Why Tap White “Mallets” on Katana #Shorts

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If you’ve ever seen someone performing maintenance on their katana, they hit these white (red) mallet-like items on the blade.

But what are they for?

Because katana are extremely vulnerable to rust, a thin layer of vegetable-based clove oil must be applied to the blade. However, the oil will gradually oxidize and rather start to damage the blade instead of protecting it. Therefore, you need to reapply new oil every 1 to 2 months, but just applying new oil on top of the old oil is meaningless.

This white (red) mallet called "打ち粉 Uchiko," contains whetstone powder which removes the old oil. So the process of the katana maintenance is basically,

1. Apply the whetstone powder with Uchiko
2. Wipe the old oil off
3. Apply fresh oil again (to prevent it from rusting)

However, this method of cleaning is only for real katana that may rust. For Iaido swords made of zinc alloy or replicas for display purposes made from aluminum, using Uchiko would rather damage the blade. In the case of such swords, simply wiping the blade with a clean tissue is fine.

*The content is based on personal studies and experience
There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects

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#katana #katanamaintenance #katanauchiko

[codershaven]

I like just how the katana is made and its how its maintained. and its history is very interesting!

[nicklee]

I like how he had made the difference between Iaido sword and normal katana clear.

[MustachPie]

The more I learn about katanas I realize that they’re extremely impractical unless everyone has one

[tyrant]

In my younger years I had done this process probably thousands of times. I had a NoDachi that was always a pain to clean but I loved doing it.

[Wynter]

thank you for educating people on japanese traditional culture, you're my favourite content creator! 💖

[BRyL]

I'm just in awe of the instinctual knowledge of chemistry by the katana makers and users. They've been doing this well before the periodic table of elements or knowledge of chemical bonds. I truly wonder how many years, perhaps generations, of experimentation went into developing the perfect technique for maintaining a katana, so that so many survived in perfect shape for centuries.

[Blipy]

Me who doesn't even own a katana: Very interesting I should write that down for later.

[dimasakbar]

Considering katana was not only based on heritage, and even once part of actual military (the Gunto), why not use synthetic or mineral based oil thats less prone to oxidation?

[sweetrolldealer]

Just a reminder the Romans knew about oiling their gear to prevent rhst. And so did the Greeks before them. But the methods, idk it's not really talked about. But this video does a great job explaining how the japanese maintain their blades.

[chibigirl]

I think the fact that katana were made out of an objectively 'bad' metal for the time, but heated and folded to redistribute the carbon and make a much sturdier metal is so ingenious and speaks to a lot of what made Japan's history so rich and timeless. They use what they had and elevated it to what they needed. Not a lot of island nations thrive like Japan did without multiple invasions and loss of many cultural aspects.

[labuser]

Considering I’ve only seen mallets used in anime I wasn’t sure what they were. I honestly thought they were cotton balls…

[ulfson]

Alot of people don't know these things, it's about the metal of the blade
A whetstone themselves pull oil (if you have a basic whetstone and put oil on it, it will soak up the oil)

[ariannablove]

Thanks for the specification on decorative blades. I have two and I was just wondering if I needed to get a mallet. 😁

[LizardKingTFHalo]

I come from another world, Easterner. My European blades, however, also require similar maintenance. Rust is the devil for our steel, brothers. Never forget that, and your sword will remain by your side.

[FelisTerras]

Now I finally undestand what Goemon from the Lupin lll anime does every so often. I also find it interesting, that instead of a simple brush, a soft mallet is used. One would think that it might corrupt the balance of the sword when tapped too hard against the blade.
Thank you so much for solving a riddle that has been nagging me for years.^^

[jfkplaysUSA]

I literally have no idea how I got here today. But I’ve learned something about katana maintenance and I feel my life is somehow better.

[lasthorizon]

Man, I have a katana and I thought the powder that came out of those was starch. Thanks for the information.

[jt_myth]

after just 2 videos I've already learned some things I didn't know before and I am greatful.

[Real_Genji]

Imagine Akame needing to do this without cutting herself

[sturrnloio]

These videos make me very interested in the history of Japan
thank you for intresting me in the history