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Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde
But how did they measure the blades? From the hilt to the tip in a straight line, or along the back of the blade?
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Quite sure along the back.
1: In earlier times the people used their foots, arms, fingers, thumbs and so on for measuring. One inch equals one thumb. With the thumb one can only measure along the edge. Measurement tapes were also very rare.
2: If we measure a blade which is 100 cm long with a curvature of 3 cm, it is only a very small difference, if one measure along the edge or from point to point.
3: I am very sure, that in Japan the length of blade is measured along the back edge (1 Shaku= 1 foot; 1 Sun ~ 1.25 inch).
Roland