Thanks, I misspelled ceur in my post.
Ceur bolli is my favorite leather prep. I have used it to make holsters and sheaths with the resiliance of kydex. A favorite application is sheaths/holsters for fixed blade knives and pocket pistols. By building the holster or sheath suede side out, and boiling it, the suede becomes rough and hard. They stay in the pocket when the knife is pulled, and don't move around much giving a consistent presentation.
Gotta get to one of those SCA 'do s.'
Ping on the katana sharpness and slicing blows. All Japanese cutting tools are designed for pulling/slicing, a Shinto concept of drawing life/death/life toward oneself.
Cheers,
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Actually, the way my sensei taught me, the slicing blow is delivered so as to push the opponent away from you.