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JAPANESE SAMURAI SWORD BLADE TIPS -
The Samurai sword makers developed different types of tips for the blade. Some of the styles are common and easy to find. Others are more difficult to encounter because fewer were made. It is important to learn about the tip shapes because it can help determine the age of the blade.

This section of the website provides basic information regarding the style of tips employed. It is important to note that not all types are covered here.

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CHU TIP
This is the most commonly found Samurai sword point. It is short and stout. Found in Katanas and Wakisashis alike. a very strong part of the sword and perhaps the most deadly. The example featured here shows a couple of minor nicks to the cutting part of the tip.

KO TIP
The Samurai sword point illustrated here is known as KO. It is small in shape. It is normally found on old Tachi and Katana swords. This photograph was taken from a Katana sword.



IKUBI TIP
The Ikubi tip was distinguished by its short and stout design. The tip is stubby and was known as the boar's neck.



OKISSAKI TIP
The Okissaki tip is harder to find. This style of tip was distinguished by its long length.



RE-TIPED BLADE
The tip of a Samurai sword could be damaged in battle. sometimes the damage could be repaired by polishing the blade. However, there were times when the damage was too extensive that the only way to fix it was to re-tip the blade. The following photograph is such an example.



KO POINT - SECOND EXAMPLE
The Samurai sword point illustrated here is another example of a KO style. It is small in shape. It is normally found on old Tachi and Katana swords. This photograph was taken from a Katana sword. The Katana was issued with a leather scabbard. Brown in color. This was the standard WWII type.





TANTO POINT
The following tip belongs to a Tanto blade. Most of these baldes had the style of point shown here. They were also issued with the plain wooden scabbard. The Tanto was used for close in combat situations. This is also the knife the Samurai would employ to commit suicide.




THE BOSHI
The tip of the Samurai sword has a temper line similar to that applied to the blade (Hamon). The name of the line is Boshi. The following photographs illustrate some of the most common Boshis. The temper line has been hand-drawn to make the shape of the temper line easier to uderstand.

KOMARU - The temper line for this style has a small circle at the starting point. The temper line makes a turnback by going in one direction and then switching to another.

OMARU - This style of tip temper line has a large circle in the ending section. The rest of the temper linem is usually fairly straight. The temper line performs a turnback.

MIDARE-KOMI - The temper line for this style is identified by an irregular wavy pattern. It is important to note that the size of each wave may vary along the length of the blade.

HAKIKAKE - The front of the tip has a pattern that ressembles one created by a brush stroke. The balance of the temper line is fairly straight.

YAKIZUME - The temper line does not perform a turn-back. The temper line remains fairly straight throughou the length of the blade.

JIZO - This particular temper line is characterized by a circular shape near the starting point. The circular shape is supposed to represent a person's head. The balance of the pattern is fairly straight.






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