The Japanese Sword; a basic guide for collectors

The story of the world's most famous edged weapons and how the 12th century smiths could produce blades of such technical perfection they can not now be duplicated and rival in value the greatest works of art in the world. Clear concise details of the construction, well illustrated with drawings and photos. Includes a short article on Tanegashima, the Japanese matchlock that was in use up to 1870. Softcover.