Speedy Samurai is 33 Today!

[a6m5]

Actually, if my memory serves me correctly, the idea of Bushido, or a warrior's code of honour didn't take root in the samurai class until near the start of the Tokugawa Shogunate. When peace was brought to the country, all those warriors who were now more or less out of a job, kept practicing their craft and the idea of a code, and a way to enlightenment (budo) started to take root.

Yeah, you could be right about the actual Bushido. I haven't studied or read this stuff forever, but I was under the impression that the focus on "fair fight", etc., do go way back. Then again, I don't know if it was practiced by lower classed, average samurais. I could be wrong. I think I'll research it a bit on the internet.

You do good work.

Thank you. I try.

 

[Diego440]

Actually, this is incorrect. Ninjutsu is more a sub-specialty of the samurai. Many traditional samurai ryuha (schools) have sections on the training of ninjutsu in their old densho (documents).

I knew that...

But in all honesty, Speedy and I chat a lot over other channels, so I know some of his stories. But we're deviating from the actual thing here! Where are the pics with the ninja outfit, garter belts and latex mask?

and +rep to a6m5 for creating such a weird, interesting thread 👍

 

[Diablomonkey]

Actually, this is incorrect. Ninjutsu is more a sub-specialty of the samurai. Many traditional samurai ryuha (schools) have sections on the training of ninjutsu in their old densho (documents).

Taken from Otake's book (of Katori Shinto Ryu, considered the oldest samurai school) "Ninjutsu is the art of surreptitiously entering the enemy's territory or premises for the purposes ranging from information gathering, stealing of objects, and planting false information to military activities such as sabotage, guerrilla warfare and assassination."

Thank you for informing me (and the rest of us) about that. Most of what I know about samurai and ninja comes from the history channel and a few books and I am always looking to learn more on the subject.

I could go on and bore you all but I won't.

Getting bored on the subject of samurai and ninjas? .... I didn't even know that that was even possible

 

[Speedy Samurai]

Getting bored on the subject of samurai and ninjas? .... I didn't even know that that was even possible

it isn't possible for me. It's everyone else I am worried about


So, I guess there are no other sword nuts on GTP? Well, just in case there is... let me talk about my nihonto

As mentioned it's a blade made by a smith named Kanenage. There were several smiths by this name in the Sue Tegai school forging Yamato style blades. (You can see kanenaga's mei, or signature, on the nakago, or hilt)

The blade is 66.2cm long and the nakago is 18.7cm long. The width at hamachi (where the handle would start) is 2.9cm and at yokote (which is where the tip is) is 2.0cm so the blade tapers.
The sori, or curvature is 1.8cm and is tori (that means it curves in the middle)
The nakago (handle) has 3 mekugi ana (holes used for placing a pin to hold handle on). This means that it has been refitted twice. Also, the end of the nakago is kiri (which means cut), this is why it is flat. Many times the signature will be lost, but luckily the signature survived.

I could add alot of other details about jihada, or steel characteristics, all of which are needed to be considered when appraising swords, but I am getting carried away.

Oh, it's very sharp too.

 

[ferrari_chris]

Sounds interesting.

When was it made?

 

[Speedy Samurai]

Sounds interesting.

When was it made?

It shows characteristics of a late Koto blade which means that it was probably forged in late muromachi period. This period ended in 1573, so the estimate would be from around that time.

 

[Diablomonkey]

I have sword envy, all I have is a saka-bato (A sword with the blade upside down) that cost me about $110. I think it was cast and not forged or at least made by a machine because at the end it doesn't have a smooth curve to the point is a flat and angled.


oh and anyone who knows there anime/manga will know the reason I bought it in the first place

 

[ferrari_chris]

It shows characteristics of a late Koto blade which means that it was probably forged in late muromachi period. This period ended in 1573, so the estimate would be from around that time.

Wow!

I don't know anyone that owns anything older than that.

Good for you! 👍

 

[a6m5]

Uhhhh, I have a Nike baseball bat......... cops don't get alarmed, when they find it in my car.

 

[Sambert]

Hmm, looks like I'm more than a little late to the party. I trust that you had a very happy birthday, Syd. Love the blade. 👍