ORIGIN Turkey LENGTH c. 12 in (30.5 cm) This highly ornate Turkish dagger is a cut-and-thrust weapon, with a curved, double-edged blade tapering to a very ne point. The blade has cutaway sections for decoration, while the green agate handle is decorated with garnets. 188 THE AGE OF SWORDSMANSHIP THE BACK-SWORD HAS OVER THE SMALL, IN POINT OF USE. TAKE NOTICE OF THE SUPERIORITY CAPTAIN JOHN GODFREY, A TREATISE UPON THE USEFUL SCIENCE OF DEFENCE, 1747 CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBAT Daggers, aside from the very slender stiletto type, are the archetypal cut-and-thrust weapons, usually designed for both piercing and laceration. In this Mogul painting from India, a warrior makes a stabbing attack on his opponent, using the point of his curved dagger. Ornate blade with gold inlay work

JAPANESE SAMURAI WEAPONS Japanese sword blades are considered to be among the nest ever made. Their success was due to the combination of a hard cutting edge with a softer, more resilient core and back. After a complex process creating a soft core enfolded in hard outer layers of steel, the swordsmith covered the blade in clay, leaving only a thin layer over what was to become the cutting edge. During quenching (pp. 9899), the edge cools rapidly, becoming very hard, while the back cools more slowly, remaining less hard but more exible. The mountings for blades developed their own aesthetic nesse. In the 15th century, for example, the manufacture of tsuba (guards) became a separate profession, and these are now collectors items in their own right. KILL THE OPPONENT. SAMURAI MIYAMOTO MUSASHI (c. 15841645), THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS, c. 1643 FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU LIFT UP THE SWORD, WHATEVER THE SITUATION YOUR INTENTION IS TO 190 THE AGE OF SWORDSMANSHIP

Engraved metal sayajira (sheath cap) TANTO IN SCABBARD DATE c. 18th century WEIGHT 19 oz (550 g) ORIGIN Japan LENGTH c. 16 in (40 cm) The tanto was a short sword that came into use during the Heian period (7941185), and its popularity waxed and waned until the 20th century. This weapon is encased in a black lacquered sheath, and it was not uncommon to see slim kogatana knives stored in a sheath pocket. Sageo for tying scabbard into belt Loop for sageo (cord) Short, one-handed grip KATANA IN SCABBARD 18th century DATE WEIGHT 24 oz (680 g) ORIGIN Japan LENGTH 27 in (69.8 cm) This long sword, or katana, forms a daisho (combination) with a matching short sword, or wakazashi (pp. 19899). During the the Edo regime, the katana was exclusively worn by the samurai, while merchants and townsmen were allowed to carry a wakazashi. In combat, a samurai typically held the katana in a two-handed grip, which the tsuka (handle) easily accommodated. Tsuba (guard) Silk braid binding

Menuki (hilt ornament) JAPANESE SAMURAI WEAPONS 191 FAN DAGGER DATE c. 17th century WEIGHT c. 11 oz (300 g) ORIGIN Japan LENGTH c. 10 in (25 cm) Fans were customary items around the Japanese court, so they also provided an ideal disguise for a self-defense weapon, such as the dagger shown here. The fan slats are actually a solid scabbard, holding a single-edged steel dagger. The hilt of the dagger is formed by the ridges of the fake fan slats. The loop at the end acted as a fastening to secure the blade in the scabbard. Scabbard disguised as folded fan FLUTE KNIFE DATE c. 16th century WEIGHT c. 9 oz (250 g) ORIGIN Japan LENGTH c. 12 in (30.5 cm) In Japan, bamboo utes were occasionally used as stick-style weapons, but this item is far more elaborate. The intricately made metal casing, crafted to look exactly like a real bamboo ute, contains a double-edged dagger. The fake mouthpiece formed the hilt, and the main body of the ute was a sheath to conceal the blade.