KATANA TOGISHI - Japanese Traditional Sword Sharpner part 2

[insanezy]

what kind of stone was that little one he was useing at around 3:00

[001Rah]

the tip of my katana looks like that its a custom blade with teeth near the hadle

[TripAClaymore]

There is an inherent flaw in these swords. The more you use them, the less beautiful the are, but they need to be used, otherwise what it the point of their existence? Seems like a nasty paradox.

[SSUstufRudel]

I love the soundtrack from 1:37 to 3:04, gives me the reminicent feeling...

[COMBATBOOOTS]

this is like watching an artist paint  on a canvas

[SuperSpeedDemon18]

If I had to choose from a machine made Katana and a hand made Katana I'd go for the hand made. If it is hand made you know that that person took great care in making it where as if a machine makes it there could be a mistake

[maxinpains]

It's not Chinese prop or Western Machine made toys ...people must understand that we've been doing this Rocket science sword including forging & polishing since medieval time frame. It was Way advanced steel technologies involved than anyother countries. Japan Copy Stuffs? LOL THEN SHOW US a Rocket Science technologies from Mideval time frame

[halfassedfart]

@maxinpains Look up pattern welding. Even the best Japanese smiths have acknowledged that many examples of pattern-welded blades equal or exceed the Japanese at their craft.

Or heck, look at what the pommel does to the vibrational behaviour of a sword. Ever whack something with a stick and have your hands feel numb? Notice how that's absent from good swords? Yeah, that's 'Rocket Science technologies' right there.

[TheSkyCries1]

This man must have a lot of pride in his works, and I respect that. I think the only way that he has the patience to endure the endless hours of grinding away is the thrill of bringing out the potential of the sword he's working on.

[tocicar]

i cant remember who the maker was, but you can buy Japanese katana knifes for cooking. same guy who makes the sword, but for practical use. the only knife certified to be used for preparing the deadly puffer fish. it will be sad to see this ancient art disappear. because this is a human art that has achieved perfection. there is a whole religion about making, preparing, and using these amazing tools. its remarkable

[AccordGTR]

CNC machines to make a sword?? That's the stupidest comment yet. The whole idea of sword-making is one of tradition and artisan-ship. Oh, did anyone notice how this guy sharpens katana with his bare hands and exposed barefeet, millimeters from the razor-sharp blade? I have a couple of friends cut themselves trying to sharpen their knife or sword. Do you know how risky this is? This guy is amazing. Skills like this are past on several generations.

[halfassedfart]

@AccordGTR Correction: the whole idea of swordmaking is to make something sharp and pointy that kills people without breaking too often.

If a CNC machine does it better, it's a better swordmaker. It might be worse at producing *art*, but denying the former point is irrational.

Your friends haven't spent decades learning to do this. If they had, they'd be pretty damned good at it too. Also, I'll bet you any amount of money that this guy still cuts himself every now and then.

[AccordGTR]

@halfassedfart The advantage of CNC is only consistency and accuracy in cutting, shaping and forming. How can it replicate the forging system of the Japanese sword maker for strength and durability?

[AccordGTR]

@halfassedfart take note how the forging process of the Japanese artisan produces a composite blade that holds its edge and resists breaking. How can you reproduce that with a CNC machine?

[halfassedfart]

@AccordGTR Start with a forged blank? The Japanese forge a blade blank and grind it to shape. I'm not seeing the difference.

[AccordGTR]

@halfassedfart No that wouldn't work either cuz you lose the strength when you CNC cut it as you will be cutting it "across the grain". The way the artisan folds the blade several times, forges and shapes the blade at the same time retains the strength of the metal. If you cut it, it will create stress points that may crack upon heavy impact. It's kinda like making carbon fiber panels - you cannot cut or drill on the material or it gets weak, the fastener holes have to be built in.

[halfassedfart]

@AccordGTR Steel is not wood or carbon fibre. This is also why the blade blank is heat treated after CNC milling : it's to remove any stresses that may have been induced by the carving and to harden and toughen the blade blank.

Also, it's funny how katanas are the swords that don't really like heavy impact, isn't it? Haven't you seen people straightening out bends in their katana after cutting?

Please, stop subscribing to the hype and do some research.

[RebelWrestler45]

@AccordGTR Folding steel is only necessary if you have crappy, unhomogenized, impure steel; like tamahagane. First of all, steel doesn't have 'grain' in the same sense that wood does, in that it does not have direction; obviously this differs from damascus or pattern welded steels. CNC machining is done pre heat treat, and does nothing to compromise the integrity of a monosteel or laminated blade. Its great that traditional methods have been preserved, for arts sake; but not for performance.

[RebelWrestler45]

@AccordGTR Resists breaking? Traditional tamahagane katanas are known for their brittleness, and lack of ductility. The forging process is not what gives the sword its toughness or hardness; that is done in heat treat and tempering. Non stainless composite blades are archaic at best; with modern high alloy ingot, powdered, and high speed tool steels; traditional tamahagane katanas are inferior in every aspect of blade performance.

[SuperSpeedDemon18]

@RebelWrestler45 they only break if you dont know how to use them. If something were to hit the blade from either the the sharp edge or the opposite side it would not break... so yes it may be brittle from hitting the side but the blades edge can withstand a bullet

[RebelWrestler45]

@SuperSpeedDemon18 The exact opposite is true. The actual edge, the area of the differentially tempered hamon, is the strongest and hardest past of the blade, it is also the least tough, least ductile, and most brittle. You do realize that in the clip of the katana cutting the bullet, the bullet was cast lead. I can cut cast lead with a butter knife; if it had been an AP round with a tungsten carbide penetrator, or even an fmj, the sword would have chipped or shattered, depending on the caliber

[shittyfuck]

if i go to somewhere i dont know,i would being an Ak and katana

[kinla123]

is the tamahagane rust fast

[pokermon919]

@kinla123

Yes it will if you don't maintain and keep the blade oiled, this is true with most high carbon steels.

[Shinigami117S]

not sharpening... i prefer polishing.

[firefox8192]

how often should a sword be sharpened

[marlo916]

whenever it starts to lose it's edge

[CappedInTheHead]

every time you kill someone ;)

[Aresftfun]

I understand what he means, sometimes, you can never be acceptable of your own work, because you know it could have gone better.

[kristov29]

In a world of CNC machines which can stamp out ten thousand sword blanks in a day, electric polishing wheels, cost cutting at every turn and "build it to a set price" ruling every aspect of manufature, it issimply amazing to see a true craftsman at work in time honored tradition.

[Rimpianto]

@kristov29 Trust me, i am a sword maker, i don't use cnc machines but i need to use modern machinery in some processes to cut production time, there's no way to work in that way in europe or in the states. You need to establish your name before you can work completely by hand using a lot of time, or nobody wants to spend a lot of money on your works.

[maxinpains]

@kristov29 that's called a Cheap one.....LOL !!! 

[axristotomari]

hey dude y right! but beter take a butcher knife of high carbon. katanas are gods, have you heard the word magic? the more time you spent to an item the more precious becomes... and in the end i dont speak for the 15$ katanas... if you got in posesion an real katan from a fallen warior i dont think you would gave it even for sharpening. ;)

[bertthehost]

@kristov29 10,000 blades a day? Why dont we make a gun that shoots katana?

[Crim15]

At 9:11, is that Honami?

[Crim15]

One of the Sword curses he talked about is that misfortune befalls when you neglect to use the sword when rightfully needed..

[90hammer1]

these swords look cool but watching them make them is kinda boring but i would really like to have one... lol :)

[TheMasterSlasher]

Katanas are beautiful, but so are European swords.

[boatoflol]

@TheMasterSlasher Yes, also its now said that the quality wasn't so much worse than the katana, some seem to be even the same or better quality. (Not in the view of Effectiveness but just craftmanship). But a Katana is truly meant to be a piece of art at the same time. So Japanese also put a lot of effort in it, to make it look and feel perfect. Thats one of the big differences.

[viper2788]

@TheMasterSlasher

all weapons are beautiful to me ;) of course in the hands of the right person.

[vxAREKxv]

respect to this guy

[egkg75]

I wish this guy would restore my sword.

[dig6dog]

9:23 pretty sure that's a P.C. Praying Mantis L6 blade..

[splendorfulguris]

killing is killing doesn't matter if you use a sword or a deadly fart.

[anglais74]

what a stupid commrnt you make , entitled to your opinion only to be forgotteni in a hurry

[davidpatonred]

im 12 and what is this?

[cheezyman2k7]

they may be a instrument of death but katanas' are so beautiful

[ziosin]

I agree.

Usually the most beautiful things are the most deadly.

the Katana is no exception.

[Gin132456]

i would rather die by beauty than by a bullet,

just sayin if i had to die, that would be the way i would die

[church947]

Im a person who has hnour and i rather have a sword than a gun. WHY HAVE we becomeso dishonours nd converted to coward techinics like killing firing rockets. I keep my honour i protect it and i wish to become one of the best at kumdo i wish to protect by hand by honour not by a weapon that can kill in a flash, where is the honour!

[marcos57431]

Damn, you are just like me!

[DiVeronica]

you're both psychos

[marcos57431]

Nope, just honorable. Something you wouldn't know anything about.

[DiVeronica]

lol I laugh at you

[marcos57431]

Okay

[Qjayer]

lol lets see how honorable they are against an m60 :)

[DiVeronica]

haha i know

[Shadowtengu]

Its cute how you say an m60 can pwn a sword. I'd agree but which is easier to own? Which has a realistic higher probability of killing you? Preferably A short walk into someone's house bearing daisho is about 2 to 3 seconds. For me to purchase an m60 and do the same job a nihonto coulda done is much more time consuming. Let's be realistic and respectful to anothers view. You HAVE to be american.

[Jason11190]

I'm an American and I agree with you,so don't be stereotypical please

[Nussschnaps]

you are little minded and not worth to listen to you

[Shadowtengu]

Yeah um.... You're pretty gay. Either you're a common day western or some sort of messed up middle eastern. The upper region of asia tends to respect a word known as "honor" its various definitions might be extremely hard for you to understand. I rather not attempt to explain, but I'd like to let you know someone in the world thinks you're a complete idiot and retard.

[DiVeronica]

I'm not pretty gay, I'm homosexual. 'honor' is not only understood in 'upper asia' for your information. fuck u wannabe ninja

[indsigma]

This man is truly a Master Artist !! I love this video. I wish he was in the USA so I could bring my three antique Katanas to him.

この人は偽りなく巨匠である!! 私はこのビデオを愛する。 私は彼が米国にいた従って私が彼に私の3に旧式な武士の剣を持っ­て来ることができることを望む。

[Raikiribokken]

this guy is amazing! I've never seen such determination and perfectionism. Anyone know what he might charge for a sharpening?

[kcmann4152]

about 1500.00 american dollars  i called him and talked to him direct.

[bmw335hdk]

However, no matter how beautifull the art in a sword is, a sword is used for killing.

[xydane182]

was...

[bmw335hdk]

not was.. but is.. ;)

[Huba588]

Now katanas are used widely as "art", but true, they can be used to cut and kill.

[jedirifleman]

bmw335hdk, a sword is a tool just like a firearm...in the hands of a just and honorable man it's primary function is to save lives...though a bad man may die, that was not the point of the weapon but a mere by product...the point was to save the lives of the innocent and the righteous.

[GunOwnerDan]

The only way you will get my swords is from my cold dead hands(just like my guns!)!

[WWWeres]

I think Japan went too far int to tradition an d culture rather thatn Warfare.

Face it. In a fight a samurai need a sword that cuts and doen`t brake but not a sword that looks shiny. And can anyone tall me how would this sword look like after after a fight? This probably would be like if you take a kitchen knife and attempt to cut nails with it.

[1x93cm]

the idea of sword fighting in japan wasn't to bang the swords together while fighting- it was 1 cut 1 kill. Not the europeans who banged away at armor or sheilds

[halfassedfart]

Bullshit. Read something about martial arts (both Eastern and Western) before you troll a place where people have at least half an idea of what they're talking about.

[halfassedfart]

The 'bullshit' comment was directed at 1x93cm, not pannyhoze. At least pannyhoze has material to back up his points. 1x93cm is repeating common misconceptions that have been conclusively disproved.

[1x93cm]

irregardless- the swords were designed for different fighting styles...can we agree to that much?

unless you discount the fact that they both used to hack apart people

Instead of flaming me for trolling- you could have posted your knowledge on the subject instead of just saying it's bullshit so that people would be educated instead of saying what I'm saying.

Enlighten us please since we obviously are ignorant

[halfassedfart]

Being machine made does not equal low-quality. The original blades were veritable works of art, and the high-end replicas are practically exact copies.

It's a matter of opinion as to whether European swords or Japanese swords are superior in 'collectibility'. Different forms of aesthetics appeal to different collectors.

[darkus13]

Try calling a replica of a Muramasa or a Masamune "exact copies".

[halfassedfart]

I just did.

Idiot.

[darkus13]

if you just did, then you are the idiot, ask anyone with some experience.

[halfassedfart]

Try learning something about metallurgy before you attempt to pick faults in others' statements.

The katana was not an inherently superior weapon. Period. The reason for the misconception is that many of the surviving katanas were in an extraordinary state of preservation, whereas many of the surviving European swords have all gone to rust from too many years in the ground.

Also, the crappy quality of Japanese iron deposits meant that only very good smiths could produce anything usable.

[darkus13]

I agree, but obviously you aren`t informed about the swordsmiths Muramasa or Masamune, so I won`t continue this discution, but i still have to tell you: scholars in these days couldn`t find out the way the damascus steel was made so they could never make a damscus steel sword as good as the original.

[pannyhoze]

The blades of the Merovingians and Anglo-Saxons were probably of similar quality, but that line of technology stopped 1000 years ago. In Japan, there is an unbroken tradition of 2000 years. The Katana itself, along with the unfathomable discipline of the Samurai, made for weapon technology and technique that was far superior in it's milieu to any other combination dreamed of by humans to kill other humans. The Iron deposits in Japan may have been scanty, but there were many, many good smiths.

[halfassedfart]

The Anglo-Saxon method of pattern-welding had a similar purpose to the Japanese method of folding. It ensured that they could make the best out of their relatively inferior iron.

I believe the disparity in relative quality here is because of the *average* quality of both groups of blades. The West could afford to mass produce decent swords, whereas in Japan, they had to make the absolute best out of every piece of ore due to their shortage.

[amsd1231]

i thought katana was only about 1000 years old, and written history of japan has about 600 years more on that.

[pannyhoze]

The Katana is only about 600 years old, but it took many, many generations to develop the forging technique and to reach the apogee known as Katana. Written history has little bearing on the passage of technique and design from smith to apprentice ad infinitum.

[pannyhoze]

To end the discussion on the superiority of traditional Japanese Hand-forged blades, Please refer to the book "The Search for Structure" by Cyril Stanley Smith, Professor Emeritus of the School of Metallurgy at MIT. His discussion of the properties of the traditional Japanese sword show that no machine can copy a hand-forged blade. The blade geometry can be replicated but that is about all a machine can do.

[halfassedfart]

Superior to?

I'll take his word for it when the whole community agrees with his research.

Also, this is where you are wrong. Take Albion Swords, for an example. They use a CNC machine to grind the blank, which immeasurably improves overall precision etc. No human can match the consistency with which a machine turn out such blanks.

The rest of the work is done by hand, of course.

[karendtt]

Japanese blades are ART, cnc swords are craft.

Feel the difference.

[probableIMPOSSIBLITY]

@karendtt that can't be any more true than that simple statement. ^_^

[halfassedfart]

Yet more Japanophile propaganda. As a customer, I certainly appreciate that they invest their heart and soul into each blade, but their 'spiritual' swords are no better than a European replica sword milled by a CNC machine.

[maganashi]

I honestly appreciate how humble and spiritual the polishers and crafters are.

If it wasn't for the spiritual entity regarded, and embedded into each blade, then this art would be lost.

No amount of western imitation will ever match those of the far east.

[Gunyo]

Usuki sensei has a three year backlog of customers to go through. It takes about 6-7 days to polish one piece for a customer, so there is a lot of man hours involved.

[starshock01]

lol its actually cheaper to do it with a wetstone than pay someone...

[pazleen]

fitty bux

[KaijinboSwordSmith]

i wonder how much he charges to sharpen a sword?

[jetpilot787]

For a genuine polish they are usually around $100 per inch of the blade. If you find a better deal than that, the polisher will most likely ruin your sword.

[kenji7744]

$100 or $1.00 ?

[jetpilot787]

One Hundred.

[kenji7744]

wowzers!

[crowofdeath2]

thats not even much considering some of there stones cost $1000 and are about the size of the tip of your finger haha

[kenji7744]

holy damn braw lolz

[Spartan54232]

1.00 haaa!

[gabedamien]

@kenji7744 $100. One hundred. Per inch. Not a typo. I.e., a katana of average length (27" nagasa) costs between ~$2500 and ~$3000 to polish depending on the polisher's reputation.

[idealkoci]

the real katana coast 12000 dollars

[gabedamien]

@idealkoci Actually a real antique katana can cost as low as $1500, but that is really the dregs of the market, typically with serious flaws and poor workmanship. A *good* antique is usually at least several thousand dollars, and $12,000 is getting into *very good* antique territory. Many new swords start around the upper thousands. And then the sky is the limit; I can point you to antiques worth over $200,000 for sale right now, and some living smiths charge tens of thousands of dollars.

[idealkoci]

@ yea i undestand you but the real one from a master coasts 12000 bucks and the 20000 one is not that is better is that its old and represents histry and fights that have been made from it,, but if you wanna get a real one and feel like a samurai get one for 12000

[Proton1]

Guess that means I'm out of luck for a "real one from a master" if I pay $11,999, huh? Damn.

Another -1 for your unparalleled brilliance.

[radopunk]

@idealkoci Wrong dude.

sometimes you can find a katana from the 16th century under 1000 dollars at auction houses.

Or take a look at the dutch seller Japanzwaard . nl

He has pieces which are more expesive than 12000 and some are much cheaper...

Goole for Nihonto.