Samurai sword so well balanced it can balance on grain of rice?

Answer 1

During the time of feudal Japan the shogunate did not have access to a surplus of metal. What they did have went first for sword blades. Armor could mostly be made from split sections of bamboo, lower quality metal spun into wire for making chainmail, and quilted leather. Hence most armor did not resist a good sword blade in the first place. A samurai sword (katana/wakizashi, long and short swords) had a temper line called a hamon, which is the wavy line that extends the length of the blade. This temper line was the division point between soft and hard metal density. The back of the blade was softer and springier, while the cutting edge was harder, well-tempered for cutting thru opponents. Historical presentation swords were made in period that had superb balance, or superior sharpness, but these masterworks were generally never used in combat. Even a Rockwell C-40 hardness sword will dull quickly in use if sharpened to a razor edge. A sword does not rely on being razor sharp to kill, altho that is a bonus. What kills is the triangular edge with the strength behind it to slice it thru flesh and bone. As to superior balance it is possible for such a masterwork to occur, given that it would be made by a Master Smith with years of experience. A katana actually weighs little, less than 10 lbs. and closer to 5. However, a grain of rice is usually fairly easy to flatten or split, so I would venture that the truth behind this long-lived myth may have been a smith who balanced a katana on a dried-out, stale grain of rice.

Answer 2

Do you actually know how heavy a samurai sword is? They are so heavy i doubt it would be able to balance on a single grain of rice. I picked one up once and it was heavy heavy heavy!

Answer 3

I am familiar with that myth and the answer is that the sword woulod be tot heavy, no matter how well balanced, to be supported by a single grain of rice.

Answer 4

I have the sword that was taken in the Japanese surrender in the Philippines, it is just a war relic and made in model of the same principals as the jade guarded thousand year old swords that were handed down to that time in history, all most all the guys brought home souvenirs of the war, i had gen. numbas 1928 jap Luger, the light machine gun and banana clip two motors and the two flags of battle, i grew up making clay bullets for the Luger, hacked my way through the forest behind our home with the sword, the tassels still perfect the edge still is stained blood gutters and sits out of reach, it should exceed my grasp, I'll post The complete 44th division &129th infintry and it's militery photos when i learn how to run this machine better.

Answer 5

i dont know about that mate, but i know if you just drop a piece of paper from a couple on inches above the blade of the samurai sword it will cut the paper in half thats how sharp the ****** is lol

Answer 6

Anything has a point of balance, all you have to do is find it.