How to examine a sword and sword etiquette

[goose710]

I thought this was a good video on how to examine a sword and the etiquette there too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwb2zievalE&feature=related

da goose710

[Mako]

Good find goose'.;)

[bobO]

Great find Goose, wish I had sound on this puter. One thing I will say is, if someone hands you, say a nihonto, I believe it's customary to ask there permission first, before drawing the blade completely out of the saya. Can anyone back me up on this? Showed some guys some swords yesterday, and first thing, hands all over the blades, damn I hate that!

[Brian Brazier]

My friends often take it upon themselves to go in my room and finger f**k my swords, I don't really mind them looking at them, but what I don't understand is why everyone feels they must touch the blade. Its only a matter of time till someone cuts something off, not that I would feel responsible, just that I don't want blood stains on my rug

[Firehand10k]

Thats why I don't have carpet near the sword displays. #-o
I don't let anyone touch the blades. Its the first thing I tell them when they pick up one of my swords. There have even been a few firends I've had over that I wouldn't allow to handle the swords at all.
Often when someone wants to see one I am the one to remove it from the sheath and rest the blade momentarily on my sleeve in display before handing it over with the warning not to touch the blade.
Of course most of my friends know that my swords are more than just pretty steel weapons to me and they're not sure if they would end up with some sort of bad luck curse for not following instructions.

[bobO]

I tell people "there sharp" and "Don't touch the blade" and 9 outta 10 will do it anyway. It's like they can't help themselves.

[FrozenIpaq]

My friends often take it upon themselves to go in my room and finger f**k my swords, I don't really mind them looking at them, but what I don't understand is why everyone feels they must touch the blade. Its only a matter of time till someone cuts something off, not that I would feel responsible, just that I don't want blood stains on my rug

Everyone's interested in how sharp a sword really is. It's like telling someone not to touch that big red button..they're curious as to what it may do and may push it when you're not looking ;)

Most people think that touching the blade is completely harmless (to themselves and the blade) so even if you tell them not to, they'll just think you don't want them touching your stuff (regardless of how dangerous it may or may not be). I'm always tempted to touch something at the museum when it says "Do not touch" (of course I don't touch, but always tempted).

I was at a demo once where we were using swords and ever little kid wanted to handle it, of course we wouldn't allow them but we had to keep an eye on them when we weren't using them

[Taygrd]

I always provide a cloth for people to handle the swords. Then I tell them the choji oil is poisonous and not to get it on their fingers. They leave the blade alone after that. I really do not like to show the swords to those who are not familiar with etiquette, becouse invarably they do something stupid and wonder why I get upset. Tapping the blade to the saya asking "what is this made of" really pisses me off. The second is scraping the patina with a fingernail. Most of the time I hold them and let them look. Sad thing is my 8 year hold has a better graps and respect for blades than do most adults.

[69NINJA]

patina?

thats a new one for me. i tried to look it up and still unsure.

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[Jason Moore]

I think a patina is a coating of some kind...right or wrong?? :blackeye:

[Jason Moore]

I tell people "there sharp" and "Don't touch the blade" and 9 outta 10 will do it anyway. It's like they can't help themselves.

This is why I have no friends except for you guys. I had many blades when I was young and only had one friend. He was a Chinese immigrant that lived upstairs from me. He taught me a little about the ways of respect when it came to swords and asian culture. I never realised there was people out there that showed and gained respect the way I thought it should be.

[Dotanuki]

This is why I have no friends except for you guys.

Shucks, Thanks Jason. :)

[69NINJA]

I think a patina is a coating of some kind...right or wrong?? :blackeye:

Yeah thats about all I could gather too, maybe some kind of wax to preserve the blade?? or something to antique metals?? I dont know.

Taygrd oh great moderator, Please educate me of these fancy words of yours:detective:

I mean so if I ever happen to be at your house, Ill be sure not to scrape it with my fingernail=))


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[bobO]

Well as far as I know, a patina is something that comes from age. look at an old copper penny, if you make it all shiny, what you have done is remove the patina. a big no no in the antiques trade.

[69NINJA]

ahh thanks BobO, I get it now.
good I learned somthing already today! now I can turn my brain off and play videogames=P~

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[Brian Brazier]

Shadow of leaves sells Tsuba Wax http://www.shadowofleaves.com/maintenance_supplies.htm (all the way at the bottom of the page), which it pretty much patina in a jar, it is probably similar to what production sword makers like Paul Chen use on their fittings. PS you can use it on all your fittings they just call it Tsuba Wax

[Taygrd]

Patina can come from age or it can be applied. Websters says it's a superficial covering or exterior. It's purpose is to protect the metal from the elements. Even oxidation and rust can be considered a patina but a unwanted one. The Japanese are in a league of thier own when it comes to patinas. There is a very good book by Eitoku Sugimori called Japanese Patinas. It goes very extensively into the various traditional patinas. The formulas can be as simple as iron shavings and sake to chemicals such as Cupric Sulfate and mutiple processes. Gun blueing is a common patina that is easy to understand and identify. In sword furnishings mokume-gane, shakudo, and shibuichi have patina applied to bring out some outstanding colors. Rokusho is a traditional Japanese patina that is used to bring out that wonderful black purple on Shakudo furniture. Very simple question, complicated answer, very traditional Japanese.

[tanukimario]

Ohh, I was also wondering exactly what patina meant. It does seem funny but when my friends come over, even if they've seen my swords multiple times before, they still have the need to want to touch them and while I was reading what everyone else was saying, I couldn't agree more with how angry or upset that people get when others do not respect their swords, as I get that way too. I tell my friends not to remove my swords from my wall and they still have the need to do so. Perhaps we all suffer from a need to touch shiny objects. :ohyeah: One of my friends (not so much anymore) actually took out one of my swords without any permission at all and actually accidentally banged the tip against the wall. There was only a few tiny scratch marks at the tip which are really unoticeable but there's a nice little line in my wall the shape of the tip of a katana..... Let's just say that after that, he doesn't come over to my house anymore. :>

[Torawashi]

Great find Goose-san. Domo