Habaki fit up question

quint

quint

Joined
Nov 29, 2011
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So I am researching for my next project which I want to be a kind of americanized small tanto style knife but wanted to do some of the portions in a more traditional style. One thing that I am confused about is the Habaki. I understand different ways they are made but as far as the transition on the blade itself where it meats the notches (Mune and Ha Machi). The Ha Machi looks like it is usually a little bit farther forward then the Mune Machi. Does the bottom of the Habaki fit up against the Ha Machi like a typical gaurd would on say a bowie? I understand the top part of the habaki has a recessed portion that kind of raps around the Mune Machi and then it pretty much encases the portion of the blade under that.

I just wanna make sure I have the fitment understanding down first before I start making stuff.

As always appreciate the help.
 
There are many ways to make and fit a habaki.
In cast habaki, the wax is often fitted to the blade and will be an exact fit to the machi.

In an assembled habaki ( and with some that are cast), initially there is no stop for the machi. After fitting the habaki to the blade so it slips on properly, you make small "plugs" that are soldered in place. Do the mune first. After you file the plug so it goes on and seats snug against the mune machi, you can either quit there or fit a plug to the ha machi. On many blades the ha machi is so small that there is no stop plug. After the habaki is fitted, a few solid taps with a block of wood will seat the habaki solidly against the machi. When all is right, do the finish work on the habaki.
 
Thanks a bunch guys. That picture is perfect, exactly what I was looking for just couldnt find it anywhere. Looks pretty straight forward (sure I will still struggle with it but...).

Appreciate the info Stacy, I am nowhere near being able to cast stuff right now. I am sure one of these days that will be a adventure I will delve into but right now forging stuff to shape and doing some brazing is about the extent of my abilities. I have scene many pictures of the ha machi being really small or even tapered almost which threw me off a little as well. I have looked at alot of tutorials but they seem to leave out that portion, usually they go from forging the habaki to having it installed on the blade (I am still learning all the traditional words for all this so bear with me).
 
Thanks Bill, that is a good picture. Machi-gane ( notch metal), that is the word I couldn't recall and just called "plugs".

Just a little fun -
I was looking at a Japanese dictionary, and the word "hamon" (ripple) if misspelled as often seen as "hammon" means "anguish or agony"......coincidence?
 
bladsmth said:
Thanks Bill, that is a good picture. Machi-gane ( notch metal), that is the word I couldn't recall and just called "plugs".

Just a little fun -
I was looking at a Japanese dictionary, and the word "hamon" (ripple) if misspelled as often seen as "hammon" means "anguish or agony"......coincidence?
Click to expand...

guess that depends on wheather you get a hamon or a hammon.
 
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