Sword Forum Bugei

A few days I had a customer purchase a Shinogi Zukuri Katana and five tatami mats.
Yesterday said customer brought back the katana with alot of damage along the ha and claims it was all done in about 5 cuts.
While trying to fathom how it was damaged so quick, I asked several questions.
And now I am askin you guys, if htis customer did not soak the tatami for long enough would htat bave been enough to cause that level of damage and scuffing.

B Shaw

curious. have any good pics?

It is possible if the edge was erroneously over-hardened during heat treatment that some damage (chipping, etc) could occur, but that would be some extremely bad heat treating and some pretty hard mats. It is more likely that the cutter had the mats rolled around oak dowels and pooched his cuts badly or that maybe he is using bailing wire to tie his mats after rolling. That, I have seen and it will definitely leave damage to the edge.

On the face of it, I would have to say there is something we are not hearing about this cutting session or that shenanigans are afoot.

Would have to see pics and hear more details.

I saw a wind and thunder brought back to a store once after someone complained that it didn't cut. When we looked at the edge, it was full of chips. When he was asked what he was tryin to cut, he said 2 inch PVC tubing. Sorry buddy, but you're stuck with it after a move like that!

I agree, pictures will likely detail what happened. Some speculation would be attempted cuts on bamboo. A dowel rolled into the mats. Hitting the stand or ground after a cut. It's hard to say based on what you've stated. People do some stupid stuff though, so nothing would really surprise me.

Will work on getting pictures as the sword is back in my shop anyways, and I have seen the matts he was using there where rolled tight but tied with some sort of natural fibre cord...
Interesting.

B SHaw

In my opinion, I doubt the cords have anything to do with the damage incurred. If that's what you're insinuating.

But, I agree with the general concensus: pictures of the damage are required for a more insightful answer,