a big dao, with hamon

[kevin -the professor]

Hello Everyone,

this is what I have really been working on for the last 2-3 weeks, with periodic breaks to make the full-tangs.

This is a GIFT to a friend who is retiring. It will be named "Brainslicer" since he is a bio-psychologist. He is also a Viet Nam vet and has practiced Japanese and Chinese martial arts since the late 60's. He will really be thrilled with this.

This is far from "perfect" and nothing like what many of you can make. Still, this one came out better than I expected it could.

W2 steel (thanks Aldo)
22.5" working length
1.37" wide at shoulders, 1.26" wide just before tip
.30" thick at ridge at shoulders, .24" just befor tip.


this blade is light - it weighs 1.48lb.
10" tang, for now.
Last 3.5", the secondary bevel is "scraping sharp."


There is a pic of the clay layout in there, too. This formed a hamon closer to the edge than I expected, but with a lot of utsuri from partial hardening. I used semichrome when polishing, and this made the utsuri a lot harder to see. I may just stick to sandpaper in the future.


the first link should take you to picasa. You will see larger pics if you click on the link.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115247891742386906523/DaoForJim

thanks for looking. Comments encouraged. I learn from y'all.

Kevin

 

[Dan Pierson]

She looks very good to me! Are you leaving handle and sheath for a retirement project for your friend?

 

[kevin -the professor]

I am making him handle and fittings.

I was planning on leaving the sheath for him, honestly.

I am getting about $200 for this from my department at the univ. That will cover the costs for steel, copper, quality wood for handle, belts, and propane. Probably sandpaper and stones, too.

My contribution to all of this is the labor, obviously. I am sure there are people who are both faster and better, but for me to do my best I have to go slow and only work when I am in the right frame of mind and body. I have about 30-35 hours into this right now. Another 8 or 10 for me to make the fittings. A sheath would add another 8.

thanks for looking,

kc