Been getting some shop time in lately - Pictures added

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Besides checking the forums regularly, I do get out into the shop now and then
The past two weeks, I have been working on four pieces. A langseax, a wakizashi, and two small aikuchi.

The langseax is in damascus with leather wrapped wooden scabbard and handle. The accent wood is ebony. I call it Drachenrucken. It is pretty cool.
The wakizashi is in damascus with curly maple tsuka and saya. The curly maple came from Bill Moran. Accent wood is ebony. This one is coming out stunning.
The aikuchi are the short kaiken type that I call "Pocket knives" as they could be slipped in a sleeve pocket on a kimono, or into a regular pocket. One is ebonized alder wood with ebony accent, and the other is superb curly koa with ebony and sterling. One has a blade made from chainsaw damascus, and the other is a high layer plain damascus. Togi went very well on both. I like the looks so far. I may add sterling to the black one...not sure yet.

Drachenrucken and the wakizashi have a neat thing on the butt. More on that later.

I did some of the finishing work tonight, and will try and shoot some photos tomorrow or Wednesday. These will be at Ashokan.

 

[zcd]

Those are some interesting pieces, would love to see some progress pics. Especially the Aikuchi..

 

[Michael Rader]

Yes, keep us updated...
-M

 

[KCGGBC]

Cannot wait for the pics!

 

[Tin.Man]

Seax yes please!!! Cant wait for pics Stacy

 

[Frank Niro]

I sure will be looking for pictures of these.I expect them all to be very appealing . Frank

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Just came in from a few early minutes in the shop this morning. The "neat thing" on the butt of the two larger blades came out well. Pictures tonight.....I promise.

For those not familiar with kaiken, they are short tanto with no guard ( aikuchi). The tsuka and says (sheath and handle) are smooth with no projections, making them easy to conceal in a hidden pocket, often in the kimono sleeve. Some were quite short. Some were decorated or enameled and some were plain wood. You might call them the Japanese equivalent of the Sgian Dubh ... or the "necker".

 

[Shawn Hatcher]

Anxious to see photos of the wakizashi!

 

[Perrin]

Cannot wait to see your interpretations of kwaiken. My kwaiken/first knife project is on the shelf until I have time to sit down and figure out my plunge line issue. Plunge lines? Yep, exactly the problem on my very non-traditional version with a full tang . But my intention was ease not historic accuracy. I have read discussions dealing with how historically accurate one should strive to make a knife. Aesthetically, how do these compare to historic examples you have experienced? Very interested! And then a damascus seax and damascus wakizashi in maple shirasaya!

 

[NickWheeler]

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx..................................

 

[blades&grace]

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Awe man! Hehehee

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

First group of shots were while they were being worked on this past weekend.
The wakizashi has had the wood reacted with chromium tri-oxide to change the curly grain. This leaves it sort of green looking.
Then it is stained medium brown. Better color, but blah. The kaiken was also ebonized with black wood stain.
Finally, The wakizashi is stained amber brown, and hand polished to 1000 grit. - Much better. The curl really POPs now.

Drachensrucken has had the leather applied, and the tape holds it tight while drying.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

My can of cashew lacquer. Can't get this anymore in the USA from what I have heard. It was crazy expensive when I bought this can. Blox-Ogen helps keep it from getting hard in the can.
First heavy coat of lacquer on the black kaiken. I didn't like the ebonized finish, so I went to lacquer. This will dry for days to weeks.
Finished shots. (camera angle makes wakizashi blade look thinner than it is). Wakizashi is held together by two mosaic mekugi.
Close up of curly koa kaiken ands sterling collar ( camera makes blade look stubby)
Close up of wak blade

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Wakizashi blade and simple hammered copper habaki.
Drachensrucken handle and sheath, the leather was from Ron Frazier's shop. I am calling it "Dragon Skin".
Close up of why I call this langseax "Drachensrucken" ( dragon's back).

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Here is some of the wood I was processing this weekend
Stabilized and dyed box elder burl, dyed curly maple, some exhibition California buckeye burl, Insane redwood burl.
I will have these and a bunch more at Ashokan.

 

[egally08]

No pictures are showing for me Stacy

anyone else?

 

[Britt_Askew]

Did you forget to put film in the camera? I dont see any pictures

 

[PT Doc]

Very nice.

Crazy wood.

 

[Horsewright]

I got pics. If ya don't want to haul one of those Ca Buckeye blocks all the way to Ashokan, I can help to lighten the load. Wow.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Here are some shots of the saya being made for the kaiken.
Cuts are to show where to stop grinding when the saya halves are joined.
Everything fits perfect on the bottom half. The top will make this a snug pocket when shaped.
Sawing out ebony tsuba.
Hammered copper koiguchi and seppa sitting on ebony tsuba and koiguchi base. Everything bundled together to keep things neat and orderly.