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Visual Glossary:

Japanese Blade Features

Blade Types

bulletSugata (shape)
bulletTsukuri
bulletSori
bulletMune
bulletKissaki
bulletMeasuring
bulletNakago (tang)
bulletNakago Shapes
bulletYasurimei
bulletMei
bulletNakagojiri
bulletJitetsu (steel)
bulletKitae
bulletHada
bulletFlaws
bulletYakiire ("hardening pattern")
bulletYakidashi
bulletHamon
bulletBoshi
bulletHataraki
bulletChokoku (carvings)
bulletHorimono / Hi
bulletTachi
bulletKatana
bulletWakizashi
bulletTanto
bulletKen
bulletNaginata
bulletYari
bulletYanone
bulletKogatana

Japanese Sword Koshirae (Mountings)

Related Topics

              Tsuka (hilt or handle)

              Saya (Scabbard)
bulletTsuba
bulletTsukamaki
bulletKodogu
bulletFuchi Kashira
bulletSeppa
bulletMenuki
bulletSaya
bulletKodogu
bulletKozuka
bulletKogai
bulletHabaki
bulletArmour
bulletLacquer
bulletMito Koromono

References:
bullet"The Samurai Sword - A Handbook", by John Yumoto, Tuttle Company, 1958,1991, ISBN 0-8048-0509-1

bullet"The Craft of the Japanese Sword", by Yoshindo Yoshihara, Kodansha international LTD., 1987, ISBN 0-87011-798-x (us), ISBN 4-7700-1298-5 (Japan)

bullet"The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords", by Kokan Nagayama

bullet"The Arts of the Japanese Sword", by B. W. Robinson, Tuttle Company, 1961

bullet"A Primer of Japanese Sword-Blades", by B. W. Robinson, 1955, 1974

bullet"Japanese Sword Blades", by Alfred Dobree, Arms and Armour Press,
1905, 1967, 1971, 1974, ISBN 0-87387-034-4

bullet"Nihon To Koza", English translation by AFU Research

bullet"Military Swords of Japan", by Richard Fuller & Ron Gregory


Web References:

bullet"THE JAPANESE SWORD INDEX", Richard Stein's Web site