Sword Data Sheet Guide by Barry Hennick 2010

Measurements Nagasa: length of cutting edge TYPES OF SORI Tori - middle Koshi – towards handle Saki – towards point Uchi – inward at point - rare Mu – no curvature Measure from point to notches . Measure deepest curve and note location of curve center. Sori: depth of curvature Sori

Tsurikomi – blade shape Common shapes Unokubi zukuri Shinogi zukuri Hira zukuri Shobu zukuri Unokubi zukuri – rare Moroha – rare Katakiriba – rare Osoraku – rare

Hamon – temper line basic types Suguha Notare Midare Gunome Choji

Hamon continued

Kissaki – point shape O kissaki - large Chu kissaki - regular Ko kissaki - small Ikubi kissaki – boar’s neck - rare EDGE CURVATURE Straight edge – fukura kareru - rare Curved edge – fukura tsuku - normal

Boshi O maru – large circle Ko maru – small circle Jizo – head shape Notare komi Midare komi Ichmai – solid – rare Kaen – flame Haki kake Suguha

Hada – grain pattern Muji – plain –no apparent grain Masame - straight Itame -wood Mokume - burl Ayasuji – wavy Matsukawa –Norishige - rare Konuka - Hizen O/Chu/Ko – large, middle, small -

Horimono – carvings Hi – grooves Decorative Bohi – wide Bohi ni tsure-hi - wide + narrow Gomabashi – 2 short Futasu-ji-hi -2 narrow Naginata hi Decorative Dragon Blossoms Ken Bonji Fudo

Mune – back ridge Iori mune - pointed Mitsu mune 3 side Maru mune - round Kaku mune - flat Takahashi - high Hikushi - low

Shinogi – upper area Wide/Narrow High/Low Niku - roundness Note hada (Shinto – masame)

Nakago - tang Length – from Shape notches to tip Kiji-momo – peasant’s thigh Furi-sode- kimono sleeve Funa-gata –ship bottom Tango-bara – fish belly

Nakago jiri – end of tang Kuri jiri double bevel Iri yamagata –single bevel Kengyo Kiri Ichi- monji - straight Ha-agari kuri jiri U-shape

Yasurimei Sujikai – left slant Kesho – fully dressed Takanoha - hawk’s feather O sujikai - large left slant Higaki – checked Katte-agari – right slant Kiri - horizontal Sensuki – shaved

Mekugi ana – peg holes 1 2 3 4 Filled/unfilled

Mei - signature Omote – front side name Ura – back side (date) Period kuni ju XX saku Ura – back side (date) Period +years + month + day

Condition Ubu – original 1 Suriage – cut part of signature removed 2 O suriage – cut no signature 3 Orikeshi mei – folded over signature 1 2 3

Koshirae - mounts Military Samurai mounts COMPONENTS Saya – kojiri, Tsuba Menuki Fuchi/kashira Kogai/kozuka