A HI Katana designed by me for your comments

Antonio

Antonio

Joined
Sep 26, 2000
Messages
55
Greetings everyone,

I have been away from the Forum for sometime. Busy busy and busy.

First, let me wish you all a Very Happy Season with lots of goodies.

MerryChristmas.jpg


Then let me ask your opinion about this Katana design. I've sent it to Uncle Bill but cannot get his reply. Is he out or is the computer down?

Here it is :
http://www.arscives.com/cejunior/NewHimalayanKatana.htm

Regards to you all
smile.gif

 
Antonio
I have one of the prototypes Katana #3.This thing is Kuhuri tough and the Kami make them even better now.If you look in the archives search for broken arrows testing of katana prototype #2(cow spine chopping was part of it).

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Ray
 
They are not Japanese clones and are not as sophisticated at Japanese swords but they have been pretty tough so far and out of about 20 no failures during testing or use.

I have sent Antonio's design to BirGorkha and we will see if they can figure it out. Teaching old dogs new tricks can sometimes be very difficult.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
Hi Ray,

Yup, I have seen your post before. I'm sure its very tough. Thank you for reminding me.

Merry Christmas to you
smile.gif


 
My two cents...

1. Making the threaded pin projecting out of the pommel end of the tang would require some tricky and delicate drawing-down, followed by use of a small swage (say 1/4"), followed by screwcutting with a die. This would add quite a bit of additional labor time.
2. A solid metal (steel or brass) pommel would affect the balance, tending to put weight back into the hand. As a result, this sword wouldn't handle like a katana (I've made a couple of wakizashis with pommels, just to see how they'd feel. I didn't like the result at all)
3. A thin threaded tang extension carrying a solid pommel would create severe stress problems, because of the harmonics involved, with danger of the tang extension shearing off. This is a major cause of tang failure in the cheap rat-tail tang Spanish, Indian and Chinese 'replicas' of medieval swords.

 
Well Tom,

The image is small. It's not a pin. It's a screw and is for the pommel to be screwed into place, locking everything and reinforced by the two metal pins. In fact the end result will look pretty much the same as what the HI katana is today. I wouldn't use a rat tail tang. Besides, a 26 inch long Katana in Kami version is not a large one, and I have hollowed the horn parts so perhaps the weight balance will remain.

I very much appreciate your comments though
specially from someone who has experience in sword construction.

On the other hand I tend to agree with Uncle Bill. I don't expect a Japanese clone. It does not have seppa, fuchi-gashira, or same, or tsuka-ito.
But, maybe, just maybe, if there is will enough, old dogs can learn simple new tricks as much as they were able to make 20 katanas look-alike, as they are not clones indeed and that is what makes them interesting.

Well, anyway, may all of you have a nice holiday season.

smile.gif
 
Antonio,

Good design! This merits serious consideration by the BirGhorka kamis and will be looking forward to the results.

Harry
 
Hi Apothecary and Uncle Bill,

Thank you. I trust that the system works well. It depends on how it is interpreted but it will surely require a wider habaki and the sense of physicial and aesthetical balance.

Best regards,

Antonio
 
Antonio, I like the design, but what will
keep the butt cap tight ? Is it to be pinned
or do they not work loose ? A HI Katana is
in my near future in the new year.

Also on the work that I do the pictures of
some customs are in the works. Should I post
them here or email a copy to whom ever would
like to see my handy work. All you guys let
me know which way to go here.
biggrin.gif
Jerry
biggrin.gif


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Custom Toys For Big Boys!
Colt 45 Auto Customs
Greetings from the GunMan

[This message has been edited by GunMaker (edited 12-13-2000).]
 
Greetings Uncle Bill and GunMaker,

As for the pommel it is to receive the screw that is sticking out, welded to the tang.
Since the entire handle will be in the final stage pinned sideways, the pommel will only be a final reinforcement. And in katana handling, the pommel should rest in the lower palm of one's left hand, as the strike is done 70% with the left and 30% with the right hand which also directs the blows. That means also that the pommel will not be under a rotation movement that much.
With a silver finish, this mirror finish katana (many people are concerned with a hamon, but that is for a clay treated blade)
in the kami way will look like a piece of jewelry in its simplicity.

Uncle Bill,
Gelbu and Bura will certainly understand the design assembly process.
I have this virtual sense that Gelbu is a very inteligent man.

Greetings to you all.
Antonio
 
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