Started another Katana with photos

Bookie

Bookie

Joined
Mar 25, 2014
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Bawanna, obviously you've noticed my absence lately. At least my quietness and politeness. At the moment, I'm polishing a full length katana blade and just finished 4000 grit last hour. Still a ways to go to get down to the goal of 12,000 grit or .05 micron. The blade is mono-tempered with no hamon. At 20 to 29 below, it's too cold to get fancy in the smithy. It has a full length bo-hi and the kissaki will be geometrically sized. Making a custom 11" tsuba (handle) with dark green silk wrapping and a cream or sandy colored sting ray skin panels under the silk. Really working to get the brass menuki and a couple other pieces "antiqued". Also doing two layer seppa in front of the tsuba--copper and brass. Cross your fingers for me. Only have 3 cuts tonight! Did slice off a layer of skin of a finger, though. It was so thin, it was actually kinda neat! Wish you and Shavru was here. Too cold for Ndog. He don't have any shoes, remember?
 
Oh yeah, the shoes would be a bad thing. And speaking of Shavru?? She's been walk about for quite a long time. I best do some checking up on her. Dang, why didn't I go on alert long before now.

She knows all those Katana words you speak that go right over me head.

Keep the forge going full tilt, 20 below is bloody cold, I been miserable at 25 and 30 above. Don't handle the cold good these days and I have shoes and mittens too.
 
Bawanna, I found a handy resource on Japanese blades and terms here. Useful for lots of people. Though I can't find Bo-Hi and Seppa there.

And trust me, Ndog is plenty cold right now.
 
Bo-Hi is a 'blood groove' or 'fuller'.
Bookie, this is crazy good news! I am very much looking forward to seeing it. I am sure it is gorgeous. I am just going to pretend it is deferentially heat treated ;)
I'm not sure what you mean by geometrically sized kissaki, just having it be proportional? I love the old-school big pointy killing kissaki. I love the japanese blade(s).
It's such a privilege to train with a real master...

The full-polish sounds amaazing! Keep up the great work, you old inspirational bastard.... :D
 
Oh boy.................at least my doll might get a rest, but yours in undoubtedly in for some poking, and burning.
 
Here is a sheet that explains Japanese sword terms. Some of you may find this helpful translating what I'm talking about.bladeglossary.jpg
 
3.JPG 1.JPG 2.JPG Here are a few photos to show how I've spiffed up a piece of old steel (1045) laying about the smithy. From the muni-machi to the tip of the fukura is 27 inches. From the muni-machi to the nakago-jiri is 11 inches. The two odd tools are a "needle burnisher" forged from an old four square file. (This helps shine up the steel.) The larger thingy is called a "Sen". It is a type of draw knife that is pushed, not pulled, to assist leveling out the sides of the blade. (The handle is an old section of a MK II Martini-Henry barrel in 450-.577 caliber.) Surprisingly, it can really shave off the steel!
In the second photo, you can make out the kissaki at the tip of the blade. There is no hamon on this blade as it was mono-tempered, but not clayed when it was forged out. The third pic has the almost polished out habaki in place. This collar slides into the saya (sheath) and the fit is what prevents the blade from falling out. The seppa are next in line. The first is made from traditional copper and the second is from brass. Notches were filed to fancy them up a bit. Normally, there is only one seppa next to the habaki. Two was opted because the color differential was pleasing to me. There will only be one brass seppa behind the hand guard (which is the next step in this project.) The tsuka (handle assembly) will be wrapped in dark green silk ito which will contrast beautifully with the all white saya. The groove along side the blade is called a bo-hi. Some call it incorrectly, a "blood groove" and others a fuller. It's main purpose in life is to lighten the blade to make it more nimble and also strengthen the blade, samo-samo a steel I-beam, if you will.
 
Bookie... it is glorious. Glorious.

I can't get over how clean the Habaki is...

The blade is beautiful. I'm pretty flabbergasted. You are such a pro.
 
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I'm absolutely amazed. That thing is beautiful. I can't even comprehend how you do it.

The bo-hi alone is a masterful piece of work in itself.
 
O.K., Bawanna. Are you sitting down? The Hi is not hammered in while the metal is hot with upper and lower fullering tools or trip hammer (which I don't own). The groove is literally scratched in, with a piece of hardened rod (it's actually a tool rather like the Sen) one teensy steel shaving curl at a time and the ends dressed off roughly with rat tail files. You know, only 2-3 days work per......but what the hey? What's a few thousand strokes when you have an ego as large as my fanny perpendicular to feed? This katana is going to make me go back and overhaul the wakizashi I made. Selfie is below of that. Nice shirt, eh, Bawanna? I can put in a good word to the super lady who does this kind of stuff if you want me to. Thanks for the kind words, guys.
DSC06094 - Copy.JPG
 
Oh yeah, I'm sitting down..........never no question about that. Don't even get up to get the TV remote.

That is a nice shirt, maybe tell the lady to make some more.
 
Dang! I got chicken skin alright but it aint from the cold:eek: Thats crazy sweet Doc! What's the weight gonna work out to be?
 
Well, Kamidog, I'm not sure about the weight yet. The density of the wood for the handle is going to call the shots at this point. If I keep the tsuka at 11 inches, it ought to weigh in at about 2.3 pounds. Got the tsuba fitted tonight. It looks O.K. in my book. It has a lot of relief in it so that will help keep the overall weight down.4.JPG
 
Bookie said:
Well, Kamidog, I'm not sure about the weight yet. The density of the wood for the handle is going to call the shots at this point. If I keep the tsuka at 11 inches, it ought to weigh in at about 2.3 pounds. Got the tsuba fitted tonight. It looks O.K. in my book. It has a lot of relief in it so that will help keep the overall weight down.View attachment 827126
Click to expand...
Looks great. I love the functional iron Tsuba. I'll start rolling up beach mats...
 
Absolutely gorgeous work Mr Bookie! I’m a real fan of the katana! Back in the ‘80’s I was offered a Jim Crowell ladder pattern Damascus katana with the rayskin, silk, bells and whistles for $1500. I’ve kicked myself many times over!
I’ll probably kick myself again not trying to buy one from you!
It won’t be my last dumb mistake!
 
Thanks, Kamidog! By the by, do you want a piece (my very last one) of Danish flint about the size of a small fist? It is the dark gray flint, samo-samo English flint. I picked it up off a beach on the island of Lolland and brought it home. Kept is as a memento of Axel Jorgensen and his flint knapping. The stone has mini white cliffs of Dover chalk deposits on it, too.
 
I tell you what Doc! You send it to me and Ill send it back to ya! Might not weigh the same but would be fun to werk:thumbsup: It might be in a several pointy pieces too! Up to you my friend!
 
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