Custom Tanto by Daniel Prentice
Steel: Tamahagane is steel made from iron sand ore smelted in a tatara
furnace. It is the steel used by swordmakers in Japan to create swords.
About 3-4 years ago I purchased a chunk of tamahagane steel from Japan
and had it sent directly to Daniel's shop.
Forging: The steel was forge folded many times with his power hammer
to get rid of slag and purify the steel into a blade. Daniel said working with this steel
required a lot more forging than any modern type steel. He heat treated
and clay quenched the blade to create a hamon. I'm not an authority on
Japanese blades, but Daniel told me it is a "double" hamon with utsuri
(reflection of the hamon in the ji). The grain or "hada" of the steel can be
seen faintly in the large photos. Of course the grain of the steel is much
easier to see up close in person than in photos.
Construction is take-down, everything is fitted tightly by the maker, no glue.
Condition: mint -- no rust, no wear
Handle & Sheath: Cocobolo wood saya with mosaic pin mekugi
habaki: brass
mekugi: custom mosaic pin
nagasa: 8-1/4"
OAL 13"
Asking price: $1400 $1200 $1100 now $999
Please send PM if interested, thanks!
Steel: Tamahagane is steel made from iron sand ore smelted in a tatara
furnace. It is the steel used by swordmakers in Japan to create swords.
About 3-4 years ago I purchased a chunk of tamahagane steel from Japan
and had it sent directly to Daniel's shop.
Forging: The steel was forge folded many times with his power hammer
to get rid of slag and purify the steel into a blade. Daniel said working with this steel
required a lot more forging than any modern type steel. He heat treated
and clay quenched the blade to create a hamon. I'm not an authority on
Japanese blades, but Daniel told me it is a "double" hamon with utsuri
(reflection of the hamon in the ji). The grain or "hada" of the steel can be
seen faintly in the large photos. Of course the grain of the steel is much
easier to see up close in person than in photos.
Construction is take-down, everything is fitted tightly by the maker, no glue.
Condition: mint -- no rust, no wear
Handle & Sheath: Cocobolo wood saya with mosaic pin mekugi
habaki: brass
mekugi: custom mosaic pin
nagasa: 8-1/4"
OAL 13"
Asking price: $1400 $1200 $1100 now $999
Please send PM if interested, thanks!
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