A kaiken ... FINAL PICTURES

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ScottRoush said:
I would have to say that I recommend making something like this for all makers.. very good exercise in precision and planning!
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yes, a seemingly simple exercise but so much subtle complexity, it's definitely a good challenge and departure from the norm to make everything fit without the gap-filling wonders of the modern age!

i know it permanently changed the way i make...
 
ha! Well there are reasons for everything on these things. I put the ebony spacers on as color accents where you would normally have reinforced horn that is fitted around the circumference of the saya opening (koiguchi). The reasoning is that the pressure from a tight habaki fitment can fracture the wood. My ebony was just glued on and well.. it fractured. So.... need to make new saya.. and guess what? It will have a reinforced koiguchi.
 
bummer! ebony can be a little brittle, but you should be able to get a fit that works, an ebony spacer should be at least as strong (though without as much give) as the magnolia/honoki used for shirasaya...

but yes, it is hard to drop any of the components of the traditional koshirae system without some other modification...the ito (wrap) holds the samegawa (rawhide) which reinforces the sokui (rice glue), the fuchi (ferrule) contains the front of the tsuka (wooden handle core) from strain, the habaki (blade collar) and seppa/tsuba (washer/handguard) distribute the pressure and take some flex off the tang/blade junction...its pretty well thought out, 1000 years of r&d goes a long way!
 
Working on the polish and here is where I am now. 800 sandpaper, 1000 loose silicon carbide. Vinegar etching followed by Flitz and counter polish with 1000 silicon carbide. This is as fine as I currently have in my shop. So need to make decisions on how to proceed, how far to take it. It's not the most spectacular hamon.. but it seems typical of when I try to do hamons on laminated steel. Not sure why the laminated steel construction affects my hamons.. but it does. I also used very little clay. Just some blobs on the spine. Aldo's 1075 usually does fine without much clay. This picture makes the blade look dark.. but it's actually a mirror polish.

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Thanks guys.

So I had to start a new saya half of the shirasaya due to the fracture at the koiguchi. But this is a good thing because I now have a better understanding of correct fitment. You can see in the following picture that the ha (edge) is just below the surface of the wood on this side. The other half will be inlet flush.. This puts the edge away from the division between the two halves which prevents the blade from cutting in and splitting. What you can't see is the carving in the wood below the blade. The blade basically sits in a wooden form of itself. This is accomplished by removing wood and then laying the oiled blade into the recess. The oil soaks into the wood revealing the high spots that have to be removed. The biggest challenge I'm having is that I'm doing this in Osage... which is very hard wood. And I'm still in the 'improvement' stages in fine wood chisel sharpening. I have some water sontes on the way which will help.. I hope. You can also see where a channel has been inlet at the tip allowing for blade maintenance oil to collect and drain...

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For those who are new to what is going on here.. the idea is to get a fitment for the blade that allows for NO movement or rattling about.. but also a situation that does not affect a fine polish. That is the real purpose of the habaki. The habaki is fit so that there is minimal rubbing with most contact along the edge and spine (ha and mune). The blade is essentially suspended inside the saya in this way. At least this is how I understand it.. for those who can explain it better.. please jump in!
 
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Great job and thanks for taking the time to explain and shoot the pictures. :)
 
Thanks Dudley.

Another thing I wanted to mention... I've also since learned a little more about the terminology involved with these smaller Japanese knives. I WANTED this to be a tanto. But do to size of blade and the direction I'm taking with the shirasaya.. it is probably best described as a k(w)aiken.
 
Okay had to take a break from this to work on other projects and to get some help from a brilliant local luthier on my sayanomi (saya chisel) geometry.

But it's on the down hill trek now.

Here I am blending geometry of the tsuka and saya with fine scraper.

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And here are all the elements that will be in the final piece. I'm still working on blade/hamon polish.. just waiting for something special from Japan. :-) And still working on all the final cosmetics of mountings. The black oak (old growth Lake Superior diver-salvaged) and small mokume medallion will be the display stand.

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These will be the final pictures before showing the finished work.
 
It looks great! Whoever winds up with this will be a happy camper!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Looking good, keep it up Scott. I am also on the final stretch for a complicated knife (although not as nice OR complicated at this one) and I know it is hard not to run out of steam.
 
Interesting this got moved with no explanation. I've done many WIPs in the custom forum as others do and I've always gotten lots of response and encouragement. Well... I'm not wasting my time here in this backwater.
 
ScottRoush said:
Interesting this got moved with no explanation. I've done many WIPs in the custom forum as others do and I've always gotten lots of response and encouragement. Well... I'm not wasting my time here in this backwater.
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Well, hopefully you keep us updated with the next steps and finish photos.

This has been a great thread!
 
Bigfattyt said:
Well, hopefully you keep us updated with the next steps and finish photos.

This has been a great thread!
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I appreciate that. It's so close to the end I will probably just post the final pictures back in the custom forum. The only thing I have left is to polish the hamon. I just think it's amazing that they would move this after it's been over there generating obvious interest. And no explanation. Have rules changed, etc?
 
Scott, since they created this forum for WIPs (I guess) and that there is not much traffic they probably figured that moving your thread with a lot of people following might help generate interest. Or simply let people know the forum exist. ;) I just don't understand why Shop Talk was not enough for the WIPs.:confused:
 
Nice knife, Scott. Not sure who moved it here, but I would be glad to move it to Shop Talk if you wish. I already added it to the WIP BBQ.
 
Patrice Lemée;13208274 said:
Scott, since they created this forum for WIPs (I guess) and that there is not much traffic they probably figured that moving your thread with a lot of people following might help generate interest. Or simply let people know the forum exist. ;) I just don't understand why Shop Talk was not enough for the WIPs.:confused:
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That's a great perspective Patrice! I hope it's true!

Thanks Stacy..I appreciate that. I'm not familiar with the BBQ... will check it out!
 
@bladsmth scott started in custom & handmade and was moved to shop talk, it appears he is back in custom so i don't think he needs to be moved anymore...thanks for supporting us in our journey through time, space...and now, the internet!
 
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