Cool things to etch into a samurai sword?

Question

I like to make japanese style swords as traditional as possible (trying to make tamahagane, clay quenching,ect...) but i don't know japanese much and i wanted to etch japanese characters into my blade that are relevent, can anyone tell me some besides

忍者, i know that means ninja, and no tricks like telling me to write donkey or something please

Answer 1

Assassin- 暗殺者

Honour- 名誉

Loyalty- 忠誠

Respect- 点

Warrior- 戦士

Death Before Dishonor- 不名誉より死

Answer 2

You may do like the following, something related to Japanese Samurai:

http://www.handmadesword.com/258.html

http://www.handmadesword.com/259.html

http://www.handmadesword.com/260.html

http://www.handmadesword.com/261.html

http://www.handmadesword.com/262.html

Answer 3

Write " back off or i'll shove this through your stomach!"

Answer 4

The decorations and embellishments on a Japanese sword are not meant to be "cool". They are prayers, dedications, or depictions of gods, dragons, or other guardians (called HORIMONO) which are engraved on the sword or integrated into the handle and scabbard, and hold special signifigance for the swordmaker and/or the owner of the sword. As I said, it's not about "cool"; it's about history and honor. Figure out what that means to you, and you might know what to put on the sword.

Just randomly throwng"ninja", "Samurai", "warrior", etc. onto the sword blade will not make your blades more authentic. It will identify you as one who does not truly understand the "ART" of sword making.

Answer 5

Put I don't care what you put, just make it sharp and to the point.

Answer 6

Traditionally, the smith would stamp their name on the tang of the sword.

There are two swords than have similar mounting and design.  One is the tachi (this is worn with the blade side down for use on horseback).  The other is the katana where the blade is worn edge up in the obi.

The signatures location would tell you what the blade was origionally forged to be - it was always on the side of the tang that faced out.  If you hold a blade pointing away with the edge up, a right has the signature on the left and a tachi on the left.

If you want to stay traditional, you could stick with that though the kanji wouldn't be visible when mounted.

If you want to have something on the actual blade, I think it would be best to 'name' the sword.  Something generic like 'ninja' would be all that cool in my opinion.  However, something like:

life:

http://spencer.blackmarket.net/dic_word_...

breath:

http://spencer.blackmarket.net/dic_word_...

peace:

http://spencer.blackmarket.net/dic_word_...

or such would keep with a more Japanese way of thinking about these things.

For example, if you dissect the term Bushido, you end up with Bu - arrest conflict, s**+ - practitioner of, do - way.  Remove the practitioner of part and you end up with 'the way of arresting conflict' - the way of the warrior to the Japanese was a way of creating and maintaining peace, even if it means a brutal war to achieve it in the long run.

Answer 7

Many samurai would etch prayers into their blades, or blessings, I have no idea what you would want, but looking for a Kanji to english dictionary would definitely help, they aren't that expensive either. if you must, 報償 is an interesting thing to put down, it means payback, basically. Since you're aware of ninja, I'll assume you like the fantasy, 'cool' things. 判決日 means doomsday, I have a feeling you'll like that.