Your source for everything about Japanese Art Swords!
 |
History of the SwordThe evolution of the blade parallels humankind’s development of metallurgic technology. About 5000 years ago the Minoans developed metal-working technology, using primarily copper, gold and silver. The addition of tin to copper yielded a bronze alloy which was strong enough to make blades of reliable use.
By 4000 years ago, raiders of the Mediterranean, presumably from Russia, had developed double-edged weapons that could be used for cutting as well as stabbing. Because of the new stresses placed on blades used in this fashion, gradual advances were made in the shapes of the blade and tang to prevent the swords from essentially falling of their hilts during combat.
By about 2600 years ago the Assyrians controlled much of the middle-east, and their empire was founded on the ability to make blades of iron. European tribes at this time were also developing long iron swords, probably based on the Assyrian technology. By 2500 years ago, iron was used almost exclusively for edged weapons. The iron long sword ultimately proved to be too much even for the Roman Empire, and changed little from that time until the Middle Ages.
During the Middle Ages, swords became heavier and more ornamental. Because of the added weight of the sword, the quillon, or hand guard, was developed. This essentially prevented the hand from slipping off the handle and onto the blade itself. Through the Middle Ages, the quillon became more elaborate, sometimes forming a basket to protect the entire hand and making the sword nearly impossible to drop.
In the early Middle Ages, swords were the weapons of knights and nobility, to be used both from horseback and on foot. By the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, military tactics dictated the formation of large armies. Swords began to be issued to foot soldiers of all ranks to be used as their primary weapons. At this time, the traditional role of the knight began to evolve into the horsed cavalry, and their swords were used almost exclusively from horseback. Broadswords began to evolve into the modern saber.
The saber continued to be a weapon of use in warfare until World War I. Since that period, the new technologies developed in the American Civil War have advanced considerably, and the sword is now used primarily for decorative and formal purposes rather than combat.
Somewhat less is knows about the evolution of edged weapons in Asia prior to the Renaissance era, but beautifully ornamental swords and daggers from Asian regions have been dated back to the 1300’s. These include the Indian talwar, bhuj and bagh nakh; the more modern Indian Khanda; the Indonesian kris and mandau; and of course the daisho, haikuchi, hamidashi, kwaiken and nagamaki of Japan. The most historic of the swords of Japan is the tachi, the first samurai sword. |
Additional Japanese Art Swords Resources
Great places on the web to find more about Japanese Art Swords!
Page: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] >>
|
|
...Sword Club..Sword arts books..Japanese Art Swords good collection of links..Iaido.....Armor American dealer..Bill Rannow's Art Swords.. Modern Katana & Martial Arts.....Home Page..Muso ... |
|
|
The Japanese Sword Arts: Kendo, Kenjutsu, and Iaido/Iaijutsu The Japanese Sword Arts: Kendo, Kenjutsu, and Iaido/Iaijutsu ... History. Sword Arts. Kenjutsu ("the art of the sword") Kendo ("the way of the... |
|
|
FREE Japanese Sword Evaluations, ANTIQUE Firearms WANTED!, Swords and. ...Society for the Preservation of.. Japanese Art Swords .. The Japanese Sword Museum.....Soon.. Juyo Token Swords _ Fine Japanese Swords .. Tsuba & Fittings _ Jingasa.. Fine.....Fine ... |
|
|
Information about Kendo, the way of the sword, the art of Japanese Samurai swordsmanship. The martial art of kendo is practiced using a bokken... |
|
|
Legacy Art Swords -- Ted Tenold Visit the link for details. |
|
|
Authentic Japanese Sword Store. We provide custom made swords known as Authentic Japanese Sword Store,Custom Made.Japan's oldest and largest sword making guild.Swords for collection,kata (iaido) and cutting (tameshigiri). Purveyor of exceptional ... |
|
|
... History and Methods of Polishing Hada and Nugui Hadori and Sashikomi Polish JAPANESE SWORD LINK PAGES WWW links to other sites concerning Japanese swords, in English, Japanese and other ... |
|
|
Kitsune Japanese Art and Antiques Japanese art such as ceramics, netsuke, inro, okimono, swords, tsuba, lacquer, cloisonne, bronze, tansu, ukiyo-e, and Japanese art glossary. |
|
|
...Welcome To Art Swords ..Just in a small collection of high.....and I have been collecting and dealing in Japanese swords , fittings, matchlock rifles.....Japonaise Espada Japonesa.. ... |
|
|
... Japanese Art Swords. It is difficult to explain my fascination with these unique art objects, which truly are works of ... Asahi..Newly Made Japanese Art Swords. Bishop Museum ... |
Page: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] >>
Japanese Art Swords Related Links:
If you are interested in Japanese Art Swords, you may be interested in the following:
We hope you have been able to find lots of information about
Japanese Art Swords.
Thanks for stopping by Sword-and-Dagger.com!