- Joined
- Sep 3, 2012
- Messages
- 404
Hi all,
I have a really special sword here by an old forum favorite, Stuart Branson.
Stuart was famous around here for his great attitude, his attention to detail, and his free-thinking, syncretic approach to design, like a modern, Don Fogg.
He is also an accomplished maker in the Japanese style, as is evidenced by this katana.
Here are Stuart's words in August of 2013:
This is one I have been working on slowly since last December. As much as I like using W2 for Japanese styled pieces, one important aesthetic aspect of the blade is the "hada", the grain of the steel made by the repeated folding and drawing of the steel. A friend of mine from Alberta sent me a box of old worn out lathe files a couple years ago and combined with some other small pieces of steel I had lying around, I decided to try forge welding and folding. The blade has about 2000 layers made up of 1095,W1,W2,1084,1070/80.
The geometry is shinogi zukuri with a nice o-kissaki.
The blade is 2.41 shaku or about 28 3/4".
Other measurements will follow but it weighs in at 1200g on the dot without the saya, or 2lbs 10oz. A robust blade but it should be good and strong as a cutter.
I still have some polishing to do so maybe a few grams will get shaved off that. I'll measure the sori then but it's a tori-sori with the peak of the curve pretty much in the middle of the blade.
The saya is alder with cane wrap and buffalo horn koiguchi, kurikata and kojiri. I'll have to take a detail shot of the koiguchi as it's the best I've done yet.
The tsuka is about 11" and is alder core with full same wrap (side seam) and black silk ito (with hishigame)
The fuchi/kashira are Fred Lohman and are very large. To compensate I made the tsuka a ryo ryugo (rikko), or hourglass, shape.
The tsuba is an Edo period antique I have been saving.
I pushed myself on this one.
Here are some pics and videos from today (I CAN TAKE MORE ON REQUEST)
Additionally, here is a video from the maker meant to showcase the hada, hamon, and a couple of welding flaws that Stuart pointed out before purchase. At the time, he said "they certainly don't look like critical flaws and I've seen worse on nihonto". Indeed
Stuart's video is better than mine for showing the intricacies of the hada and hamon. They are both really stunning in person and have a lot of visual interest, the soul of the sword, if you will, that still can't quite be captured.
There are a couple of small spots of rust that developed over the first year despite frequent care. I'll add to the post when I can. They don't detract from the powerful overall impact the katana has, and took me a while to spot initially.
Additionally, the lacquer is starting to peel from the reeding around the koiguchi/kurikata in a couple of places. I'm sure there might be a way to stabilize this, but I'm loathe to try anything the next owner would have to live with.
There's some patina and light scratching on the copper fixtures. Otherwise, this thing looks friggin' perfect after 10 years. There's gotta be at least 120 hrs of work in this package.
No stand for this one.
Asking sold con us insured shipping. First I take it here or in DM gets it. I have the right to refuse business to anyone, especially douches.
Thanks for consideration.
Cheers.
I have a really special sword here by an old forum favorite, Stuart Branson.
Stuart was famous around here for his great attitude, his attention to detail, and his free-thinking, syncretic approach to design, like a modern, Don Fogg.
He is also an accomplished maker in the Japanese style, as is evidenced by this katana.
Here are Stuart's words in August of 2013:
This is one I have been working on slowly since last December. As much as I like using W2 for Japanese styled pieces, one important aesthetic aspect of the blade is the "hada", the grain of the steel made by the repeated folding and drawing of the steel. A friend of mine from Alberta sent me a box of old worn out lathe files a couple years ago and combined with some other small pieces of steel I had lying around, I decided to try forge welding and folding. The blade has about 2000 layers made up of 1095,W1,W2,1084,1070/80.
The geometry is shinogi zukuri with a nice o-kissaki.
The blade is 2.41 shaku or about 28 3/4".
Other measurements will follow but it weighs in at 1200g on the dot without the saya, or 2lbs 10oz. A robust blade but it should be good and strong as a cutter.
I still have some polishing to do so maybe a few grams will get shaved off that. I'll measure the sori then but it's a tori-sori with the peak of the curve pretty much in the middle of the blade.
The saya is alder with cane wrap and buffalo horn koiguchi, kurikata and kojiri. I'll have to take a detail shot of the koiguchi as it's the best I've done yet.
The tsuka is about 11" and is alder core with full same wrap (side seam) and black silk ito (with hishigame)
The fuchi/kashira are Fred Lohman and are very large. To compensate I made the tsuka a ryo ryugo (rikko), or hourglass, shape.
The tsuba is an Edo period antique I have been saving.
I pushed myself on this one.
Here are some pics and videos from today (I CAN TAKE MORE ON REQUEST)
Additionally, here is a video from the maker meant to showcase the hada, hamon, and a couple of welding flaws that Stuart pointed out before purchase. At the time, he said "they certainly don't look like critical flaws and I've seen worse on nihonto". Indeed
Stuart's video is better than mine for showing the intricacies of the hada and hamon. They are both really stunning in person and have a lot of visual interest, the soul of the sword, if you will, that still can't quite be captured.
There are a couple of small spots of rust that developed over the first year despite frequent care. I'll add to the post when I can. They don't detract from the powerful overall impact the katana has, and took me a while to spot initially.
Additionally, the lacquer is starting to peel from the reeding around the koiguchi/kurikata in a couple of places. I'm sure there might be a way to stabilize this, but I'm loathe to try anything the next owner would have to live with.
There's some patina and light scratching on the copper fixtures. Otherwise, this thing looks friggin' perfect after 10 years. There's gotta be at least 120 hrs of work in this package.
No stand for this one.
Asking sold con us insured shipping. First I take it here or in DM gets it. I have the right to refuse business to anyone, especially douches.
Thanks for consideration.
Cheers.
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