Real Swords - Types and Forging Process

There is much more to the history of real swords. In the ancient world, many types of swords were used; not all blades had a hilt and some did not use a cross, but many of them had some type of iron fittings around the blade if only for decoration (such as a curl near the hilt).

Some may have been purpose derived; other types were just fashion items that became popular over time (such as rapiers, longswords and sabers). Some swords made after the Middle Ages became so common that they became disposable, and many were eventually discarded.

For this reason, many types of old swords are often confused with new blades. This is not considered to be a problem though as long as the blade of a "real sword" is used in all activities related to its usage.

Many older blades are still found in the hands of people who just bought them as "collectibles." They are often mistaken for new blades and used for all functions of use.

Overview of Real Swords

What are the real swords? Some people may say that the definition of a sword changes with their personal definition, but there are some universally accepted aspects of what defines a "real" sword. Modern cosplay swords are not the real ones because they don’t have real, sharp blades.

The blade is usually in one straight piece of steel, and with the hilt attached to it. The blade should be sharp on two sides to allow for both cutting and thrusting attacks. The blade should also have a cross or hilt for protection in hand-to-hand combat or if the wielder's hand slips from the handle during an attack.

There are also many different types of swords that may each have their own unique defining qualities, some more rare than others. Many weapons that are seen as being not "real" weapons have their own defining qualities, though they have been mistakenly labeled "real" from time to time.

Swords are Composed of:

There are many different parts of real swords. They make up the whole sword and include the blade, crossguard, pommel, and grip. The folding steel sword is composed of four parts that are joined using welding:

The bottom crosspiece
The blade
The crossing piece
And finally, the top crosspiece

The hook form is a type of pommel with a jagged edge at one end which was usually used for horses or pack animals. It can also help to stabilize a sword in hand-to-hand combat by grasping the enemy's clothing. The Tachi sword blade is flat on the back and slightly curved in the front.

The large tang extends all the way to the tip of the blade. The Japanese sword blade is a semicircle and has a prominent ridge along both sides of the cutting edge, known as a hamon.

It has a long tang which extends from the base in almost a straight line down to where it meets with the hilt. This sword had an extremely high quality steel that was forged in a very precise way, ensuring maximum hardness and strength while keeping its edge as sharp as possible.

Types of Swords

Japanese Swords

The Japanese sword blade is about 72 cm long and 1.4–1.7 cm thick at the base. The four parts are assembled and the sword is fixed with the help of a cord or silk binding known as a "samegawa" (or "shakudo ito"). This wrapping holds the blade, guard and handle together in one piece.

The folding steel sword has had many forms throughout its long history in Japan, but they all have one thing in common: they were used by cavalry officers and soldiers. The samurai would wear their swords attached to a belt called an "obi" with the cutting edge facing up.

Samurai Swords

A samurai sword is a type of sword used by samurai. It consisted of a straight, double-edged blade with a circular or square guard and long grip designed for two hands. The word samurai originally meant "to serve" but was later also used in this sense to refer to those who served the ruling class (which became hereditary military lords) in Feudal Japan.

These first real swords that were used by samurai came about during the Kofun period, around 250–285 AD; however, true battle production did not begin until the Heian period, when new techniques and forging techniques were introduced—around 730 AD during the early Heian period.

Ninja Swords

These swords are typically shorter than a traditional sword, with a heavy blade, and an appearance that is somewhere in-between the curved shape of the katana and the straight shape of the wakizashi. The ninja sword is versatile due to its lack of length – skilled warriors can use them one-handed or two-handed with equal success.

There are other types of martial arts weapons that exist in ninjutsu scrolls as well, but they are typically not used as much as the ones mentioned here. There also doesn't seem to be any specific association between them and weapon choice by rank.

Sword Forging Process

Swordsmithing is the art of making real swords. Swordsmithing requires a lot of skill and knowledge about heat treatment, geometry, and forging techniques. The process of sword forging is divided into three stages: smithing, assembling, and quenching. Master swordsmiths may spend years at each stage to produce one functional sword.

Sword smithing involves initially heating up metal so that it can be shaped into a blade or other desired weapon shape using an appropriate hammering method such as punching or bending while the iron is in its plastic state. The "blade blank" is then passed onto the forging process.

The forging process might require forging the blade at different temperatures, and in a time-based rhythm while keeping track of the temperature of each hit, to optimize the grain structure and carbon content of the blade. After all this is done, it is finished by adding what's called a "pattern-welded" layer onto the blade (most swords or knives).

The pattern-welding part adds a decorative element to the sword and allows for extra strength to be added with little additional weight. A good sword will exhibit many intricate patterns along its length, requiring hundreds if not thousands of layers to complete.

Ceremonial Use of Swords

The earliest known real swords date back to the Bronze Age, approximately 2500 BC. They were made from copper, bronze, or iron and were usually straight. The shape of the sword changed during the Iron Age with a greater emphasis on hooks for slashing and stabbing at enemies as well as specific shapes for slashing or thrusting.

Swords are now typically made of steel and are designed for use with both hands in a variety of guard styles such as stabbing, cutting, sweeping, or thrusting. The sword is the most commonly used weapon worldwide, except for very few places. In history and in modern day, swords have been used for both ceremonial and practical purposes.

Ceremonial use of swords began in the Bronze Age, but continued beyond the Iron Age. Practical use of swords continued through the Iron Age into early medieval times (5 th century AD), when they were eventually replaced by longer-reaching polearms with different combat tactics.

Swords have appeared in almost every culture during ancient times and are among the earliest weapons made by humans. The first real swords were made from basic materials such as stone, wood, or bone and were very simple in design.

Real Swords: Symbol of Power and Authority!

Swords are the most recognizable symbol of power and authority. They were once used as weapons, but now their primary symbolic function is to identify their owner or the bearer as the rightful possessor or holder of a particular title, such as a monarch.

The word "sword" is thought to derive from an Old English word meaning "to fight." The use of swords in sheathing signifies that military force is not taken lightly. There are many types of real swords, some ornamental and most ceremonial swords are worn in the hand only, while others are worn on the dress coat or over the left shoulder.

The practice of giving children ceremonial swords has been documented for centuries and still continues in modern times for black tie dinners, christenings and other occasions which might warrant a sword being wielded by someone who would be too young to do so without this ceremony. This is usually associated with the arming of a child who is to take control of a family.

The custom of giving a sword which changes hands at the marriage of the bride and groom has been practiced in every culture and religion throughout history. In recent times, it has been closely associated with the traditional wedding ceremony but can now be given as a donation to charity or used by parents or godparents at baptism.