New Tachi Katana

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I just finished the final touches on this one. I wanted it done before Chris (knifemaker87) came over today. It is a tachi with a folded blade.
The kake is rosewood and ebony.

Stacy

 

[go mike]

I like it! Was it an order from someone, for the contest, or just to do it?

What are the specs?

 

[efleming]

Wow Stacy. That is beautiful! Very nice job. :thumbup:

 

[Dan Pierson]

Just how long is it Stacy?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

OK, enough of the tease.
The specs are:
Tachi style, shinogi zukuri, ko-kissaki.
Blade forged and folded 200+ layers,twisted, then reforged. Mokume hada.
Steel 1084 and 1095, hardened and tempered to appx. Rc 55.
Koshirae - 14K yellow gold
Fuchi and Kashira set with diamonds.
Tsuka carved from fossil walrus tusk core (tapioca)
Wrapped in platinum twisted wire.




Scale 12:1
Blade .025 thick,.150 wide,2.904 edge, 4.308 OAL ( in inches)
The habaki is made with a wall thickness of .005".

I am starting a saya (scabbard) in ebony that will have a wall thickness of .010".

Here are some more photos.
Stacy

 

[go mike]

Olly 4.3 inches total?!? I was thinking it was like 36 inches! My mind is boggled!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The scale puts it at about 51" OAL, edge is 35" ,tsuka 14", .30" thick at the shinogi, and 1.8" high at the machi. This would be a full size katana, and a very fast sword in the hand.
Doing the togi on this blade was a trick. I wore off my fingertips. There is no machining at all on any part. All are cut ,filed, stoned, and finished by hand. The habaki is four piece construction, and a dead perfect directional slip fit to the machi. The balance point is 10% forward of the habaki.
All parts are exact scale and install with a single mekugi to lock it together. (Shown prior to trimming)
Stacy

 

[T Blade]

Stacy,

That is an awesome little blade. Your craftsmanship is superlative. :thumbup:

 

[Allen Newberry]

I love that it is assembled like the real thing! I guess this thing would be the real thing if you were six inches tall.

Allen

 

[JTknives]

he made a small sword for bubba-doll that is used as a belly button ring and i mucst say his work is superb. i will post a picture of it.

 

[Keith_H]

Nice sword, Stacy. Some miniature pattern welded pieces don't have enough layers, this one looks to scale.

he made a small sword for bubba-doll that is used as a belly button ring and i mucst say his work is superb. i will post a picture of it.

this one? http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6511177

 

[JTknives]

Nice sword, Stacy. Some miniature pattern welded pieces don't have enough layers, this one looks to scale.



this one? http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6511177

yep that be the one , i always try to find excuses to take more pictures

 

[Lucky Bob]

yep that be the one , i always try to find excuses to take more pictures

Do you think any of us really mind?

As for the miniature: as miniature/decoration/"jewelry", I think it's impressive as hell. I originally thought it was a fullsize, and was going to gripe about it being gaudy...