Thenagamaki (長巻; "long wrapping") is a type of traditionally madeJapanese sword (nihontō)[1][2] with an extra long handle, used by thesamurai class of feudal Japan.[3]
It is possible that nagamaki were first produced during theHeian period (794 to 1185) but there are no known examples dating from before the midKamakura period (1192–1333).[4] The nagamaki is believed to have been developed from theōdachi (great sword). Theōdachi, with its long blade, was sometimes too long to be used with a standard length hilt. Therefore, a strong cord would sometimes be wrapped around the sword from the center of the blade to thetsuba (sword guard), and the user would hold the sword by that part of the cord. The sword used in this way was callednakamaki no tachi (中巻の太刀, sword with middle wrapping). It is believed that this usage evolved into the nagamaki, in which the hilt was lengthened during the manufacturing process.[5]
In theSengoku period, as the battlefield changed to a tactic where foot soldiers calledashigaru (足軽) fought on a large scale in dense formations withtanegashima (gun) andyari (spear),naginata (pole weapon), which were difficult to use in dense formations, were replaced by nagamaki, and heavy and longtachi (long sword) were often replaced bykatana.[6][7]
During the Sengoku period the nagamaki reached its peak of usage. It was generally used as a weapon for low-ranking soldiers who fought on foot. The historical bookKenbun zatsuroku (見聞雑録) mentions that nagamaki were lent to low-ranking soldiers who could not handle theyari well.[5] The famed warlordUesugi Kenshin,daimyō (feudal lord) ofEchigo Province, is said to have had a special guard of retainers armed with nagamaki.[8]
In theEdo period (1603–1867), the hilts of nagamaki were often cut off and made intokatana orwakizashi (short sword). This practice of cutting off the hilt of aōdachi ortachi ornaginata or nagamaki and remaking it into a shorterkatana orwakizashi due to changes in tactics is calledsuriage (磨上げ) and was common in Japan at the time.[9]
In Japan there is a saying about swords: "No sword made by modifying a nagamaki or anaginata is dull in cutting" (長巻（薙刀）直しに鈍刀なし). The meaning of this saying is that nagamaki andnaginata are equipment for actual combat, not works of art or offerings to thekami, and that the sharpness and durability of swords made from their modifications have been proven on the battlefield.[9][10]
The nagamaki was a long sword with a blade that could be 60 cm (24 in) or more and a handle of about equal length to the blade.[3] The blade was single-edged, resembling anaginata blade, but the handle (tsuka) of the nagamaki was not a smooth-surfaced wooden shaft as in the naginata; it was made more like akatana hilt. Even the name "nagamaki" ("long wrapping") is given by the tradition of handle wrapping. The nagamaki's handle was wrapped with leather or silk cords in criss-crossed manner, very similar to that of a katana's. The nagamaki is considered to be evolved from the extremely longōdachi ornodachi swords that are described in fourteenth century literature and pictorial sources.[3]
The length of blade varies on a nagamaki. However, thenagasa (blade length) most commonly fits the profile of atachi or katana blade, which would be a blade of more than 2shaku (2 Shaku = 60 cm (24 in)) in length. While nagamaki means "long wrap", there have been specimens found with no wrapping cord at all, which is very much like a longtachi handle. Thetsukamaki (hilt wrap) is of even more importance when applied to the hilt. The cord helps to improve grip on the hilt and also lends structural integrity to the wooden handle. Nagamaki found without hilt wraps usually had at least metal collars around the hilt where the tang is.[citation needed]
There are no solid rules governing the aspects of the make of the nagamaki. Unlike thewakizashi,tantō, andkatana, which have had history of strict measurements regarding the blade length and even the hilt in some cases; the nagamaki varied in blade length, tang length,kissaki style, etc. Nagamaki presumably could havekoshirae in atachi orkatana style as well as a nagamaki style, however there are examples of nagamaki with rather long tangs, which could be fitted with a longerhaft and effectively function as a naginata.Araki-ryū nagamaki is a heavy naginata over 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) in weight and 240 cm (94 in) in length.[11]
All traditional Japanese swords are fitted very snugly to their hilts and held in place with amekugi, abamboo peg which is fit through a hole in the tang called amekugi-ana. This is actually quite a strong mount when done correctly, and allowed for easy dismount of the bare blade for maintenance or inspection. Katana most commonly had one single pin, and nagamaki commonly have been found with two or more to account for the added leverage of a longer handle.[citation needed]
Wielding is very specific; it is held with two hands in a fixed position in the same way a katana is held. Unlike thenaginata, the hands do not change when handling the weapon and the right hand was always the closest to the blade. While handling nagamaki fewer sliding actions on the handle are performed than are with thenaginata, where the entire length of the shaft is used. The nagamaki is designed for large sweeping and slicing strokes.[12] Traditionally the nagamaki was used as aninfantry weapon, frequently used against cavalry.
