Makhaira (μάχαιρα) comes from the Ancient Greek word machaira or machaera. It is a name given to a Greek sword that has meanings of “a battle” and “to fight“. Modern scholars often used “makhaira” to describe a type of ancient bladed weapon and large knife with a slight backwards curve.
The Greek name μάχαιρα or Makhaira has a variety of meanings, and can refer to virtually any sword including a surgeon’s scalpel. In martial context, however, it most often refers to a type of one-edged, curved sword. Modern scholars differentiate the makhaira from the kopis on the basis of the direction of the blade curvature.
These antique weapons come in diverse shapes and sizes. Greek art shows the Lacedaemonian and Persian armies used these curved weapons. Persian records, however, show that their main infantry sword was straight, similar to the Greek xiphos. Sword was straight like Xiphos was. Xenophon mentions that the Ancient Greek Xiphos Sword was more conventional among Ancient Greek armies. It was believed that the Makhaira was more effective for Cavalry attacks.
The New Testament mentioned that the Koine uses the word makhaira to refer to a sword generically. It did not point out any definite distinction between native blades and the gladius of the Roman Soldiers. The uncertainty looks like to be contributed to the apocryphal malchus or a short curved sword used by Peter to cut off the ear of Malchus, a slave, during the arrest of Jesus. The said sword fits the ancient definition of makhaira but the imprecise nature of the word found in the New Testament does not provide any conclusive answer.
The kopis is an ancient Greek sword with a forward-curving blade. It is primarily used as a tool to cut meat for slaughter and animal sacrifice, but is also used as a weapon.
The word “kopis” is a Greek feminine singular noun. The difference in meaning between makhaira (another Greek word with a meaning of “broad knife” or “short sword“, “dagger“) is not explicitly defined in ancient texts. Modern specialists tend to use both terms as a class of curved weapons. The only difference between kopis and makhaira is the direction of the blade curvature.
It is a one-handed weapon with an average length of about 3 feet. The size of kopis is equal in size to the spatha. Just like other swords that have a predecessor. Kopis is believed to come after Iberian falcata. It is often compared to the shorter Nepalese kukri.
As mentioned in ancient Greek art and literature, Greeks in those times did often use curved blades in warfare. They preferred the straight and more martially versatile xiphos. The Greek hoplites opt for straight swords for infantry, but the downward curve of the kopis made it especially adept to mounted warfare against infantry. The kopis has a tilt that is similar to a hook. In most cases, this sword would be swung over the shoulder so the attacker could attack with the most force against their opponent. In fact, Greek art shows Persian soldiers wielding the kopis or an axe rather than the straight-bladed Persian akinakes.
Another ancient samurai sword worthy to study is the Japanese Tachi sword. It is often said that Tachi is more curved and slightly longer than the katana. A sword is considered a Tachi when hung from the belt or sash (obi) with the edge down, and becomes a katana when worn edge up and thrust through the girdle. The Tachi later on became outdated and was replaced with the Katana sword.
Unlike the traditional manner of wearing of the katana, the tachi is worn hung from the belt with the blade facing down, and was commonly used by cavalry. Deviations form the average length of the tachi have prefixes ko for “short” and ō-for “large or great” attached. For example, tachi were shōtō and closer in size to a wakizashi were called kodachi. The longest tachi ever to be recorded was considered a 15th century ōdachi is more than 3.7 meters in total length or 2.2 m blade, but was believed to be ceremonial. During the year 1600, older tachi were cut down into katana. The majority of the surviving tachi blades are called o-suriage thus it is rare to find an original signed ubu tachi.
Function
The main use of tachi is on horseback from where it was able to efficiently drawn to cut down enemy foot soldiers. Tachi can also be used on the ground but somewhat awkward to draw out. For this reason, the uchigatana (the predecessor of the katana) emerged.
Uchigatana is considered to be a predecessor to the katana as the battle-blade of feudal Japan’s bushi or warrior class. Tachi and its companion sword, Uchitagana, were differentiated by the way they are worn and form the fittings for the blades.
The Katana evolved to be the primary choice of weapon after tachi sword showed to be a weak weapon during the Mongol invasions. In the later part of Japanese feudal history or during the Sangoku and Edo periods, certain high-ranking warriors of the ruling class would wear their sword in tachi-style (edge downward style), rather than with the saya or scabbard thrust through the belt but with edge facing upward.
During the rise of militarism or Shōwa era, the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese army took into effect the tachi called Shin guntō and Kai guntō.
When you proudly own the sword you wanted for a long time, it is time to display it. The task of storing swords should be properly done to render a rust-free and sharp sword.
Tips
1. A stand should complement the look of your sword without overshadowing the centerpiece.
2. Look for a sturdy display stand that won’t collapse under the slightest weight.
3. Be sure to check the dimensions of your sword against the sword stand. The last thing you would worry is having a smaller display than the height and size of your sword.
Standing sword stands
A standing sword stand is as beautiful as a piece of furniture. Standing swords are usually made of wood and show a craftsman look to them.
Types of standing sword stands.
The first type stands squarely on the ground and can be over five feet in height. The standing sword display is designed to hold many various swords. The stand is built around two main beams that permit swords to rest horizontally on bracket shelving. Most of these brackets have a rounding to support the sword well enough not to drop them. Samurai style sword stands has an Asian flair to them due to their shapes. It makes easier to accommodate the varying sizes of Samurai swords available.
The second type is a smaller sword stand that just holds one or two swords. It can be set upon a desk, mantelpiece, or anywhere you like. These individual sword stands have more variety available to them. You can get stonework stand, enamel covered stands and just about any type of finish.
Horizontal hanging stands
The most popular sword display is the horizontal hanging stands. They take up less amount of space that makes them the top choice among sword owners. It saves space for braced on a wall and can be mounted in any room of the house.
A horizontal hanging stand requires a single or several bracket holders. You can choose the kind of finish and stains that you prefer. The most important consideration of hanging stand is to brace them securely and properly to manage the weight of your fine sword collection.
Another unique way to display your swords is to put them in vertical hanging stands. Each sword is placed in a stand bolted to your wall. It is highly decorative and are often made of finely wrought metal work.
Samurai sword is displayed along with fascinating Japanese characters engraved on them. Medieval swords can be admired by the look of the crests and symbols on it.
Excellent swords are product of years of good craftsmanship. A sword is not a sword at all without an application of sufficient knowledge and a great level of expertise of sword making. For those who are particularly interested on how to create swords, it is a must to know the proper metals, materials and the right tools and equipments needed for sword making.
Tips before starting on making swords
Study, study, study. It a highly recommended to do a background research on the theories and practicalities of sword making. You can never go wrong being knowledgeable on how to produce swords.
Resources. It is true that the web offers an endless array of places to find sword information; however nothing beats the magazines and books. You should invest on needed resources. You can start with the simplest yet complete source of information found in books. Books are detail-oriented and more accurate than any source of information.
Enlist help from experts. Swords are known to be dangerous weapons that require extreme caution. You should ask help from professional sword makers. You can start by observing how smith swords before you make it yourself. Consider asking for tour around the real sword smith’s workplace. Ask questions on the process of sword making and any queries you have based on what you have read.
Great things start from small beginnings. Slowly familiarize the basics and precautions on smith swords. If you have no experience whatsoever on working on metals, don’t rush on making swords. You may want to start with daggers or knives.
Planning your first attempt. Gather all necessary tools and materials and be open for major setbacks as a beginner. Give yourself a favor by patiently learning basic techniques on sword making and allow room for improvements.
The process of making the sword blade
Real swords are traditionally made through forging. It is a different case for mass produced swords such as ornamental swords which are not forged considering the long time needed for forging and could only create one sword at a time.
Prepare a scrap metal or metal bar. Plan well and pick out the size and shape of the blade you wish to make.
Forging
Forging is the process of hammering a heated metal of your sword. The hammering process is done to form the desired shape of your sword blade. It is a repeated and long process to ensure the right strength and flexibility of your blade. Be careful not to forge your sword blade to the point of exceedingly stiff and hard for it could break. You wouldn’t want your efforts to go to waste.
Annealing
Annealing is likewise heating the blade but cooling it down gradually at a maximum of 24 hours. The process of annealing refines the metal, modifying its composition, and softens it. The method prepares the steel to be softer for more shaping.
Grinding
The process of grinding is done to form and work out the sharp edges and point of the sword. It renders a smoother finish to the blade.
Hardening
When the sword underwent grinding, it is still too soft to pass as a sword blade then moving on the hardening process to further develop the sword. The blade is subjected to an extremely high temperature then placed in a quenching tank for cooling.
Tempering
This phase in the sword making process called tempering is where your sword will undergo another heating and quenching repeatedly done again and again. The temperature needed for tempering is much lower than what is applied during the grinding process. Consult a professional sword smith to help you determine when tempering is enough. It is advised that he checks your work during the whole process of sword making to avoid making costly mistakes and for invaluable tips.
Japanese swords are evidently marked with wave like markings called hamon as a result of tempering. The hamon is found on the edge of the sword.
Finishing
Congratulations for reaching the last phase called finishing. It involves attaching the pommel, the guard, the hilt, and other necessary parts together.
An antique sword is without doubt, very expensive. Due to its high value, most sword collectors prefer collecting replicas of these rare swords. These swords are quite inexpensive as compared to an antique sword. Despite the availability of sword replica, nothing beats the value and authenticity of real swords. Just what makes antique swords so expensive? Read on for more information.
Perfection
A rare antique sword becomes famous for its perfect forging and condition. An excellent example of this is the Sword of Goujian, a 500 BC Chinese bronze sword belonging to King Goujian who once ruled the ancient kingdom of Shanghai, China. Archeologists found it buried for more than 2,000 years in an underground water system together with the tomb of the King. Despite the condition of the sword, it stood as an embodiment of perfection. Its bronze blade remains unblemished and sparkling along with its sharp cutting edge. It can still easily cut paper, wood, or flesh in one swoop.
The Sword of Goujian is now considered a priceless antique sword and a national treasure of China.
Mythical Status
A rare antique sword often mesmerizes collectors for its being legendary as famously depicted in movies, stories, and tales. The expensive swords of Muramasa, a 16th century Japanese sword-maker, have spooky stories to tell. Their blades were believed to be made from iron, carbon, and human blood. Neighbors and passersby remarked that dead bodies were found sprawling on the street across Muramasa’s forge from time to time. These stories could sound doubtful in their truthfulness yet they helped establish the priceless value of Muramasa swords.
Reputation
The reputation of rare antique swords becomes famous because of its well known owner. An example of this element of reputation is the sword of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. Ali is famous for his participation in a Muslim-Jewish battle in western Saudi Arabia sometime in 627 AD. He challenged to a duel the general of the enemy’s army, a man who was believed to have the strength of a thousand warriors. With one clean slash of his sword, Ali struck and cut his enemy into two halves. Ali’s sword, a rare antique Arab scimitar, was henceforth called the Zulqifar, meaning the Spinecleaver.
Smith
Lastly, a rare antique sword becomes renowned for its well-known smith. The higher the quality of the antique sword then the higher is its value. The extremely expensive Masamune swords are highly esteemed for their exquisite beauty and restrained fatality. Expert opinions have placed these swords as the cream of the crop. The ingenuity and extraordinary skills of Masamune have greatly contributed to the perfection of Japanese sword craft.
The key to a highly renowned antique sword is the combination of sheer perfection, its mythical status, reputation, and fine sword craft. It may be considered as a hefty price to pay yet is also an investment as its value increasing over time.
Antique swords are known to be fascinating to those who are intrigue by it from watching fantasy or action movies and literature. It may have sparked your desire to start your own antique sword collection. Follow these simple guidelines and your own your way to be a real sword enthusiast.
1. Familiarize the sword industry.
As a beginner, you should know the basics of collectible Japanese swords. You can start out by doing some research and introduce yourself to elemental information such as the anatomy of a sword and its parts. When research on swords is done, you will discover famous and not so famous type of antique swords which will help you determine the swords you want to look for. You can even go as far as learning the terminologies by heart.
2. Don’t even think of buying swords online auctions until you know what you are doing.
You will save yourself from learning the expensive lessons. It is quite difficult to distinguish a true value and condition of a sword when you view them online. It may show poor quality photographs, in sufficient descriptions, and make you susceptible to frauds. In the event that you decide to buy an antique sword on an online auction, try to stick to sellers who you’re familiar with or have a good reputation.
3. Get the know where to get information.
You can talk to experts like knowledgeable collectors or attend swords shows BEFORE you purchase any swords. You will get a good idea on the kind of swords and how to know their authenticity. It will save you from committing grave mistakes that could cost you your time and money.
4. Purchase your first piece or pieces of swords from a reputable dealer.
Reputable dealers tend to appreciate repeat customers and reputation to protect thus they won’t street you too far off course. For prices that set too high, don’t be afraid to try and negotiate. You can only pay less and if it’s not possible then there’s always another sword.
5. Do not buy a “fixer upper” as the first sword in your collection.
The thought of purchasing an “undiscovered treasure” is ultra tempting yet could yield high costs of restoration. Chances could be that many pieces out there aren’t simply worth restoring. You may not be knowledgeable (yet) to identify a real collectible sword from a badly damaged sword with hidden flaws.
6. Age is not related to the quality of the sword.
There have been excellent antique swords manufactured during the late Heian period to the present time. There also are great many poor blades produced over the same period.
7. Purchase your initial pieces that are in polish and ideally with papers from any major sword conservation organizations (NTHK o NBTHK).
An already polished Japanese sword can cut back any unnecessary spending. You don’t have to pay for nay restorations and the flaws are plain enough to thus reducing the risk considerably. As a beginning collector, you will have security when having papers from one of the major organizations because it affirms the quality of the piece and the validity of the signature. Not only that, it will make the piece easier to sell in the near future. Every buyer will want to have that same guarantee of quality.
8. Be cautious of buying an unsigned (mumei) piece or piece that has a forged signature or gimei.
You may be surprised to find such excellent swords for super reasonable prices, but they are also difficult to dispose by selling. Don’t think that by paying more, you are not getting a good deal. Rather, you are greatly reducing the risks if you have a sword organization or independent sword experts to verify it. False signatures can be fairly removed without any hassles but it’s often not worth all the trouble. You actually end up paying more total than the piece would be worth.
9. As obvious as it may be, you know how to care for your samurai sword.
Your sword collection may or may not need any cleaning. It would depend on some factors and the need for cleaning. Don’t make any attempts of cleaning and sharpening the swords yourself as it should be left at the hands of experts. Any mishaps imprinted on the sword can lead to irreversible damages which greatly decrease the value and beauty of your sword.
The market for antique swords has never been brisk and fast-paced upon seeing auction houses selling interesting items to collectors. No matter where private collectors are based, you are sure to trade and auction off on the internet, auction houses such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
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The largest source of authentic swords can easily be found on antique sword auctions. Auction houses play an important role on appraising the value of ancient swords. Not only that, they can also assess the value of ancient sword in the future.
A 17th century gold small-sword of Prince William Frederick has a price tag of 62,400 dollars. You can also find a rare Italian rapier costing around 20,000 to 25,000 dollars on Antique Arms and Armour. Get to own an antique dagger forged in the 19th century for only 10 to 150 dollars as well.
This was not the case if you look antique swords being auctioned years ago. Dr. Walter Ames Compton is a passionate collector of antique Japanese swords. He shared that auction during his time was very limited and scarce. Swords collecting were not openly traded. He first developed interest in sword collecting during the heels of the war and had to search through Chinatown to look what he searched for. The interest of Dr. Compton soon turned into profits when his Japanese swords and fittings amounting to an overwhelming 15 million dollars.
Auction houses regularly bid swords only twice a year. Christie’s and Sotheby’s hold auctions every December 17 and May 21 each year. They may hold auctions quite not often as you would expect them but it is well compensated by the choice of artifacts they put on sale. It provides adequate time for bidders to review the items and think about their choices. Online sites on the other hand such as eBay trade antique swords like merchandise. Auctions can be as frequent as 24/7. Private collectors deal with artifacts among collectors themselves. They could either exchange their sword collection with another or sell their complete collection to acquire collectible swords being sold.
A few reminders before you jump online to check out auction houses. Online auction can save you money and time but is also subjected to scams. Shady dealers can cheat on you given online doesn’t offer much security for trades and commerce.
It is wise to seek reputable auction sites backed with good feedbacks. Always ask for marks or any distinctions to prove the identity and authenticity of the items. Rare collectible swords contain rich history thus fetching an expensive price. Do some research to arm you with information. You can also double check the claims of the auctioneer and try to verify the provenance before deciding whether you want to close the sale or not. If you decided to bid, make a mental dollar cap on the item you desire. Make an estimation of the maximum price of the antique Polish army sword and stick to your budget.
Check out Sothebys and Christies to view antique swords currently out on sale.
Sword fighting moves look so swift and so simple in movies but the case isn’t exactly the same in real life. You might want to do some research before training on how to bust sword fighting moves of your own. The best way to correct the edge angle and focus intent in sword moves is by training in cutting techniques against targets with the use of a sharp blade.
Be careful with sharp blades.
You probably know how fast it is to cut yourself with a kitchen knife when chopping vegetables or slicing meat. Consider the grave consequences when handling swords. It is a million times sharper compared to a home kitchen. In the event when you accidentally cut yourself, you might not even be aware until you see a finger on the ground and blood starts to appear. No pain is felt in the first few seconds so you may not realize that you already hurt yourself. Don’t fool around with untrained sword cutting. An extra sharp blade cut on a target can even leave a piece of bamboo standing in exactly the same position as it was before the cut. Let someone who is trained in sword cutting supervise you. As beginners, you may want to be trained in working with wooden or blunt steel swords before you start working with sharp sword blades.
Training proper
Sword cutting isn’t a common skill to be learned without plenty of prior training. Accidents are more likely to happen when you don’t equip yourself with tons of research and training. Make a rule for yourself to never brush up on your cutting skills alone. Let somebody know that you are going to starting to master the skill of cutting with a sword.
If you have spectators in this learning session, make sure everyone is not chatting and moving about. They should be concentrating and keep one’s eyes peeled if a blade suddenly breaks or flies out of someone’s hands. They need to see it and avoid any mishaps form taking place. Always give your 101% focus during training. The fewer distractions, the better it is for you.
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Designate someone you know as a “guard” or “marshall”. No one is allowed to enter the training area without his or her consent. Draw a line to keep bystanders at a safe distance. Keep the area dry to avoid making it slippery. It would also help if cutters are trained in how to manipulate swords like handing over, at rest among others before any attempts on cutting with the swords.
Safety eye glasses and soft leather gloves are must-have equipments. The safety glasses serve as a protection against flying fragment. Soft leather gloves will prevent hand cuts from accidentally touching the blade. Do yourself a favor: Never try to swing a sword not until you have a good control with a non-sharpened training sword.
Decide on the kinds of cuts you want to learn, work on and improve as time pass. It’s better to work on a single type of cut or two then learn them in repetition. Don’t let embarrassment or disappointment. When you failed to do learn how to do the last cut, you can either master it well or move on to the next cut. Be conscious of the body mechanics you need to work on. Your sword technique should follow the correct principles much more when using a sword for cutting. Don’t let your technique go to waste by simply swing wildly. Did you follow through? Did you control your cut so it stops in a position which lets you make a second cut? Check your grip on the sword. Are you holding it properly? When the angle of the edge is not correct then even a soft plastic bottle will bounce or tear upon impact.
Know your target.
Try varieties of targets. If you start out with soft plastic bottles and end up cutting them with ease then try rigid plastic such as soda bottles. Also try small branches as well as fruit and vegetables in between targets. For advanced sword cutting, opt for bamboo or bamboo wrapped in rush mats, so on. Be open to constructive criticism from experts. In this way you can pick up tips and comments on how you performed.
Secure the right equipments
. A good or high quality sword
Don’t even think of taking your fantasy movie sword off your wall o r the Katana you bought at the markets to try to cut with it. It may have a sharp blade but doesn’t quite fit as a real sword. Some of those swords have a thin piece of steel welded onto the blade, under the handle called a “rat tail” tang. The “rat tail” tang isn’t strong enough and can easily snap. When you start to cut your target, the blade that looked sharp enough for sword cutting, flies through the air then cuts the wrong thing possibly your leg, your car window or even the dog. Another possibility is the blade might not break instead will bend for being too soft. Let swords as decorations to function to look pretty hung on the wall, and get a real sword.
Safety glasses or fencing mask
Buy yourself a safety glass that won’t easily shatter. The last thing you need is safety glasses that act as an accessory to injuries. Squash glasses are good for Australians. Raquetball glasses are available in America.
Soft leather gloves
Gloves aren’t required but offer added protection from accidentally cutting a finger when wiping down the blade between cuts.
Cutting materials as targets
Prepare a collection of cutting materials neatly stacked out of the way of the cutting area. If it’s recyclable such as plastic bottles or cans then recycle it after the session.
Cutting stands
Expect for some repairs on your cutting stands even if they’re made of sturdy platform. There may instances that someone, or yourself might miss the target and cut straight through the thick wood. You can also hang targets from a branch; have someone toss them for you, or other methods.
A handy dandy camera
A camera is one of the non-compulsory items but can be fun and useful especially if it’s video. You can view and play back later to evaluate your sword cutting. An effective way to review and evaluate your training is to capture your form and watch the results to make improvement.
You can learn to do cut with your sword responsibly with respect for your blade. Good luck on your sword training!
The process of repair and bringing back the old glory of antique sword blades requires more skill and knowledge and should not be attempted on your own. It is certainly possible to do a decent and acceptable initial polish job on a blade with the aid of non-traditional materials and techniques, nevertheless a trained polisher must be consulted.
Some modern smiths employ the use of sandpaper and small stones for newly made blades where the major shaping has been done on the grinder (i.e. the blade is ground to nearly perfect shape before “polishing”). In this case, sandpaper or small stones can be used for progressively removing scratches from the pre-shaped blade.
It is a different case for old blades or even blades where there is damage to be repaired such as those showing chips, rust, among others. If that is the case, some degree of reshaping is needed since it’s difficult to tell how many times a blade has been polished previously, even for a new blade, re-grinding the foundation using a power tool is a risky prospect. It is just not possible for older blades where you might only be a few strokes away from exposing the soft core steel.
Restoration and repairs can only properly be done using traditional techniques. For antique blades in particular, a trained polisher is the only option you have to salvage the blade.
You must consider the following things when repairing damage on a blade. For example, whether or not to change the convexity or “niku” of the edge, whether to move the shinogi (ridge, line) evenly over the entire edge, or to taper it towards the point to maintain visual balance, whether to shift the position of the yokote line (tip separation line) and reshape the point, etc.
Some of these things will be at odds with trying to preserve the intentions of the smith and school. More often than not, an improper decision can greatly reduce the value of an antique sword to merely nothing. A polisher must have the knowledge to decide where to maintain and where to repair. For example, a characteristic of Yamato school is the very high shinogi ridge giving the blade a very pronounced diamond shape. When restoring such a blade, in order to maintain and for the blade to be recognized as a Yamato school blade, then the pronounced diamond cross section must be preserved, even if you have to leave something else unfixed. It is very important that some of these features are identifying characteristics of specific schools and smiths. The rationale of such importance of the diamond cross section is best explained in this scenario: for example you had a sword signed “Masamune”, and the signature was correct, but an unskilled polisher messed up the shape or practically altered the shape, the appraiser or any knowledgeable buyer would say that this sword does not have the characteristics of a real Masamune blade, and so the signature must be a fake. In the end, instead of having a sword worth a $1,000,000 you now have a sword maybe worth less than $1,000!
To protect the value of the antique sword, everything has to match up. The signature must be right and the workmanship must reflect its smith. Any small deviation could result in the sword being declared a fake sword. Now, obviously, this importance does not apply with a blade you’ve purchased for cutting practice, etc. But in this case, proper restoration is still vital even if the sword is used with proper care which should last up to several hundred years, but indiscrimate use of abrasives even chemical abrasives like MetalGlo and Flitz does not only harm the weapon’s functional potential but also severely shorten its lifespan.
The Greek name μάχαιρα or Makhaira has a variety of meanings, and can refer to virtually any sword including a surgeon’s scalpel. In martial context, however, it most often refers to a type of one-edged, curved sword. Modern scholars differentiate the makhaira from the kopis on the basis of the direction of the blade curvature.
