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Kissaki (切先) -
The tip, or point of the Japanese Sword
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The Kissaki is the tip or point area of a
Japanese sword that has a ridge line (shinogi). The Kissaki and
Boshi are often confused, the boshi is the
pattern of the hamon in the tip area.
The amount of curvature of the cutting edge (on the
kissaki) is referred to as Fukura (フクラ).
Fukura can be either Tsuku (付), full and round - or Kareru (枯) straight, or
nearly so.
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Ko-kissaki (小切先)(Small
Point)
It is the size (width) of the point relative
to the width of the blade at the machi that makes
this a Ko-kissaki. In other words, it
is found on very tapered blades. Ko kissaki (small point) are found
on very old blades, usually from Heian or Kamakura periods.
It is small in comparison with the base of the blade,
not necessarily short. The proportions are not very different from
the normal kissaki, or chu kissaki.
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Ikubi-kissaki (猪首切先) (Boars-neck
Point) The Boars neck Kissaki is,
most often, found on mid Kamakura period blades.
It is almost always a desirable feature! This kissaki
has an almost straight edge on the point and
is shorter than other types of kissaki. It is
usually found on stouter blades having little tapering from the
mune-machi to the kissaki.
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Chu-kissaki (中切先)(Medium
Point)
This is the normal shape for a point. Chu means medium.
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O-kissaki(大切先)(Large
Point)
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Kamasu (Barracuda Point)
A very large kissaki with an almost straight edge
(has little curve, or Fukura). It translates roughly as "Barracuda point".
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