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I've always wondered that myself. Those blades would have been so expensive in relative terms that I truly wonder how much real combat they were used in. In an
by elp 6y ago
I've always wondered that myself.
Those blades would have been so expensive in relative terms that I truly wonder how much real combat they were used in. In any war the peon's get the worst of it. Anyone rich/ senior enough to have them wasn't going to be on the front line.
Then there's the fact that the handle was usually attached by a single mekugi ( bamboo or ivory peg ) which is not strong from an engineering point of view and completely at odds with that engineering marvel of a blade but perfect for swapping out the handle to match the fashion occasion.
- hef19898 6y agoAs always, there were crap ones and expensive ones. Same as everywhere. Also quite funny, the most expensive part, even today, of a katana from a Japanese smith is not the blade but all the other stuff. IMHO, Katanas became or rather retained their religious status with Japan closing down and more or less freezing social development. The knighlty sowrd was somewhat replaced in that role in Europe with the introduction of firearms and the fall of Knights.
- ceejayoz 6y ago> Those blades would have been so expensive in relative terms that I truly wonder how much real combat they were used in. In any war the peon's get the worst of it. Anyone rich/ senior enough to have them wasn't going to be on the front line. There are parallels in modern warfare. Javelin missiles cost $175k, and are fired by troops making $20k/year. It gets even more disparate when you move into things like fighter jets.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]