
Originally Posted by
Richard Scardina
Well, it wasnt sharpen just because a polisher thought so.
...The pride was not only about polishing, which was part of the maintenance, but sharpening was also a part of the maintenance, and there was pride how well a blade could cut.
I think you're a bit unclear about what a sword polisher does. "Polishing" is the final step in the production of a blade, and it refers to sharpening the edge and smoothing the surface, not just to "making it shine." In feudal-era Japan, as today, polishing (sharpening) is often done by a specialist rather than by the smith.
A sword polisher does also restore dull blades, and today bringing out the aesthetic qualities of the blade is an important function; but first and formost the sword polisher's job is to refine the edge.
Last edited by Brian Owens; 6th May 2010 at 07:31.
Yours in Budo,
---Brian---