3V Anakuma Waki {Zirc Habaki}

BenR.T.

BenR.T.

Tanto grinder & High performance blade peddler
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Apr 18, 2011
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Just finished up this order for a good customer of mine. It was a challenging build, but I am pretty pleased with it.
This one I made a 1 piece Zirc Habaki. That was probably the trickiest part of the whole build. Not sure I would do it again, but it was something I wanted to do because I have never seen it done before. The Menuki is hammered and orange peel Zirc as well.
The guard is Titanium and the handle wrap is soaked in G/flex epoxy.
The blade is 15" of .280" 3V with fullers on the sides and my signature tapered fuller on the spine. OAL is just shy of 24'

The sheath is wrap around kydex, with a synthetic suede liner and bison hide cover.

Comments are welcome.













 
My favorite sheath of yours so far.

Steven will be very happy that this one has a habaki.
 
Ben,
I really like the sheath.......maybe rounded at the tip would look better, but otherwise it's great, and a huge leap ahead of your sheaths of not long ago.:thumbup:
The habaki looks a bit too chunky to my eye(but I am no expert), and I'd prefer to see this blade with a bit more sori........or maybe just with a longer point like the tanto you posted recently. Its well done and clean, but seems less graceful to me than the tanto in this thread IMHO:foot:.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1241546-Inazuma-Tanto-(New-model)

Darcy:)
 
Ben

Way to step up and nock it out of the park

Great job on a wonderful modern adaptation of a japanese style blade

Can't wait to see where you take things
 
Very nicely done, Ben. Love to see your work and its evolution. :) How's the zirconium to work? Don't think I've seen anyone hammer it before, though that means little.

evanPGH said:
Steven will be very happy that this one has a habaki.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. :D I am curious to hear his thoughts on it, of course.
 
Very nice!

Everything looks really great until you get to the top of the sheath. It kinda looks like you said ...." I am so tired of working on this"...lol

The new owner is very lucky to have this.

You are a very good artisan and it always is a pleasure to look at your work.
 
Very nice!

Everything looks really great until you get to the bottom of the sheath. It kinda looks like you said ...." I am so tired of working on this"...lol

The new owner is very lucky to have this.

You are a very good artisan and it always is a pleasure to look at your work.
 
Last edited:
DEllis said:
Ben,
I really like the sheath.......maybe rounded at the tip would look better, but otherwise it's great, and a huge leap ahead of your sheaths of not long ago.:thumbup:
The habaki looks a bit too chunky to my eye(but I am no expert), and I'd prefer to see this blade with a bit more sori........or maybe just with a longer point like the tanto you posted recently. Its well done and clean, but seems less graceful to me than the tanto in this thread IMHO:foot:.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1241546-Inazuma-Tanto-(New-model)

Darcy:)
Click to expand...

Traditionally, yes the habaki would be a bit thinner.

I agree that the tanto is more elegant but I don't think using that tip style with a wakizashi would look right. The tanto looks right because it's closer to the shape that they actually were. With this piece, some sori would be nice as you suggested and I think a slight reduction in blade height towards the tip would also help. The uniform blade height, straight spine and steep tip angle all combine to give it a stout profile.
 
That fuller down the spine would be a tempting signature to steal... Too bad I wouldn't know how to do it ;)

I like to see your modern interpretations of traditional blades, good stuff :thumbup:
 
Thanks for the comments and critiques everyone! This is a style I am still developing, and I am sure will change as I go. It is merely inspired by the Japanese style, and is in no way meant to traditional.

DEllis said:
Ben,
I really like the sheath.......maybe rounded at the tip would look better, but otherwise it's great, and a huge leap ahead of your sheaths of not long ago.:thumbup:
The habaki looks a bit too chunky to my eye(but I am no expert), and I'd prefer to see this blade with a bit more sori........or maybe just with a longer point like the tanto you posted recently. Its well done and clean, but seems less graceful to me than the tanto in this thread IMHO:foot:.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1241546-Inazuma-Tanto-(New-model)

Darcy:)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input Darcy. I agree the pointier tanto is a bit more elegant. That design is more traditional (for me), in that it is designed for "soft" targets. :cool:
The Waki is mostly going to be used for chopping "hard" targets, not a traditonal use. Most of the people buying these want to chop throught trees, so the added weight and beefy tip make sense in that regard. It does have a bit of Sori, although it doesn't show in my pictures.

AVigil said:
Very nice!

Everything looks really great until you get to the bottom of the sheath. It kinda looks like you said ...." I am so tired of working on this"...lol

The new owner is very lucky to have this.

You are a very good artisan and it always is a pleasure to look at your work.
Click to expand...

Thanks Adam. Yeah there are only so many ways to end this type of sheath with the leather wrap. A bit more rounded is possible though.

Lycosa said:
Ben- Please consider making an Aikuchi sometime.
rolf
Click to expand...

Do you mean Guard less Rolf? The last tanto I made seems to fit the blade shape of an Aikuchi (to my understanding). Enlighten me!

evanPGH said:
Traditionally, yes the habaki would be a bit thinner.

I agree that the tanto is more elegant but I don't think using that tip style with a wakizashi would look right. The tanto looks right because it's closer to the shape that they actually were. With this piece, some sori would be nice as you suggested and I think a slight reduction in blade height towards the tip would also help. The uniform blade height, straight spine and steep tip angle all combine to give it a stout profile.
Click to expand...

Thanks, and you are right on. It is meant to be a stout blade.

PredatorCustomBlades said:
That fuller down the spine would be a tempting signature to steal... Too bad I wouldn't know how to do it ;)

I like to see your modern interpretations of traditional blades, good stuff :thumbup:
Click to expand...

The Fuller is not necessarily very difficult, but is kind of my trademark. So steal at your own moral obligation.
 
BenR.T. said:
Do you mean Guard less Rolf? The last tanto I made seems to fit the blade shape of an Aikuchi (to my understanding). Enlighten me!
Click to expand...

You're correct, Ben. Aikuchi is a type of mount with no tsuba, has nothing to do with blade shape.
 
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