Chokuto Sword

Chokuto Sword

The chokuto is one of the authentic Japanese swords that features a straight, single-edged blade and was created before the tenth century; it features a basic and simple style that is most likely based off from swords coming from ancient China. These swords were utilized by foot soldiers for slashing and stabbing their enemies and were also carried around by their wielders, letting these weapons hang from their waist. Until the Heian era, the chokuto were called tachi but these should not be confused with the tachi swords with the arched blades.

The History of the Chokuto Sword

The chokuto was among the first swords made in the history of forging in Japan; it had a basic forging method and style which has most likely originated from ancient China. These techniques were brought all the way back to Japan by way of Korea during the third century; interestingly, the chokuto was also created even before the varying methods of tempering in Japanese swordsmithing was established. These swords usually feature two specific types of blades: the kiriha zukuri tsukurikomi and the hira zukuri which gives the sword a distinct feature from the later katana and tachi which were rarely made with this type of blade.

The distinct feature of this sword is its straightened blade which is similar to the swords of China that were acquired during the second century BCE throughout the tenth century CE. Curved blades are just as old and ancient as they may seem but these types of swords did not really become popular around the Middle East and Asia until after the supremacy of the Mongol Empire; during their invasion of Japan, this was the time when the Japanese warriors during the Kamakura Shogunate were able to utilize the efficiency and lethalness of the curved blades firsthand.

Simple and fundamental types of blades that would eventually turn into the tachi slowly began to overshadow the chokuto’s popularity since curved blades proved to be easier to handle and were also more lethal especially during mounted combat. Only a few examples of the chokuto mountings still remain but there were enough of these available to reconstruct the swords that always followed the layout of Korean and Chinese sword-models. This was clearly evident in one of the last sword types developed during the Kofun period and this was the single-edged warabiteto.

Features of the Chokuto Sword

Aside from having a single-blade which is highly efficient when it comes to stabbing an opponent, here are some of the other features of the chokuto that males this sword effective during battle:

Strong Hilt The chokuto is outfitted with a hilt that clearly separates the sword’s handle and its blade; the hilt may have an appearance of a wing or it may also look like a ring. The purpose of having this type of hilt is to protect the wielder’s hand from sliding to the blade.

Handle For a firm and sturdy grip, the chokuto is made with a strong handle which extends right from the hilt to the upper end of the sword. Compared to other straight-edged weapons that feature handles that are made or covered with wood, the chokuto’s handle is made out of metal that is designed with intricate curves to enhance and improve one’s grip. Furthermore, the length of its handle is adequate enough for a single-handed grip but it can also accommodate a double-handed grip if necessary.

Scabbard The chokuto also has a perfectly-fitted scabbard where the sword’s shaft can perfectly fit; its sheath allows the sword to be easily hung along the waist when walking or during horseback riding.