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

WOW really cool piece, great job Stuart. AND congrats Roger for receiving a beautiful fighter.

Bill
 
Roger, I'm green with envy. I don't feel that way much, so it says a lot about this knife, at least from where I sit.
 
Thanks very much guys - and John - that was particularly well-said.

Derrick - yes, carrying the blade geometry through to the handle was a great idea, and very well executed.

One little footnote to the story - this is actually the second Wenge handle to be put on the knife, as Stuart explains, "I just didn't like the mix of the flat grain and edge grain on the same plane. Had the flat grain been on both lower facets I would have liked the effect."

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Roger
 
Wow - magnificent work. The various Japanese themes all gel together perfectly.

The handle was an inspired choice. It's almost identical to the profile of the saya on this Koto period naoshi naginata (sorry about the lousy pic - it's a photo of a glossy print):

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RogerP said:
"I just didn't like the mix of the flat grain and edge grain on the same plane. Had the flat grain been on both lower facets I would have liked the effect."
Click to expand...

Sounds perfectly Bransonesque to me. I wonder how many treatments and experiments Stuart tries that would be considered very acceptable by the customer or viewer here, but that we never see just because he's not satisfied and won't settle for less than the best he can deliver; "best he can deliver", where Stuart's ability is concerned, being a standard that appears ever-evolving toward a higher plane.
 
That is nice. Very VERY nice. I was a little worried from some of the initial pics that there would be too much belly in the blade but I think Stuart got the curvature just right for the overall design. The habaki fitment looks particularly well done. I tried my hand at that years ago and decided it was best done by people more patient than I. :D

Based on the description of Stuart's polishing process(es) it becomes readily apparent why togishi charge well north of $100/in for a polishing job.
 
Wonderful piece congrats tonal involved

Very Fogg like and that is a complement
 
What a beautiful piece! Interesting WIP. It sure turned out Great. Congrats Roger
 
Yje line carried from blade to handle really pull the whole knife together! Also im in the middle of a habaki and can really appreciate that habakit and how wonderful it looks!
 
A most wonderful piece Stuart. Very crisp lines, as most of your works show.

I was surprised you took on an Osaraku Zukuri geometry to be honest, few people do even in Japan. It's a shame really, to me it's probably one of the most beautiful tanto geometries there is.
Very nice Stuart!
 
Thanks again to everyone for the comments. I really do find this an interesting geometry and I like the supposed history behind it.

"Osoraku means "perhaps" or "probably". The story goes,the smith who invented this style, Sukemune Shimada, inscribed Osoraku on the tang meaning that probably a strange sword like this has never been forged before and never will be again."

As for the choice or Wenge. The combination of the colour, the grain and the SS fittings together along with the apparent roughness, though geometric shape of the fittings were one of the first thoughts I had with this project.
Wenge gets more interesting and beautiful the closer you look at it. The different densities in the grain polish differently and though smooth give a visual look of texture.

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Thanks again Roger.
 
Bleh such bad typing in my earlier post. It is because of my wife's keyboard I was using

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Very comfortable on the hands tho
 
NICE!

I was wondering how you were going to pull a handle out that would complete it! Great job with the wenge, and I do find the second attempt at the handle more eye appealing, but if it had come with the original handle, I liked that one as well. (the lower grain pattern made me think of the hammon).
 
Thanks. Yes, the lower grain matched the hamon in my mind too but because of the rift cut of the piece, the flat grain was on the upper part of the handle on the other side.

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That's what I meant when I said that flat grain on the lower of both sides would be okay but not lower on one side and upper on the other.
 
The knife is brilliant in it's details. Aesthetically it makes total sense. I would love to feel it in my hand.
What is the length of the blade and OAL? That design would make an incredible short sword.
A fitting addition to your incredibly awesome knife collection Roger.
Most definitely a home run Stuart! Thank you both for sharing!:thumbup:
 
Thanks again to all for taking the time to look and comment.

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

Roger
 
Roger you have really been on a roll and this is one fine addition. Stuart is making some really nice pieces and this is one of my favorite ones to date. Enjoy and congratulations.

Jon
 
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