- Joined
- Apr 3, 2011
- Messages
- 5,701
Don't kill me guys 
Got to work on a Butaniku a couple weeks ago - probably shouldn't have taken the project on due to the rarity of the sword but it turned out well I think =) My customer wanted the paint stripped, a zero convex (w/ a tanto tip mod), and new scales.
It was very blade heavy and difficult to swing. The only grind I was willing to do on this one was a convex grind (it's the most forgiving). I was going to go for a full height convex if I needed to, but my customer wanted a yokote (the tanto transition) so I was fortunately able to do that (slightly shortened blade to accomplish this, shortened to 31 1/16 from tip of scales).
It was a beast to hold while grinding to be sure. Since I grind under coolant was able to catch/save the dust for this shot - it shed a total of 10.2 oz weighing in at 2 lbs 13.8 oz total!
The scales were crazy... had to remake one around 3 times, ugh! But this was my first project on my new milling machine, so I was figuring that thing out. The reason for the scales in the first place is that, with the stock scales the tang is exposed at the bottom which is not comfortable in an iaido grip.
The first rendition was quite blocky, so we went with some nice rounding which made it MUCH more comfortable.
And here's some final shots! We went w/ torx bolts, countersunk into the scales.
Got to work on a Butaniku a couple weeks ago - probably shouldn't have taken the project on due to the rarity of the sword but it turned out well I think =) My customer wanted the paint stripped, a zero convex (w/ a tanto tip mod), and new scales.
It was very blade heavy and difficult to swing. The only grind I was willing to do on this one was a convex grind (it's the most forgiving). I was going to go for a full height convex if I needed to, but my customer wanted a yokote (the tanto transition) so I was fortunately able to do that (slightly shortened blade to accomplish this, shortened to 31 1/16 from tip of scales).
It was a beast to hold while grinding to be sure. Since I grind under coolant was able to catch/save the dust for this shot - it shed a total of 10.2 oz weighing in at 2 lbs 13.8 oz total!
The scales were crazy... had to remake one around 3 times, ugh! But this was my first project on my new milling machine, so I was figuring that thing out. The reason for the scales in the first place is that, with the stock scales the tang is exposed at the bottom which is not comfortable in an iaido grip.
The first rendition was quite blocky, so we went with some nice rounding which made it MUCH more comfortable.
And here's some final shots! We went w/ torx bolts, countersunk into the scales.
