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A-F
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G-L
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M-S
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T-Z
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Term
|
Definition |
| acid
etching |
Dissolution
of the surface of the metal with a highly
corrosive mixture of nitric and sulfuric
acid.
|
|
aikuchi
|
Short-bladed
guardless tanto.
|
| Chanukah |
See "Hanukkah." |
| chape |
The lower metallic cap of a sword's scabbard. |
|
dagger
|
Long,
often double-edged knife used primarily
as a stabbing weapon.
|
|
daisho
|
A
pair of swords, usually short and long,
with matching mountings.
|
|
dirk
|
Long-bladed
knife, single or double-edged, used as a
utility knife and/or weapon. Often refers
to Scottish long knives.
|
|
Engnath
|
Bob
Engnath was a knife and sword maker who
also ran the House of Muzzleloading, where
he sold some of the finest unfinished tempered
blades on the market.
|
| engrail |
To form
an edging or border, to run in curved or
indented lines. |
| fuchi |
A
cuplike mounting on the front end of grip.
|
|
grip
|
Handle
of knife, sword or pistol.
|
| habaki |
A
wedge-shaped mounting that holds the blade
tight in the scabbard.
|
| hadseax |
See "Seax." |
|
hand
guard
|
Wood
or metal disk, bar, or integral swelling
in the grip designed to protect the hand
from slipping over the blade, or to protect
the hand from an opponent's blade. Japanese
sword guards are not meant to provide
protection from the opponent's blade.
|
| Hanukkah |
(also
spelled Chanukah, Hannuka, etc.) Known
as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an
eight-day celebration around December of
the miracle attributed to God when the Maccabees
led the Jewish people to victory over the
Syrian invaders in 186 BC. Hanukkah also
commemorates the miracle of causing one day's
supply of oil for the Menorah to last for
eight days. |
|
hilt
|
Another
word for grip or handle.
|
|
ito
|
See Tsuka-ito.
|
| kashira |
A
mounting on the back end of hilt. Together
with fuchi, holds the hilt together.
|
|
katana
|
Long
sword of the Japanese Samurai class.
|
| kissaki |
The
point of the blade.
|
| koiguchi |
The
mouth of the scabbard.
|
| kojiri |
The
bottom end of the scabbard, also the mounting
on the end of the scabbard.
|
|
kozuka
|
Small
knife often carried as a utility blade in
the sheath of a wakizashi or katana.
|
| kurikata |
A
ring on the side of the scabbard for attaching
the sageo.
|
|
kurigato
|
Raised
attachment point on the scabbard for securing
the sageo.
|
| mekugi |
The
peg that holds the blade and hilt together.
Often made of bamboo.
|
| mekugi-ana |
The
hole for mekugi in the blade.
|
| menorah |
A seven-branched
candelabrum whose original design was defined
in the Hebrew Torah. It was used in rituals
in the tabernacle (portable sanctuary)
and later the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Today, Jews use Menorahs with nine
branches (Hanukkiah), which hold eight
candles plus a "shamus" or "helper candle," to
celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah in December.
The Menorah is linked to a story wherein
the original lamp stayed miraculously lit
in a Jerusalem temple for eight days, much
longer than expected because the lamp contained
only enough oil for one day. |
| menuki |
A
pair of mountings under the hilt-wrapping.
Mostly decorative, but also improves grip.
|
| mezuzah |
Parchment
scroll inscribed with biblical passages,
placed in a case, and attached to the doorpost
of a Jewish home. The scroll contains part
of the "shema" (pronounced "she-MAH"),
a prayer that affirms the monotheistic
nature of Judaism. |
|
Micarta
|
A
synthetic ivory material made by the Formica
company.
|
| nakago |
The tang of the sword.
|
|
puukko
|
Traditional
Finnish belt knife.
|
| sageo |
Long
silk or cotton cord used to secure the sword
to the wearer.
|
| samé |
The
belly-skin of a shark or a ray under the
wrapping on the hilt.
|
| saya |
The
scabbard, usually of magnolia wood.
|
| sax |
See "Seax." |
|
scabbard
|
Sword
sheath.
|
| scramaseax |
See "Seax." |
| scramsax |
See "Seax." |
|
scrimshaw
|
Carved
or engraved articles or objects, originally
on whalebone or whale ivory. Now commonly
includes any engraved ivory or imitation
ivory, bone, tusk, or horn.
|
| seax |
A Seax (also Hadseax, Sax, Seaxe, Scramaseax and Scramsax), was a type of Germanic single-edged knife. Seax seem to have been used primarily as a tool but may also have been a weapon in extreme situations. They occur in a size range from 7.5cm to 75cm. The larger ones (langseax) were probably weapons, the smaller ones (hadseax) tools, intermediate sized ones serving a dual purpose. The seax was worn in a horizontal sheath at the front of the belt. The Saxons may have derived their name from seax, the implement for which they were known.
Source: Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia |
| seaxe |
See "Seax." |
| seppa |
Small
washers between habaki and tsuba and tsuba
and fuchi.
|
|
sgian
dubh
|
Scottish
"black knife", originally a small
concealed knife, later
carried in the top of the stocking in classic
Scottish garb.
|
|
sheath
|
Case
of wood, metal, leather, etc., used to protect
the knife or blade while carrying or storing.
|
| shirasaya |
A
plain storage scabbard.
|
|
skean
|
Another
spelling for sgian. See sgian
dubh above.
|
|
sprue
|
A
length of wax or plastic that allows the
molten medium to flow through a hollow mold
during the casting process.
|
|
tallit
clip
|
A
jewelry item used to hold together the ends
of a tallit (prayer shawl)
worn by Jews during religious services.
|
|
tang
|
The
metal portion of a knife or sword that extends
into the grip.
|
|
tanto
|
Japanese
knife, often built in the same manner as
a sword.
|
|
tomahawk
|
Small
fighting ax commonly used by Native Americans
and American settlers. European settlers
in America brought iron and brass heads
for trade in the 18th and 19th century.
|
| tsuba |
The
hand guard.
|
| tsuka |
The
hilt.
|
|
tsuka-ito
|
Silk
or cotton braid or cord, wrapped in a crossing-diamond
pattern around the sword grip, providing
strength and a non-slip grip.
|
| tsukamaki |
The
wrapping on the hilt.
|
|
wakizashi
|
Japanese
short sword.
|
Please