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Originally Posted by Timo Nieminen
Having used a round handled blade as a machete, I recommend an oval handle. This was a straight blade. Where the handle is round, and the blade is curved towards the back, and the handle follows this curve, then a round handle is OK - hitting something will not tend to make the sword twist in your grip. Even with a straight blade, if you go to draw-cut, cutting with the grip leading and the point trailing, you'll get the same effect (i.e., lack of ill-effect from the round grip). Chopping with a straight blade with round grip is bad.
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Interesting point - most of my takouba have pretty much round grips, or some have octagonal grips. From contemporary sword dances and other material it seems the draw cut is what was favored with this type.