OT: Customizing a spear: question for bladesmiths

[DannyinJapan]

Hi Dan and anybody else who might be able to help me with a special project of mine. (I know, another one)

I have purchased one of the discontinued long-bladed yari from a Budo teacher friend of mine in America.
(Atlanta cutlery had imported these long-bladed yari about 8 years ago)
They have these great 18 inch long blades with fullers and the red laquer, just great.

Anyway, they came with a socket to make it easier to mount but I want it converted to a regular tang like a real japanese yari would have.

Question is: Can someone convert it to a stick tang without ruining it?
I have no idea what kind of heat treatment it may have had, if at all.
the tang should be the same leangth as the blade, tapering towards the tail, witha small hole (mekugi-ana) for mounting it to the shaft.

any thoughts appreciated.
Offers to do the job appreciated (except from Bruise)

 

[Yvsa]

How hard is the steel Danny? Can it be filed okay, does it bend when hitting an object when thrown? If the answers to the last two questions are yes then it could be modified although it may change the balance.
The present socket tang would have to be cut off and a full flat tang welded on at the base. It would be best if it was inletted maybe 3" or so and then welded all along the seam instead of just a butt weld though.
Methinks that a plain butt weld would be way, way, too weak for any proper use from it.

 

[DannyinJapan]

I dont know Yvsa, the spear is in Texas!
(I cant get it in to japan)
But the blade is 18" long and almost 2" wide.
If someone wanted to inlet it with a tang and then try to temper it japanese style, it wouldnt bother me.
I bet its got enough metal that it could handle a major operation like that.

 

[Daniel Koster]

DIJ - just wanted to let you know I've read the post and am thinking about how to do it....got to get kids off to bed. I'll reply later.

 

[LongRifle]

It might be easier to have one made to your specs , just teasin'. It really depends on the socket; if the socket wall is thick, forging it flat and then into a tang wouldn't be too much of a problem. If it is made from carbon steel someone might be able to forge weld it together (might be tough to do). If the spear is forged from a round bar (integral-esque) a tang could probably be drawn out from that. I've been up way too long, and I've been studying way too much today, so I doubt I'm making much sense . I'm picturing a shovel style socket, if that's the case it would be a pretty tough job.

~Usually I'm a little more articulate than that .

Matt