Only Knives » japanese http://www.onlyknives.com Knives, Swords and Blades Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:44:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Fantasy Bleach Izuru Kira Sword, Hook Blade | Japanese Anime Wabisuke Zanpakuto w/ Display Plaquehttp://www.onlyknives.com/fantasy-bleach-izuru-kira-sword-hook-blade-japanese-anime-wabisuke-zanpakuto-w-display-plaque/ http://www.onlyknives.com/fantasy-bleach-izuru-kira-sword-hook-blade-japanese-anime-wabisuke-zanpakuto-w-display-plaque/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:57:41 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9961 Fantasy Bleach Izuru Kira Sword, HookThe strange sword you see here is the magical counterpart or zanpakuto of the merely physical sword called Wabisuke. In the popular manga Bleach, this unusual weapon is wielded by Izuru Kira, one of the more popular characters in the series.

Growing up in the world just beyond this one, Izuru Kira occasionally came to the world of the living for training but has spent much of the Bleach saga as a lieutenant of the Gotei 13, a high faction of the Soul Reapers. As do the other characters in the Japanese anime series, Izuru Kira wields a sword which has two common forms and a third which most of the Soul Reapers warriors have not yet mastered. The first common form of Wabisuke -- the Pentitent One -- resembles a simple katana, but when activated by the shikai command, the weapon transforms.

This reproduction of the zanpakuto form of Wabisuke stays close to the details of the anime weapon. The sword's overall length of 36.5 inches does not include the hook of the blade. The feeling of the weapon is heavy and unbalanced. High carbon 440 stainless steel forms blade and tang, and the sword grip or ito is woven black nylon cord. In keeping with the details of the weapon in Bleach, the outer edge of the blade is unsharpened. Oddly enough, the edge of the blade lies within the hook.

Izuru's swordsmanship skills are excellent, and he has no qualms about applying his Wabisuke's special powers. On each strike, the sword of his opponent doubles in weight. After a few of those blows, the weight of the enemy weapon brings the opponent to his knees. Hooking the blade of Wabisuke around the neck of his foe ends the contest.

This replica is too unbalanced for safe use and should stay on the lacquered wooden wall plaque that accompanies the sword.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/fantasy-bleach-izuru-kira-sword-hook-blade-japanese-anime-wabisuke-zanpakuto-w-display-plaque/feed/ 0 Empire Wheel Samurai Sword, Battle Ready 239 | Japanese Masahiro Katana, Fully Handmade w/ Scabbardhttp://www.onlyknives.com/empire-wheel-samurai-sword-battle-ready-239-japanese-masahiro-katana-fully-handmade-w-scabbard/ http://www.onlyknives.com/empire-wheel-samurai-sword-battle-ready-239-japanese-masahiro-katana-fully-handmade-w-scabbard/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:37:28 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9841 Empire Wheel Samurai Sword, BattleThe Masahiro Empire Wheel Samurai katana goes well past display quality, giving collectors and recreational users a beautiful weapon capable of tamashigiri, or functional cutting practice. The details of this starter level sword from Fully Handmade will impress blade lovers.

Fully Handmade does produce traditional hand-forged blades using the old and very complex Japanese method of layering and folding different types of steel into one multi-talented blade. The model #239 is not one of those, having been built with a much simple and more modern forging process. The full tang sword blade of high carbon steel -- not stainless steel -- does undergo considerable hand polishing and hand sharpening, but is forged from one bar of single layer stock. The blade does have a long hi or blood groove on each side and is also fully tempered, but the hamon is hand polished and doesn't represent the actual tempering process.

This is still a good cutting katana, built with pride and attention to detail. Traditional materials include genuine rayskin laid over the hardwood handle and wrapped with a black ito grip of Japanese cotton. The signature of the swordsmith who made this katana will be found etched on the blade. Other decorative touches are very simple and strong enough to be functional -- the brass tsuba's multi-spoked Empire Wheel motif lends some flair to the sword's look but still provides strength.

At 2-1/2 pounds without the sheath, this 42-1/2-inch katana is both fast and well-balanced. Kept sharp and swung accurately, it will give satisfying action on tatami mat targets and other traditional training tools. Storage box, maintenance kit, carrying bag, and wooden display rack all come with the sword.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/empire-wheel-samurai-sword-battle-ready-239-japanese-masahiro-katana-fully-handmade-w-scabbard/feed/ 0 Samurai Sword w/ Hardwood Scabbard ITO 402 | Japanese Handmade Forged Katanahttp://www.onlyknives.com/samurai-sword-w-hardwood-scabbard-ito-402-japanese-handmade-forged-katana/ http://www.onlyknives.com/samurai-sword-w-hardwood-scabbard-ito-402-japanese-handmade-forged-katana/#comments Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:26:07 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9805 Samurai Sword w/ Hardwood Scabbard ITOAn engraved hand-forged katana priced this low forces me to look for faults. Although I find some, the ITO Katana Samurai Sword 402 still seems like a bargain if you're looking for a katana good enough for light cutting practice.

At two pounds and ten ounces (without the scabbard), this 39.5-inch katana is a little heavy, which helps to explain the bargain value. The 28-inch blade is a full 18/64 inches thick, using a laminated steel construction which should provide a hard cutting edge and a shock-resistant spine -- a sturdy blade but not a refined and fast blade. The blade's blood groove or hi is traditional and not always found in a lower-priced cutting katana. Some economical cutters eliminate the hi to increase blade strength.

In keeping with the functional quality of the katana, the hibaki (the plate which locks the blade in the scabbard) is durable brass and accurately fitted. Handle and scabbard are more marginal in quality than the blade. The sword's kashiri and tsuba are cast from zinc alloy -- serviceable but not rugged -- and are decorated with generic patterns representing the tsunami and the samurai. A hardwood handle covered with genuine rayskin underlies the teal cotton ito or wrapped cord grip. The sword's brown hardwood scabbard is finished with high gloss lacquer and decorated with a cotton sageo which matches the katana's ito. Engravings on both sides of the blade represent the dragon and the symbol of Fudo Myoo.

While this is a surprisingly good sword for this price level, there are enough borderline materials here to raise some doubts about its long-term durability and ability to withstand a poorly executed strike. Maintained in a razor sharp condition and used properly, it could be a good practice sword, but it's not bulletproof.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/samurai-sword-w-hardwood-scabbard-ito-402-japanese-handmade-forged-katana/feed/ 0 Chef’s Choice Manual Knife Sharpener, 463 Pronto for Asian Cutlery | Ideal for VG-10 Steel, Coarse & Fine Grithttp://www.onlyknives.com/chefs-choice-manual-knife-sharpener-463-pronto-for-asian-cutlery-ideal-for-vg-10-steel-coarse-fine-grit/ http://www.onlyknives.com/chefs-choice-manual-knife-sharpener-463-pronto-for-asian-cutlery-ideal-for-vg-10-steel-coarse-fine-grit/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:16:18 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9873 Chef's Choice Manual Knife Sharpener,Manual sharpeners which work well are relatively new products -- until diamond abrasive wheels were available, the results of using a manual sharpening jig were often less than wonderful. The Chef's Choice 463 Pronto Asian Manual Sharpener applies that new technology to the more acutely beveled santoku's and other Asian slicing knives. The new system works.

The 463 Pronto gets high marks from Cook's Illustrated Magazine for quickly restoring 15 degree bevels on intentionally blunted Asian-style plain-edged knives. Even hard steels like VG-10 respond to this treatment, and if used properly, the result is a ready-to-use, razor-sharp knife put back to factory condition. There are still a few things to remember.

Each side of the sharpener hones with a different grade of abrasive -- one is coarse for rapid shaping and the other is fine grit for honing and polishing. Don't overdo the coarse side of the hone; after a few strokes, check the edge. When new steel shows along the full length of the edge, move to the next stage of the hone. Problems happen when users don't hold the blade horizontally throughout the stroke. Dropping the blade toward the work surface could drag the new edge across the housing instead of the wheel. That means starting over. Straight-edges are much easier to perfect than curved blade edges, which require a complex movement to keep the edge in the proper honing zone.

Using heavy pressure isn't necessary. Let the weight of the blade apply the pressure to the honing wheels, which should rotate as the blade pulls through.

Don't confuse the Pronto 463 with the Pronto 464. Each is equal in quality but made for different knife styles. Use the 463 for Asian blades with a 15 degree edge angle, and the 464 for European blades set at 20 degrees. These good hones are not interchangeable.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/chefs-choice-manual-knife-sharpener-463-pronto-for-asian-cutlery-ideal-for-vg-10-steel-coarse-fine-grit/feed/ 0 KAI Combination Whetstone Sharpener w/ Kitchen Stand | Japanese Knife Sharpening Stonehttp://www.onlyknives.com/kai-combination-whetstone-sharpener-w-kitchen-stand-japanese-knife-sharpening-stone/ http://www.onlyknives.com/kai-combination-whetstone-sharpener-w-kitchen-stand-japanese-knife-sharpening-stone/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 21:08:22 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9684 KAI Combination Whetstone Sharpener w/The Combination Whetstone from KAI USA includes two grits for shaping and polishing edges plus a stable wooden stand to prevent marring the surface of kitchen workstations. The latest instruction manual was only in Japanese (with photos), but anyone who has used whetstones before should know the drill. There are only a few critical differences between Japanese sharpening stones and American whetstones, but they are important differences.

Most of us are familiar with carborundum, the favorite workshop whetstone in the U.S.A. -- and also with the mess those stones leave behind. Carborundum lubricates best with light petroleum oil or kerosene, and neither of those are good ideas in the kitchen. Japanese waterstones grind with a paste formed from the grit in the stone as it mixes with clean water. Natural stones should be soaked for hours before use.

These artificial stones don't require the long soaking period -- fifteen minutes ought to be enough. Flush the surface with clean water now and then to keep the stone from clogging, and rinse the stones free of grit and steel with running water after use.

For removing a lot of steel, you'd need a coarser grit stone than the 240 grit of this combination whetstone, and it's possible to get a finer edge than the stone's 1000 grit side will produce. The two grades here are still good enough for most problems short of major damage and for an occasional tuning up that a sharpening steel won't quite handle. If you care about the finish on your countertop or kitchen table, put a towel down before you start honing your knives. Honing mud mixed with steel shavings will drop on the cloth for easy cleanup. Don't rub the work area clean -- dab it with a wet cloth to pick up residue without leaving scratches.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/kai-combination-whetstone-sharpener-w-kitchen-stand-japanese-knife-sharpening-stone/feed/ 0 Handmade Forged Samurai Tanto Sword, Red 132 | Full Tang Double Edged Tempered Bladehttp://www.onlyknives.com/handmade-forged-samurai-tanto-sword-red-132-full-tang-double-edged-tempered-blade/ http://www.onlyknives.com/handmade-forged-samurai-tanto-sword-red-132-full-tang-double-edged-tempered-blade/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 22:21:00 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9671 Handmade Forged Samurai Tanto Sword,From Handmade Sword's mid-level series, the #132 Japanese Tanto meets practical standards and in most ways follows the classical pattern of this old samurai backup blade.

This model of Handmade's hand-forged full tang tantos features a double-edged blade of 1060 carbon steel with better edge-holding ability and a sleeker appearance than the 1045 series. The hamon or tempering mark is polished on and only represents the true clay-tempering process of Handmade's more expensive tantos and swords.

Construction is of natural materials, including an ornate iron tsuba and hardwood handle wrapped with genuine rayskin and covered with a woven ito of dark red cotton. The hardwood scabbard or saya gleams with a black piano-grade lacquer, and an etched dragon symbol decorates the polished 9-inch-long blade. An overall length of 16.6 inches in the scabbard and a weight of nearly one pound mark this knife as a fighting blade. Manufacturing processes are modern and simplified compared to some old techniques -- the blade is not layered steel, forged instead from one blank of high carbon alloy.

Other small variations from the old patterns include a shaped but not truly sharp back edge -- the usual style of double-edged daggers today but definitely not the old battlefield design. The #132 Japanese Tanto isn't a detailed recreation of a museum piece -- instead, it's a modern knife built to resemble the old style. New processes and minor changes bring this tanto into an affordable price range without limiting its practicality for martial artists. Many collectors will find it interesting as well.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/handmade-forged-samurai-tanto-sword-red-132-full-tang-double-edged-tempered-blade/feed/ 0 Japanese Hardwood Bokken w/ Wood Scabbard | Martial Arts Training Katana Swordhttp://www.onlyknives.com/japanese-hardwood-bokken-w-wood-scabbard-martial-arts-training-katana-sword/ http://www.onlyknives.com/japanese-hardwood-bokken-w-wood-scabbard-martial-arts-training-katana-sword/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 14:44:00 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9634 Japanese Hardwood Bokken w/ WoodThis 40-inch bokken -- a wooden training version of the Japanese katana -- has some of the same parts as the real thing but in much less lethal lightweight hardwood. Use it for practicing kata but remember that even a wooden sword can do damage. Some of the old masters were famous for defeating skilled opponents with nothing more than wooden bokken.

Many types of bokken or bokuto (wooden sword) are available, with many taking a much simpler form than this fancier and more fragile training blade. The cord-wrapped handle and the matching wooden scabbard give the student of the katana a wooden replica with much the same feel as the heavier steel version but none of the durability. Heavier bokken designed for sparring practice look more like batons than swords and are built to strike and parry without taking serious damage.

A carved wooden blade like this one won't hold up to impacts and shouldn't be considered for sparring practice. Only a few types of hardwood will hold up to that sort of abuse when pared down to dimensions resembling a sword blade. Most of this type, manufactured in Asia from more common materials, are much more decorative.

For a training tool of this type, the Bokken with Cord Wrapped Handle and Wood Scabbard is well-made with an accurately shaped blade and detail a student of the sword should appreciate. If you don't plan to learn the trade, this bokken would still make an interesting piece for display.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/japanese-hardwood-bokken-w-wood-scabbard-martial-arts-training-katana-sword/feed/ 0 Japanese Katana Sword, High Carbon Stainless Steel | Dragon Black Hardwood Sheathhttp://www.onlyknives.com/japanese-katana-sword-high-carbon-stainless-steel-dragon-black-hardwood-sheath/ http://www.onlyknives.com/japanese-katana-sword-high-carbon-stainless-steel-dragon-black-hardwood-sheath/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:29:03 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9369 Japanese Katana Sword, High CarbonOne of the best things I can say about this Dragon Katana is that a katana never look bad. A reproduction of a European battle sword in this same price range might be laughable, but the katana is so simple and efficient that even in its most basic form it has considerable class.

The Dragon Katana is souvenir quality, suitable for display on desk or wall, with a nicely lacquered hardwood sheath decorated with a dragon motif. Thirty-nine inches overall, this katana's high carbon stainless steel blade is 27 inches long and polished to a satin gloss. Tsuba and hand grip are unremarkable but do conform to the traditional pattern with cord wrapping over a covered wooden handle.

The subtle qualities that mark a fine katana are definitely not here, since the hamon (the wavy mark that shows edge tempering) is only etched and the blade itself is a plain length of beveled but unsharpened steel. To get laminated or Damascus blades, you obviously need to step it up a few notches. At this price level, you're working with concepts and symbols, not functional blades. If you are interested in a sword for display rather than use, the Dragon Katana is a typical choice among decorative blades.

In practical terms, this sword wouldn't do well in cutting practice since the temper is doubtful, and the construction isn't meant to take serious impact. On the other hand, a true ninja could pick up this humble but pretty blade and make it work. Katana always deserve respect.

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Dragon Katana Sword 39 inchesDragon Katana Sword 39 inches
US $22.69   Paypal
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39 Hand Forged Samurai Katana Sword w Dragon Design39 Hand Forged Samurai Katana Sword w Dragon Design
US $84.99   Paypal
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Dragon Katana Sword 39 inches 00 7X50Dragon Katana Sword 39 inches 00 7X50
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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/japanese-katana-sword-high-carbon-stainless-steel-dragon-black-hardwood-sheath/feed/ 0 Bleach Sword, Love Aikawa Heart Guard Blue | Japanese Anime Replica Katana Fantasy Weaponhttp://www.onlyknives.com/bleach-sword-lou-wo-heart-guard-blue-japanese-anime-replica-katana-fantasy-weapon/ http://www.onlyknives.com/bleach-sword-lou-wo-heart-guard-blue-japanese-anime-replica-katana-fantasy-weapon/#comments Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:12:13 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=9290 Bleach Sword, Lou Wo Heart Guard Blue Familiar to fans of the long-running Japanese anime series Bleach, this heavenly blue katana recreates the personal sword of Love Aikawa. Simpler in appearance than many of the Bleach zanpakuto (or magical tranforming weapons), the Heart Guard sword hid special powers to be released in battle by Love Aikawa's chant or shikai.

The reproduction of this particular fantasy weapon presented fewer problems than many of the fantastic swords belonging to other Bleach characters. Since the Heart Guard's sword resembles more ordinary katanas, the basic change here is the tsuba of cast metal in a heart shape with decorations representing rays of power. A cast metal fitting on the sword's pommel allows attachment of a sash or lanyard.

This 41-inch katana sports a 27-1/2-inch high carbon stainless steel blade, finished to a high polish and ground with a single bevel the full length of the blade. The 11-inch hardwood handle is covered with simulated rayskin and wrapped with a blue cotton cord grip, woven in the traditional katana's pattern. The hardwood sheath has a glossy coating of blue lacquer marbled with swirling black markings.

Overall quality of the sword is good, though tolerances aren't as close as with a higher level combat sword. The stainless steel demands very little maintenance but should be lubricated with an occasional light rubbing of oil to prevent binding in the wooden sheath. The Heart Guard sword could be a welcome addition to any follower of this favorite story from Japanese manga and anime films.

You'll see this sword sometimes, mistakenly, referred to as the sword of Lou Wo.

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]]> http://www.onlyknives.com/bleach-sword-lou-wo-heart-guard-blue-japanese-anime-replica-katana-fantasy-weapon/feed/ 0 Shark Carpentry Hand Saw | Japanese Woodworking 12 Inch 10-2312http://www.onlyknives.com/shark-carpentry-hand-saw-japanese-woodworking-12-inch-10-2312/ http://www.onlyknives.com/shark-carpentry-hand-saw-japanese-woodworking-12-inch-10-2312/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:15:41 +0000 JT Hats http://www.onlyknives.com/?p=8885 Shark Carpentry Hand Saw Being able to cut a 2x4 at a perfect right angle with a handsaw is always one of the marks of a skilled carpenter -- with the European style of saw most of us know, accurate cuts take years of practice. With Shark's 12-inch carpentry saw, an improved version of a traditional Japanese handsaw design, those accurate cuts are within everyone's reach -- but better and five times as fast. In fact, considering the quality of the cut, this handsaw could even compete with machine tools.

Japanese handsaws operate literally backwards compared to European carpenter's saws. European saws cut on the push stroke, requiring stiffer blades and nearly inhuman skill. Japanese saws cut on the pullstroke, which allows their thinner blades to cut more accurately with less effort. The differences don't stop there. The blade of the Shark carpentry saw stays sharp far longer than the old type. When the teeth do dull, simply switch out the blade for a new one with perfect set. Sharpening Japanese saw teeth is an art all its own, requiring special files and exceptional patience -- so for most of us, replaceable blades are the practical way to go.

The 12-inch Shark will accurately and quickly saw through heavy stock a standard circular saw can't handle -- eight by eight isn't out of reason. Use it for crosscutting hardwood, softwood, and plywood, as well as accurate cutting of round stock and PVC pipe. This particular saw isn't made for ripping, but Shark makes alternatives in other traditional Japanese patterns which handle that job equally well.

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