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