nagamaki/naginata

I have been following the group for some time, and would like to thank everybody for the very insightful information on the women warriors topic, the Hara-kari/Seppuku and such. Thanks!
I'm in the midst of researching, and would like to get my facts right:
From what I understand, the nagamaki blade may be as long and as shaped as a katana's. the instances I have found in books and on the web describe the nagamaki pole shorter than the naginata's, and sometimes equals the length of the nagamaki blade on the other end.
Is this true, or was there an instance of a katana blade on a naginata pole?

Thanks!

Rami


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Rami-
While they are both "swords on a stick", the naginata in general
doesn't have a yokote line delineating the point. Nagamaki "poles"
would have been as long or a little longer than the blade. The age and
shape of the blade are big factors in assigning something the Nagamaki
designation in the absence of a yokote and a koshirae, in which 99% of
such blades would be classed as naginata. Not sure this helps...
-t

Thanks, Tom. I understand that the definition of the nagakami changed according to the blade throughout the eras. I do know that the naginata blades are usually much wider, though shorter, hence lighter and more suited for women. Alas, my research continues!

>> Oh, another one ^_^
>> I'm a writer too.
>>
>> elisa
>>
>That makes three!

make that a four!

Rami

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In case this helps. I have a Bakamatsu period nagamaki by Yamon Naokatsu. It
is more like a wide sword than a naginata and has a shinogi but no yokote
(as Tom says). The blade, which is almost straight has a choji-midare hamon
in the Bizen style and is 74cm in length, the nakago is another 51 cm and it
was a ploishing nightmare I am told.
The pole itself is 1mtr 29 cm. There is a Namabam style "cupped" tsuba and
the top part of the pole is wrapped like the tsuka of a sword over same (ray
skin) and there is a aogai lacquered section below this. It is a fearsome
weapon which I would think was not easy to use, in fact this is probably a
parade rather than a battle weapon, considering its late date.
I think some katana blades were mountd in poles but this is probably Western
dealer adaptations.
Regards
Clive Sinclaire

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Helm" <junkmail@...>
To: <samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 6:10 AM
Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] nagamaki/naginata


> Rami-
> While they are both "swords on a stick", the naginata in general
> doesn't have a yokote line delineating the point. Nagamaki "poles"
> would have been as long or a little longer than the blade. The age and
> shape of the blade are big factors in assigning something the Nagamaki
> designation in the absence of a yokote and a koshirae, in which 99% of
> such blades would be classed as naginata. Not sure this helps...
> -t
>
>
>
>
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