Japanese Blades
In Japanese bladesmithing, fullers have a rich tradition and terminology, enough that there are separate terminologies for the top (hi, usually pronounced as bi when used as a successive word) and bottom (tome) ends of the feature. A listing follows:
- Hi
- Bo-bi: A continuous straight groove of notable width, known as katana-bi on tantÅ. With soe-bi, a secondary narrow groove follows the inner straight length of the main one. With tsure-bi, the secondary is similar but continues beyond the straight length.
- Futasuji-bi: Two parallel grooves.
- Shobu-bi: A groove shaped like the leaf of an iris plant.
- Naginata-bi: A miniature bo-bi whose top is oriented opposite from the blade's, and usually accompanied by a soe-bi. Seen primarily on naginatas.
- Kuichigai-bi: Two thin grooves that run the top half of the blade; the bottom half is denoted by the outer groove stopping halfway while the inner one expands to fill the width.
- Koshi-bi: A short rounded-top groove found near the bottom of a blade, near to the tang.
- Tome
- Kaki-toshi: The groove runs all the way down to the end of the tang.
- Kaki-nagashi: The groove tapers to a pointed end halfway down the tang.
- Kaku-dome: The groove stops as a square end within 3 cm of the tang's upper end.
- Maru-dome: Similar to the kaku, except with a rounded-end.
Read more about this topic: Fuller (weapon)
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