Kissaki - The sword blade tip & its hardening patterns (Boshi)

Kissaki sword tip

Table of contents

Fukura Tsuku and Fukura Kareru

The blade tip of a samurai sword is known as a kissaki. A distinction is made between a curved tip, known as a fukura tsuku, and a straight tip, the fukura kareru.

Fukura Tsuku
Fukura Tsuku
Fukura Kareru
Fukura Kareru

The length of the sword tip

There are also different lengths of the sword tip:

Ko Kissaki
Ko Kissaki

Co

This is the name for a relatively short blade tip.

Chu Kissaki
Chu Kissaki

Chu

Is the name for a medium-large tip.

O Kissaki
O Kissaki

O

This is what a long blade tip is called.

Hardness pattern on the sword tip - Boshi

Similar to the hamon on the rest of the blade, there is also a hardening line on the tip of the blade. This is known as boshi and is differentiated according to pattern:

Ichi May
Ichi May

Ichi May

The tip is completely hardened

Yaki Zume
Yaki Zume

Yaki Zume

The line of no return

Kaeri Asashi
Kaeri Asashi

Kaeri Asashi

The short turnaround

Kaeri Tsuyoshi
Kaeri Tsuyoshi

Kaeri Tsuyoshi

The straight turn

Ko Maru
Ko Maru

Ko Maru

The small circle

O Maru
O Maru

O-Maru

The big circle

Midare Komi
Midare Komi

Midare Komi

Corrugated

Kaeri Fukashi
Kaeri Fukashi

Kaeri Fukashi

The long wave

Jizo
Jizo

Jizo

The head shape

Kaen
Kaen

Kaen

The flame shape

 

Source: "Das Samuraischwert", published by Ordonnanz-Verlag in 2004

You can find more interesting articles about other components of the samurai sword in our article category Components of the samurai sword.

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