Osoraku Zukuri - a fighter by Stuart Branson - sheath pics added.

If Stuart had been seeking a challenge, I'd say he found one. I certainly admire his determination and committment to see it through.

"I don't know if I mentioned it but I have refinished this blade about 6 times including the once I went back to the grinder with the 120x belt to re-establish the geometry of the kissaki area.

That last set of photos showing the counter polishing starting at 1200x ultimately didn't work out as I could never get the scratches out. I don't know if steel "grain" is like wood grain but counterpolishing with even 2000x paper looked like I dragged it across gravel. I even used some 3M TriMite paper that was supposedly 3 microns or equivalent to 4000x and it still looked like the cat was sharpening her claws on it.

So... I went back and took the whole blade up to the 2000x grit in the horizontal polish and then began working the counter polish after the etch with the loose abrasives and some traditional Japanese nugui polishing compounds.

This is a picture of the Jitekko. It is powdered magnetite that is mixed with clove oil to perform what is called a Sashikomi style of polish. This is as opposed to the Hadori style.

What is shown here is from tonight. I was still troubled with the kissaki polish as a previous Jitekko application had a stray coarse piece scratched the blade and in polishing the scratches I was left with an uneven finish. So, I used nail polish as a resist and re etched the blade with lemon juice and then took the oxides off with the 1200x loose abrasive/oil mix. Then this step, the Sashikomi polish. This is the first blade I've used it on and I really like how it seemed to not only whiten the hamon details and refine the crispness but also highlighted a colour difference in the hardened and unhardened portions of the blade. The mix is made and then it is placed onto a piece of nuguigami polishing paper with the finger so the oil mix seeps through but filters the mix. This is then dabbed onto the blade and then mix is worked in with oumewata which is a super soft cotton like material.

I then follow this up with a finer polish of Tsunokou/oil mix and then with the Uchiko ball and finally a light coat of clove oil.

Ultimately I think traditional stones would be the way to properly approach this geometry in the future but it was a learning experience for sure."


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Roger
 
Something that occurs to me every time that I see all the exacting terminology involved with Japanese blades is to make comparisons with the Inuit and all their names for different kinds of snow. I love how other cultures immerse themselves into what they do.... and I think it's great that Stuart is learning these things and applying them in new ways.
 
Thanks for taking the time to share this with us it is always a treat to see Stuart's work
 
Thanks everyone for the comments. This has been a really interesting project I am extremely grateful to Roger for being interested in seeing how this would turn out. It sure hasn't been easy but it's been instructive.

The main difficulty in the blade is this junction:

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There are 3 planes intersecting and one convex to two essentially flat grinds. It was a balancing act.

To Scott, there is always some contention about the use of Japanese terms, as if the use of them is elitist or pretentious. For me, the words, once learned, are very specific in their meaning and would need a phrase or sentence to convey in English. It just makes sense.
 
Yeah Stuart... that is my point... They know their craft so well.. that every detail has a specific term... otherwise their can be no communication within the craft. But I don't think you have anything to fear about sounding pretentious.. anybody that looks at your pictures should be able to see how complex the geometry is that you are working with and should appreciate that it takes language to express that complexity. I just think it's great that you are learning this stuff.
 
ScottRoush said:
But I don't think you have anything to fear about sounding pretentious..
Click to expand...

I don't think Stu is even capable of that,he happens to be one of the least pretentious people I know!
 
Stuart, thank you for the photos of the work on the yokote. I figured it might cause issues. Great job by the way. I admire your fortitude and patience. A couple of questions. Where did you get the powdered magnetite? and just curious whether you thought about using the traditional fixture for polishing the point area in japanese swords, the narume dai, or slotted board?
Keep up the good work, this is going to be a great knife. Also thank you Roger for commissioning this.
Brion
 
I got the "powdered" magnetite from an ebay seller NorthLondonBudo. Next time I will go to Japan for it though. Unless I am mistaken I think I have read that for Sashikomi polish that Jitekko can be used straight on the blade but this stuff is WAY too coarse for that. I thought the filtering was for Kanahada so I just borrowed the technique.
I did make a narumedai for another project but it uses hazuya stones and I don't have those yet. For the very subtle convex finish of the yokote, it doesn't work to stick a piece of sandpaper to a narumedai as the cushioning effect is negated by the flatness of the abrasive surface. Does that make sense? I'm actually not entirely sure why or how that piece of equipment developed unless it is because using your fingers going from edge to spine is too dangerous. As this is a sandpaper polish, I sharpen the knife at about the 400x grit stage but then the successive papers dull the edge just enough that usually I only end up cutting myself about once per knife. :p
 
Thanks for following along gents - and thanks to Stuart for his input as well.

Here we go - all done!

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11" from guard to tip including the habaki which is 1/2". The OAL is 16.5"

Wrought iron guard, copper habaki and Wenge for the handle:

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As many of you know from experience, capturing a hamon in a photograph is hard enough - factor in blade geometry that seems to add an extra dimension and it gets harder still. But I think this one pic does a reasonable job of both:

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This really resulted in a unique, striking, and to my eye a very appealing fighter:

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Stuart - you rock!

Sheath pics to come after Stuart gets in a leather order.

Roger
 
man that is sweet. It never would've occurred to me to use wenge... but it really adds a charming, rustic, 'wabi sabi' touch to the piece along with the iron. Nice lines on the whole thing.
 
I agree on the Wenge, Scott. I've seen it on a number of Don Fogg (I still want to type Goff, for some reason) knives, including a bowie he made for me years back. It's very tough stuff. While I generally prefer more highly figured wood, it seems to suit Japanese-themed knives well in general, and this knife very well in particular.

Roger
 
It's both the journey and the destination. Stuart's made a wicked fighter for Roger, here. The Osoraku Zukuri geometry is fresh to us , and gives a lean, purposeful design. Then, look at the fit and taper of the habaki. And that Wenge handle is just what Stuart wants.

But the learning path is just as important. Stuart's pushing the limits of what he can do, and dragging the rest of us along, as it should be.

Besides which, that's a beautiful knife!Wow!

John
 
Wonderful blade Stuart. Thanks to both of you for bringing us on the adventure. Congrats Roger what a grand fighter.

Eric
 
John, I really enjoy the insight expressed in your post above as a peek through a window on the mind of a knifemaker--as well as the generosity of spirit you show by expressing so freely your admiration.

As a lay "consumer", I'm also taken with the choice of wenge--would never have thought of that and yet as Roger says, on this style it seems to bring the package to just the right harmony of theme -- in my mind a blend of richness with elegant simplicity. The dimensions and balance of its parts give the knife a timeless, settled feel to me that in no way suggest this was a first attempt at this style. So very impressive...
 
That is insanely cool. Gorgeous hamon. I also like how the contour of the handle follows and compliments the blade geometry.
 
Congratulations Roger and Stuart. That is one really nice fighter. Subtle, but the more you look at it the more things you see. Love the hamon, heck love the whole knife. Thanks for the answers Stuart and the information.
BIG thumbs up guys.
Brion
 
I am having a hard time finding the words what a cool project it flows so well together part sword part knife all gorgeous .
 
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