Nagamaki sword

Nagamaki Sword The Nagamaki is another traditional Japanese weapon used by the samurai during the warring period and it has a distinct feature that easily differentiates this among other blades; the unique feature of this weapon is its handle which is much longer compared to those of regular swords. Along with the katana, the nagamaki was also used by skilled warriors that protected and defended their land during the times of feudal Japan. Based on historical notes and records, the nagamaki was said to have been created during the Heian period since there were no details that spoke of this weapon during the mid-Kamakura era. However, this weapon grew popular when the Muromachi period entered.

When it comes to the physical attributes of the nagamaki, its blade can reach up to two feet in length while the handles’ length is almost equal to the blade; however, the hilt of the nagamaki is the same as the hilt of the katana and it features a special type of covering that concealed and wrapped around the sword’s handle.

This special wrap is usually made from high-quality leather cords or silk, and it was done in a criss-cross fashion to keep it strong and intact. Additionally, the sword commonly gets its name from these beautifully unique wrappings.

Features of the Nagamaki

The Nagamaki is one of the popular weapons used by the samurai class and is also known to have been based from the nodachi, a fourteenth-century weapon. As for the nagamaki’s blade, it often varied in size but the most common length that it featured was around two shaku in Japanese measurement. The word nagamaki literally means a long wrap though there were a few nagamaki’s that have been acquired without any of these special wrapping

cords. This special cord is generally important since it further improves the owner’s grip on the sword’s hilt while simultaneously adding more durability and strength to the nagamaki’s wooden handle. If the sword does not feature the special hilt wraps, the weapon usually features a metallic collar instead and these can be found right along the hilt where its tang can be found.

There were no general rules that should be followed when making this type of sword so even if there were differences in each of the swords, these would still be categorized as a nagamaki. However, swords like the tanto or wakizashi had very strict rules to be followed during the process of their creation.

The Nagamaki in Popular Modern Culture

Sir Alonne, an enemy boss who is featured in the Dark Souls II - Crown of the Iron King game, is a samurai-like character who brandishes a nagamaki. In the fifth Suikoden game, another character who is named Lyon wields a nagamaki; she uses this to protect her charge who is also the protagonist of the game. In the popular film The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, the High Elves present were seen using single-edged and curved swords that greatly resembled the nagamaki. The only difference was the subtle Sshaped blade that their blades had.