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Sword Maker Profile: James Piorek
(Updated April 22, 1999) James Piorek's twelve years of experience brings
to his customers not only his ability to make special knives but also
unique carrying systems which he has patented.
His swords show a Japanese influence not only in blade shape but in the
silk Japanese black diamond over-wrap, soaked in resin, giving his weapons
a very sure non-slip grip. However, this falls into the category of being
an "Americanized" katana where the basic function of a katana is there but
the elegance of a traditional-style sword is absent.
Piorek has an adjustable Sword Sling(tm) which holds his swords.
While I'm personally not a fan of Americanized katanas, the sling
allows the sword to be worn on the back. This type of design will most
certainly appeal to those aspiring to be "ninja".
Basically, if you're not in a fighting mode, wear them back all you want.
In the "Samurai Trilogy" ofHiroshi Inagaki films that stars Toshiro
Mifune, his enemy - Kojiro Sasaki - is depicted as using a long no-dachi
but when he walks around he carries it on his back. There may not be any
historical evidence that this was in fact done on a regular basis.
Typically, the Samurai wore their two swords through their waist belt,
allowing for immediate drawing and effective resheathing.
The danger of using a rig like Piorek's is that in drawing a sword
from your back there is extremely little control. You may end up cutting
the back of your head. Or get your sword lodged in the ceiling - and
while stuck, you're vulnerable to attack. Further, if blade is not of
proper length and is too long, you'll have a problem removing the sword in
the first place. Adjusting the sling so that the entry point is lower
means risking cutting your back from a poor drawing motion.
It is best to create a rig that will allow you to move the sword to your
left waist (assuming you're right handed) so you can draw from the waist
as in proper Iaido or kenjutsu.
Contact information:
James Piorek
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