3V wakizashi {Not traditional, not trying to be}

Kohai999 said:
It is categorically an o-tanto....and not a bad one.

Still needs a habaki.....those scabbards are superfluous.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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STeven,

How do you (and other knowledgeable in Japanese blades) distinguish between an o-tanto and a ko-wakizashi? Is it blade length, blade shape, some combination . . .

Trying to learn about something which I know little about (one of a zillion things in that category, anyway :))

TIA!
 
Shawn Hatcher said:
Steven, would you mind expounding on this? I'm not sure what you mean by superfluous. Are the scabbards superfluous due to the absence of a habaki? Or because they aren't traditionally constructed? Provided the sheaths offer proper retention (I'm sure Ben crafted them with this in mind), would not a habaki be superfluous (from the perspective of this being a non-traditional piece)?
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Hey Shawn, see Joe's "just about perfect" explanation below....and as I have said before, the habaki is the "key"....one of the biggest result driven aspects of it besides acting as a "shock absorber" is keeping the blade from rubbing on the scabbard....cuts down on scabbard contamination and blade rust.

JParanee said:
The entire art of carrying and using a japanese style blade is in the carrying and drawing of the blade IMHo

While I like modern interpretations of Japanese blades I still believe the best way to carry them is edge up sash/belt carry style

The Japanese did this because it works well

With the blade worn this way a draw cut is such a fun thing to do and a leather sheath if you want to keep fingers just does not work

Kydex will but I'm not a big Kydex fan unless we are talking about wet knives

A modern adaptation that did work well is what Hartsfield did with his lined metal and leather wrapped sheaths or what David Mirabile does with his carbon wrapped wood sheaths

I would personally like to see all Japanese style blades traditional or modern be in some form of an edge up sash/belt style sheath

Not because in anyway an obligation to tradition simple because it works really well :)
Click to expand...

Hey Joe, fyi, a fairly new student last night made 6 correctly angled cuts at just about the perfect speed that would have cut a human male torso in half in about 15 seconds.....between bowing in and out, and slow blade presentation, approach to and retreat from was 32 seconds.

The Virginian said:
STeven,

How do you (and other knowledgeable in Japanese blades) distinguish between an o-tanto and a ko-wakizashi? Is it blade length, blade shape, some combination . . .

Trying to learn about something which I know little about (one of a zillion things in that category, anyway :))

TIA!
Click to expand...

Hi Ken,

It's mostly the mountings.....a wakizashi will have a more "katana" like guard, and fittings sized down appropriately....but it will still be a "true" guard.

O-tanto have the smallest guard possible, barely keeping the hand from slipping up onto the blade, shorter handle and smaller in width and girth...and aikuchi mount will have no guard to speak of, more of a bolster or spacer.....14" is about the max length for an o-tanto blade, as commonly accepted.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Kohai999 said:
Hey Shawn, see Joe's "just about perfect" explanation below....and as I have said before, the habaki is the "key"....one of the biggest result driven aspects of it besides acting as a "shock absorber" is keeping the blade from rubbing on the scabbard....cuts down on scabbard contamination and blade rust.
Click to expand...

Thank you, Steven. :)
 
Steven, IF my goal was to replicate a traditional wakizashi (or Tanto) as it has been accepted for centuries, I am falling far short. I am under no disillusion of that.
I am not, if that is not clear by now. I am not trying to fool anyone.
Whether it is, how you said, good, great or just good enough is up to my customers.
I am having fun and making my customers happy, that's good enough for me.

Joe, thanks for the Explanation. I understand the reason for a saya on a traditional piece. It is not terribly cost effective for me to make that type of scabbard, and most of my customers are perfectly content with kydex for its practicality. If someone requested a more traditional scabbard, I would do my best to oblige.


Thanks everyone else for the comments!
 
Ben,

Once at the Whiskey A Go Go a guy in the audience told Joey Ramone he was not playing his guitar correctly....

Joey told him "It is my song, my guitar and I will do what hell I want with it."

You are an Artisan Knifemaker and I like seeing your interpretation in your work :thumbup:

Hey people will complain about anything...some even moan about VanGough not following the rules of oil painting.
 
AVigil said:
Ben,

Once at the Whiskey A Go Go a guy in the audience told Joey Ramone he was not playing his guitar correctly....

Joey told him "It is my song, my guitar and I will do what hell I want with it."

You are an Artisan Knifemaker and I like seeing your interpretation in your work :thumbup:

Hey people will complain about anything...some even moan about VanGough not following the rules of oil painting.
Click to expand...

What that guy ^ said. In the future, if you want the traditional nazis to stay out of it, you should tell them that you are not trying to be traditional in your post ;) BTW, I am not into traditional Japanese stuff and I love that thing!
 
BenR.T. said:
Steven, IF my goal was to replicate a traditional wakizashi (or Tanto) as it has been accepted for centuries, I am falling far short. I am under no disillusion of that.
I am not, if that is not clear by now. I am not trying to fool anyone.
Whether it is, how you said, good, great or just good enough is up to my customers.
I am having fun and making my customers happy, that's good enough for me.

Joe, thanks for the Explanation. I understand the reason for a saya on a traditional piece. It is not terribly cost effective for me to make that type of scabbard, and most of my customers are perfectly content with kydex for its practicality. If someone requested a more traditional scabbard, I would do my best to oblige.


Thanks everyone else for the comments!
Click to expand...

Ben great positive attitude to match your great work

I prefer Kydex to leather in a blade of this style and I do really like modern adaptations of Japanese style blades

If I may make a simple suggestion

When you form up a Kydex sheath keep the welt as small as possible and only on the one side

Than wrap and glue leather around it

This will in effect give it a shape and dimension that will lend itself to edge up sash/belt carry

When I was young I had a Wak sized piece that was in Kydex

The lip of the Kydex wrapped around the small Tsuba

This is piece that I did a lot of draw cutting with

I could hold an orange in my right hand toss it up and more times than less draw with my right hand and cut it

Like I said lotsa fun :)
 
I fully applaud the notion of a kydex sheath wrapped in leather, though Im on the same page; not a huge fan of kydex either unless for a 'wet' knife.

Kydex will rub against a fine edge and might dull it over time..., but then thats more or less the problem with some other materials as well.
 
JParanee said:
If I may expound on japanese style scabbards

The entire art of carrying and using a japanese style blade is in the carrying and drawing of the blade IMHo

While I like modern interpretations of Japanese blades I still believe the best way to carry them is edge up sash/belt carry style

The Japanese did this because it works well

With the blade worn this way a draw cut is such a fun thing to do and a leather sheath if you want to keep fingers just does not work

Kydex will but I'm not a big Kydex fan unless we are talking about wet knives

A modern adaptation that did work well is what Hartsfield did with his lined metal and leather wrapped sheaths or what David Mirabile does with his carbon wrapped wood sheaths

I would personally like to see all Japanese style blades traditional or modern be in some form of an edge up sash/belt style sheath

Not because in anyway an obligation to tradition simple because it works really well :)
Click to expand...
Interesting & informative:thumbup:
 
BenR.T. said:
Steven, IF my goal was to replicate a traditional wakizashi (or Tanto) as it has been accepted for centuries, I am falling far short. I am under no disillusion of that.
I am not, if that is not clear by now. I am not trying to fool anyone.
Whether it is, how you said, good, great or just good enough is up to my customers.
I am having fun and making my customers happy, that's good enough for me.

Joe, thanks for the Explanation. I understand the reason for a saya on a traditional piece. It is not terribly cost effective for me to make that type of scabbard, and most of my customers are perfectly content with kydex for its practicality. If someone requested a more traditional scabbard, I would do my best to oblige.


Thanks everyone else for the comments!
Click to expand...

As mentioned, I think the handcrafted piece a beaut.

You already put 'non traditional' in the heading of the OP, but in the future you can just label it a Ben R. T. 'Ten-zashi':D

Might work better than 'Waki-Di..,'...well, you get the drift:D (JOKE)
 
Ben - nice one. it looks like you made what you wanted to make, and that is all that matters.

the fuller in the spine is a great touch.
kc
 
JParanee said:
Ben great positive attitude to match your great work

I prefer Kydex to leather in a blade of this style and I do really like modern adaptations of Japanese style blades

If I may make a simple suggestion

When you form up a Kydex sheath keep the welt as small as possible and only on the one side

Than wrap and glue leather around it

This will in effect give it a shape and dimension that will lend itself to edge up sash/belt carry

When I was young I had a Wak sized piece that was in Kydex

The lip of the Kydex wrapped around the small Tsuba

This is piece that I did a lot of draw cutting with

I could hold an orange in my right hand toss it up and more times than less draw with my right hand and cut it

Like I said lotsa fun :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Joe.
You got me thinking. I have some ideas, and will do some experiments.

I think Kydex, in one form or another is really the most practical, and cost effective solution. A narrow taco sheath, or maybe more of a scandi style sheath with the seam in the back, and then wrapped in leather or an alternative is probably the route I will go.

These blades are wider than a traditional blade. So a traditional/modern saya adding width to both sides of the blade, doesn't seem like a good option to me.
 
CAll it what you will, I like it. I'd take it anywhere.

Maybe a big brother O-Katana, with a smaller brother tanto?

Larry
Tinkerer
 
BladeScout said:
. . . in the future you can just label it a Ben R. T. 'Ten-zashi':D
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I really like this idea. The "Ben Tenzashi" reminds me of the Bren-Ten, which reminds me of Jeff Cooper, which warms my heart (and I bet Joe's too!)

BladeScout said:
Might work better than 'Waki-Di..,'...well, you get the drift:D (JOKE)
Click to expand...

:D

BenR.T. said:
You got me thinking. I have some ideas, and will do some experiments.
Click to expand...

I've been wanting to try leather-wrapped kydex, too. Have the practicality and myriad mounting options of kydex with the warmth and beauty of leather. You're already skilled with both materials, so should be an easier transition for you. I still have to figure this leather thing out! :o Looking forward to seeing your ideas come to life. :thumbup:
 
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