| Ever since humans learned how to shape metal, | | | | |
| the sword has been the weapon of choice for | | | | Japanese military swords were only allowed to |
| many warriors. It is a sturdy, durable weapon | | | | have a single edge; the dull side was for |
| that has been a fixture in the hands of | | | | support. Up until the onset of World War II, |
| soldiers for thousands of years. Military | | | | the majority of Japanese military swords were |
| swords have been used in combat in nearly | | | | made by hand. With industrialization and a |
| every continent and come in a myriad of | | | | need to mass produce, swords created during |
| styles. | | | | WWII were done so by machine. |
| | | | |
| The process of creating traditional Japanese | | | | It is interesting to note the quality of |
| military swords is not really a process ? it | | | | these blades drastically decreased as the |
| is an art. These swords are made using an | | | | progression of the war gradually turned |
| intricate process developed by the Chinese | | | | against Japan. High quality military swords |
| and improved by the Japanese. The method | | | | created at the beginning of the fighting were |
| involves an extraordinary amount of labor, | | | | replaced with low quality swords made with |
| and frequently, several workers would create | | | | poor materials as combat came to an end. |
| swords through an assembly-line like process. | | | | American forces in the Pacific Ocean had |
| The sword maker must heat, fold and hammer | | | | created a stranglehold on Japan?s ability to |
| the metal until it reaches the desired | | | | obtain resources and the quality of these |
| thickness. | | | | weapons reflected it. |
| | | | |
| The steel used in Japanese military swords is | | | | Today, with the modern weapons available to |
| thought to be the best for the creation of | | | | soldiers, military swords are no longer |
| these deadly blades. Folding and hammering | | | | needed for combat. However, modern armies |
| the metal enabled the steel to reach its | | | | still produce swords for many of their troops |
| strongest and most resilient state. Air | | | | as part of tradition. There are still a |
| bubbles were beaten out and the composition | | | | handful of traditional Japanese military |
| of the steel was turned uniform, thereby | | | | sword makers that work to keep the art alive. |
| eliminating points of weakness. | | | | |