgetypes.shtml

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_sword

This site has so much info it is crazy.
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm
A few of them are shown below:
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/terms/terms.htm
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/terms/terms2.htm
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/glossary.htm
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/glossry.htm
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/polearms.htm
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/tsuba.htm

Good beginner info link from Darren Sanders:
http://www.yakiba.com/beginner_page.htm

More gossaries and info:
http://shibuiswords.com/glossary.htm
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=japanese+sword+glossary&fr=mcafee&imgurl=http://www.finesword.co.jp/glossary/uchigatana.jpg#id=0&iurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Japanese_sword_and_koshirae_glossary.jpg&action=click
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=japanese+sword+part+index&fr=mcafee&imgurl=http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/terms/shape.gif#id=18&iurl=http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/terms/shape.gif&action=click
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/glossary.htm
Good search type glossary:
http://www.samuraisword.com/glossary/

My favorite tanto steel. It only comes in 380mm length right now:
https://www.dictum.com/en/materials...teel-core-blue-paper-steel?ftr=_4__97_1_12_12
My favorite wakizashi, katana, and sword steel. It comes in 1 meter bars:
https://www.dictum.com/en/materials...bdquo-suminagashi-ldquo?ftr=_2__97.04_1_12_12








If you chaps have links to Japanese knife/sword sites that will be informative to people planning a Japanese knife or sword, post it in this thread and it will end up in the stickys. I'll add a whole group of glossary and info links tonight.
 
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I found this image useful in deciphering/writing posts in my tanto thread. Excuse me if you were only looking for cutlery related pics.

swordplan.png
 
Good lists ... the pronunciation guide help show that the "experts" on certain TV shows and other places saying Hah-mahn, Ham-mun ( like the organ), and Hay-moan are wrong.
 
Walter sorrels has a fair bit of good information in some of his Japanese sword videos.
 
Stacy, Thanks for links and thread,

I'd also like to say that some experts say It will KeeeeL!
While others say, It will Kill! LOL

Pronunciation can vary across a language even in one country.
Tomato, Tomatto comes to mind!
 
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