- Joined
- Sep 13, 2001
- Messages
- 816
This is a piece I have been wanting to make for a long time. Not too fancy, just simple and straight forward.
The wearing of Uchigatana somewhat predate the widespread use of daitio (katana and wakizashi worn together) as it is a more practicalblade for everyday than was a tachi. Aikuchi simply means guardless, as many uchigatana were mounted. The primary difference from a katana is generally length and usually in more simple mounts.
This blade is forged from W-1, traditional clay heat treated, water quenched. The nagasa is 26 1/4", in shinogi zukuri shape with chu kissaki. The sori is shallow tori-sori and the hamon is hitatsura, or "all over" pattern. I have really enjoyed this hamon style, and am leaning towards specializing in it for all of my Japanese style blades. It makes a very good blade for performance, and is very stiff ( no deflection in a blown cut). These blades always warp a little during heat treatment, and it was a bear to straighten. It put over 30 degrees bend to it before it would stay straight for me. It also has so much activity, I see something new every time I look it over.
The blade is very wieldy, and quick. It feels better than most wakizashi I have handled. It cuts very well too. 1" saplings were no problem.
The finish is hybrid. Hand sanded to 2000, lightly etched and finished with traditional finger stones and nugui. The finder staones leave a more authentic look, and don't tend to leave the blade so bright.
The mounts are bass wood, simple copper fittings and finished off with base/clear automotive paint ( MUCH easier and available than laquer, tougher as well). The tsuka is traditionaly made with silk ito over same in katatemaki style. The kashira is a piece of fossil ivory with a redish color, to go with the heat colored copper fittings and saya color. The menuki are small fish. I hadn't installed the mekugi at the time I shot the pics, but it is in there now.
Hope you enjoy the pics, if anyone is interested, contact me off forums.
Let me know what you think!!
The wearing of Uchigatana somewhat predate the widespread use of daitio (katana and wakizashi worn together) as it is a more practicalblade for everyday than was a tachi. Aikuchi simply means guardless, as many uchigatana were mounted. The primary difference from a katana is generally length and usually in more simple mounts.
This blade is forged from W-1, traditional clay heat treated, water quenched. The nagasa is 26 1/4", in shinogi zukuri shape with chu kissaki. The sori is shallow tori-sori and the hamon is hitatsura, or "all over" pattern. I have really enjoyed this hamon style, and am leaning towards specializing in it for all of my Japanese style blades. It makes a very good blade for performance, and is very stiff ( no deflection in a blown cut). These blades always warp a little during heat treatment, and it was a bear to straighten. It put over 30 degrees bend to it before it would stay straight for me. It also has so much activity, I see something new every time I look it over.
The blade is very wieldy, and quick. It feels better than most wakizashi I have handled. It cuts very well too. 1" saplings were no problem.
The finish is hybrid. Hand sanded to 2000, lightly etched and finished with traditional finger stones and nugui. The finder staones leave a more authentic look, and don't tend to leave the blade so bright.
The mounts are bass wood, simple copper fittings and finished off with base/clear automotive paint ( MUCH easier and available than laquer, tougher as well). The tsuka is traditionaly made with silk ito over same in katatemaki style. The kashira is a piece of fossil ivory with a redish color, to go with the heat colored copper fittings and saya color. The menuki are small fish. I hadn't installed the mekugi at the time I shot the pics, but it is in there now.
Hope you enjoy the pics, if anyone is interested, contact me off forums.
Let me know what you think!!
