Slobodian full dress tanto

HTMD

HTMD

Joined
Feb 15, 2002
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This is from the recent Boston Art Knife Classic. It's one of the ones featured in the show catalog. It's name is "Summer" but I can't stop calling it "Winter" because apparently I have seasonal dyslexia.

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Coop shot this one for the show catalog by the way, and I think it's one of his best in that BAKC body of photographic work. Mine rather pales next to his but because the styles are different, viewing them together gives a greatly expanded feel for the work Scott and Barbara Slobodian put into Summer. Coop's take on it vividly shows the relevant detail. My follow-up is formal in feel, reverent in the presence of tradition. It's really cool that we both got to shoot it. (If there's interest I'll post details about this tanto later.)

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damn, that is super sick:eek:
I love them Slobodian knives. Very interesting work and so nicely done.
 
Scott does great work I have one of his Katanas and always enjoy seeing his work
 
Thanks guys, and thanks to Coop for permission to post his beautiful photo. It's like looking at the piece in stereo. :cool::thumbup:
 
HTMD said:
Thanks guys, and thanks to Coop for permission to post his beautiful photo. It's like looking at the piece in stereo. :cool::thumbup:
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Lemme re-tie your sageo next time we get together, it will look nicer!



Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Here's the official description by Scott:

“Full dress tanto. Blade is 8 1/2” long and made from Meier steel (1,000 layers) in a clay tempered, double edged Moro ha style. Handle is silk wrapped over dry rayskin. Chinese gold fittings are in a flower motif engraved by Barbara Slobodian. Sheath is a rare Afzalia burl. With a matching display stand.”

To that I would add the OAL sheathed is 16 in. I'm not knowledgable about these things so I set up the display in a manner I have seen published before. I also re-tied the Kurikata (the tying loop on the sheath) similar to something I saw in The Masterworks of Scott Slobodian. In case I screwed up I'll ask in advance that the purists forgive me this one time. ;)
 
Kohai999 said:
Lemme re-tie your sageo
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Steven, I was hoping you'd set me straight on this. The tying loop on this one may be too short for such a fancy finish, but I saw that in Scott's book and it's the coolest by far. Did I misunderstand that the tying loop is called kurikata? (vs sageo)
That's a beauty by Dan Maragni (that blade!) and from my limited reading it looks like the 'samurai' style - which is to say more on the bad-ass side of things. ???
 
HTMD said:
Steven, I was hoping you'd set me straight on this. The tying loop on this one may be too short for such a fancy finish, but I saw that in Scott's book and it's the coolest by far. Did I misunderstand that the tying loop is called kurikata? (vs sageo)
That's a beauty by Dan Maragni (that blade!) and from my limited reading it looks like the 'samurai' style - which is to say more on the bad-ass side of things. ???
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Kurikata means "chestnut" and refers to the buffalo horn fitting that holds the cord, "sageo" in place.

The knot that you tied is a "casual" knot for wearing on the obi "belt"(although there is a half hitch tied on each end for this method of wearing), rather than the "formal", parade knot which is traditional for display.

I'm sending you a link for the proper tying if you want to try it via e-mail.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Buddy,

The kurikata is the piece of hardware on the sheath through which the sageo goes.
 
Come on, guys, it took me fourteen years to get the spelling of "ricasso" right - and now these days I can't even pronounce the parts. At least I can pronounce "Slobodian" and acknowledge that this one's a beauty!

Best,

Bob
 
betzner said:
Come on, guys, it took me fourteen years to get the spelling of "ricasso" right - and now these days I can't even pronounce the parts. At least I can pronounce "Slobodian" and acknowledge that this one's a beauty!

Best,

Bob
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True that, quite lovely!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
betzner said:
Come on, guys, it took me fourteen years to get the spelling of "ricasso" right - and now these days I can't even pronounce the parts. At least I can pronounce "Slobodian" and acknowledge that this one's a beauty!

Best,

Bob
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I'm with ya, being a New Yorker I can barely pronounce Bowie correctly.

Cool knife!
 
...and I did no experimentation whatsoever, and left the knot as it came. Glad I did! :eek:

An elegant blade and package by every measure. Buddy, thanks for sharing with us!

Coop
 
I don't know the proper names for the components either, but they sure look AWESOME!

Nice looking display and great picture by Coop as well.

Thanks for showing it,
Peter
 
I don't know a lot about this jonra, but I know what I like. This really blows me away. I like everything about it. The artistry in the engraving captures my eye time and again. Please educate me on a couple of things. Is the orientation of the knife in the stand traditional, with the edge up, point to the right? I am used to seeing everything with the point to the left, edge down and mark to the top. What is the icon under the lace, I know the experts can tell me what it is called, but also, what is this particular one an image of and what significance do they have in general. Also, is "Chinese gold" actually gold from China or is it a term like "German Silver"? Not really silver and not necessarily from Germany. Thanks, this is one I would really love to see in person some time.
 
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Mark Knapp said:
Please educate me on a couple of things. Is the orientation of the knife in the stand traditional, with the edge up, point to the right? I am used to seeing everything with the point to the left, edge down and mark to the top. What is the icon under the lace, I know the experts can tell me what it is called, but also, what is this particular one an image of and what significance do they have in general.
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The primary edge always goes up, whatever weight is supported by the spine and the blade collar(habaki) It will not damage the scabbard(saya) or edge when oriented in this manner.

The tradition of point orientation is primarily where the door or entryway to where the sword rests comes in. It is considered "threatening" to have the point facing towards the door.

The menuki(handle charm) is almost always the choice of the sword owner(or in this case, Scott....as he makes all his sword furniture, it in and of itself is quite valuable). Samurai did not wear jewelry, and as the sword was used less in battle, and more a statement of wealth and class, those that could afford to do so made their swords as "blingy" as possible.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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