So there has been much talk about Japanese swords all over the place, and the downsides of the wide untempered martensitic edges in the "new new sword" style that is predominant to this day. And Cthulhu knows I've been quick to attribute it to idiocy. But let's review the facts:
1. There is a style of differential forging that basically quenches and tempers the material in one go, IF you get the temperature loss speed just right. Most metal bars you can find these days are tempered like that, and so was panzer armour in WW2, and for that matter, battleship armour.
2. And the Japanese did discover and rediscover it whenever they had to fight in a war, and their peace-time swords shattered against armour. However that resulted in a faint hamon (quench line) and an almost straight sword. Edges were also not made as fine any more,
3. But then when they had peace long enough, not only they reverted to doing those wide martensitic edges, but COMPLAINED that the art of making a good sword was somehow LOST during the war. Which seems mind boggling as a notion.
4. The whole Japanese obsession with sharpness and cutting tests, which again, happens in times of peace.
Now superficially looking at it, it's easy to attribute it to just idiots who never had to fight in a war, and have no idea what a good sword should be like. And as I was saying, I've been quick to do so myself.
But it occurs to me that whenever an explanation involves everyone being idiots, that's your clue that it's the wrong explanation. So let's look at it some more...
Can it be that genuinely the swords fit for war, for fighting guys in metal armour, actually sucked at fighting a duel against guys WITHOUT metal armour? I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but bear with me...
I'd like to introduce the following variables:
5. Cutting through clothing can be a problem. Wrap your mat or target in several layers of linen, and give it a good swing. You'll find that it's not as easy to cut as without the linen.
6. Silk is even harder to cut through. Silk fibres are basically a long crystal, and very hard. Spun and woven layers of silk, at the same weight and surface, are more than 60% more cut and pierce resistant than a kevlar vest. As in, it takes more force with the same knife to get through.
So now imagine potentially having to duel a minor noble, or even a high ranking samurai, wearing enough silk to be the equivalent of having to cut through a light kevlar vest to get to him. Now it won't be blade-PROOF, but it might mean you barely scratch the guy instead of giving him a deadly wound.
Suddenly it makes more sense, doesn't it? Getting a harder and finer edge on your sword, might just give you the edge you need there (pun intended), and it's not going to shatter or bend from hitting clothing.
And finally:
7. A lot of Chinese Jian are also differentially quenched, just symmetrically, so it stays straight. And you can't blame that on technology level. The Chinese definitely knew how to temper. Yet the high status swords of the nobles also had exactly that kind of untempered martensitic edge, just like a katana. Can it be that it's because they too might have to defend against other social elites wearing silk?
So what do you guys think?
1. There is a style of differential forging that basically quenches and tempers the material in one go, IF you get the temperature loss speed just right. Most metal bars you can find these days are tempered like that, and so was panzer armour in WW2, and for that matter, battleship armour.
2. And the Japanese did discover and rediscover it whenever they had to fight in a war, and their peace-time swords shattered against armour. However that resulted in a faint hamon (quench line) and an almost straight sword. Edges were also not made as fine any more,
3. But then when they had peace long enough, not only they reverted to doing those wide martensitic edges, but COMPLAINED that the art of making a good sword was somehow LOST during the war. Which seems mind boggling as a notion.
4. The whole Japanese obsession with sharpness and cutting tests, which again, happens in times of peace.
Now superficially looking at it, it's easy to attribute it to just idiots who never had to fight in a war, and have no idea what a good sword should be like. And as I was saying, I've been quick to do so myself.
But it occurs to me that whenever an explanation involves everyone being idiots, that's your clue that it's the wrong explanation. So let's look at it some more...
Can it be that genuinely the swords fit for war, for fighting guys in metal armour, actually sucked at fighting a duel against guys WITHOUT metal armour? I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but bear with me...
I'd like to introduce the following variables:
5. Cutting through clothing can be a problem. Wrap your mat or target in several layers of linen, and give it a good swing. You'll find that it's not as easy to cut as without the linen.
6. Silk is even harder to cut through. Silk fibres are basically a long crystal, and very hard. Spun and woven layers of silk, at the same weight and surface, are more than 60% more cut and pierce resistant than a kevlar vest. As in, it takes more force with the same knife to get through.
So now imagine potentially having to duel a minor noble, or even a high ranking samurai, wearing enough silk to be the equivalent of having to cut through a light kevlar vest to get to him. Now it won't be blade-PROOF, but it might mean you barely scratch the guy instead of giving him a deadly wound.
Suddenly it makes more sense, doesn't it? Getting a harder and finer edge on your sword, might just give you the edge you need there (pun intended), and it's not going to shatter or bend from hitting clothing.
And finally:
7. A lot of Chinese Jian are also differentially quenched, just symmetrically, so it stays straight. And you can't blame that on technology level. The Chinese definitely knew how to temper. Yet the high status swords of the nobles also had exactly that kind of untempered martensitic edge, just like a katana. Can it be that it's because they too might have to defend against other social elites wearing silk?
So what do you guys think?
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1Js3z5N
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