Japanese Tanto

Caleb M.

Caleb M.

Joined
Dec 22, 2012
Messages
157
So I've posted here before asking about how to do this or that. I've taken all of the advice and have made a few knives for friends. But now I want to make a Japanese style Tanto blade. Would I go about it the same as regular blade, but with a Tanto pattern? Should I put on a chisel grind? I've make a few Kiridashis and that's what kind of wanted me to make a Tanto.
 
Caleb M. said:
Japanese style Tanto blade. .
Click to expand...

Can you be more specific on the style? The Japanese covered just about every style. What we call the "American Tanto" style of blade existed in Japan before there was an America.
 
That's kind of like asking what words start with the letter "s". There is a lot of research to do. Here is a good link to start reading. Your biggest decision is going to be how traditional you want or don't want it. Traditional hidden tang or westernized full tang. If hidden tang then will it be a traditional uchigatana style with a habaki, tsuba, fuchi, and kashira wraped with ito or some variation of those features. If you want to use a saya then you need to think about the habaki now. What blade shape and style of grind do you like and feel confident trying? Check out Nick Wheelers video Hand Sanding 101, near the end he talks about the directions one should sand when trying to make the lines of the shinogi or yokote crisp and clean. (he wasn't really talking about Japanese blades but that's what I got out of it)

However most importantly, as I have struggled with this issue as I have explored making a kwaiken, is that whatever level of traditional construction you chose, will be perfect for that knife. For me the more authentic, the steeper the learning curve. Which of course seems logical but there is a lot to it. Like how to braze copper to make a proper habaki or how to finish the saya or wrap the ito. It took me a little while to come to terms with it being okay to be "my" westernized version. As I gain experience I will tackle more and more authenticity. I'm working my way up to a traditional naginata and have started with an americanized kwaiken, there are going to be a lot of steps in between. I hope you enjoy the learning part as much as I do. Good luck.
 
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