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Sun-nobi Tanto, Stuart Branson - WIP - Coop pics added!
- Thread starter RogerP
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- Feb 28, 2002
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As you may have guessed, while the WIP has just started, the project is a good deal further advanced - so it will be presented at an accelerated pace.
This was Stuart's update on the handle:
"I have been working on the handle and here's a few pics.
I did the final shaping of the wood core. It always amazes me how thin it gets but I'm doing a full same wrap so it'll be very strong. "
Roger
This was Stuart's update on the handle:
"I have been working on the handle and here's a few pics.
I did the final shaping of the wood core. It always amazes me how thin it gets but I'm doing a full same wrap so it'll be very strong. "
Roger
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I like the chosen fittings very much
I like your choice in Saya also. Scott Slobodian did some wonderful figured wood Saya's and I am sure this one will come out equally nice.
Will it be lined with a softer wood HO wood or poplar ?
Many years ago Michael Bell did a Saya for me where the outer layer was Paduk and the inner I believe HO wood with buffalo horn fittings
I like your choice in Saya also. Scott Slobodian did some wonderful figured wood Saya's and I am sure this one will come out equally nice.
Will it be lined with a softer wood HO wood or poplar ?
Many years ago Michael Bell did a Saya for me where the outer layer was Paduk and the inner I believe HO wood with buffalo horn fittings
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- Feb 28, 2002
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Hi Joe - I'll let let Stuart answer that one. Slobodian is actually the reason I favored a saya of this kind. I've seen many beautiful examples of his work.
Backing up just a git, here is a series on fabricating the habaki. Stuart did two at the same time - one for my blade and another for a smaller blade that you will see in the photos.
Backing up just a git, here is a series on fabricating the habaki. Stuart did two at the same time - one for my blade and another for a smaller blade that you will see in the photos.
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- Feb 28, 2002
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I also had a fair bit of choice for the menuki, and settled on the fox - or Kitsune
per Stuart: " In Japanese mythology the fox or Kitsune is a very interesting creature. It's a magical shapeshifting being from Shinto beliefs. If you are interested you can read about it here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune
Next up, wrapping the handle:
These videos show the process:
[youtube]fHykRy1LaF8[/youtube]
[youtube]yu62rcIE0xc[/youtube]
And a pic:
The brown wrap over natural same was selcted to compliment the saya - and as you will see shortly, it does just that.
Roger
per Stuart: " In Japanese mythology the fox or Kitsune is a very interesting creature. It's a magical shapeshifting being from Shinto beliefs. If you are interested you can read about it here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune
Next up, wrapping the handle:
These videos show the process:
[youtube]fHykRy1LaF8[/youtube]
[youtube]yu62rcIE0xc[/youtube]
And a pic:
The brown wrap over natural same was selcted to compliment the saya - and as you will see shortly, it does just that.
Roger
Matthew Gregory
Chief Executive in charge of Entertainment
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Stunning. Stuart is my hero.
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This is coming along nicely.
Thank you for posting the photos and videos.
Thank you for posting the photos and videos.
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- Feb 28, 2002
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Thanks gents.
Let's move to the saga of the saya. Mark (itsaburl) was kind enough to send Stuart a long block of walnut that he felt might serve.
Stuart sent me the pic:
I was all, like, "Umm, uh, well it's definitely wood... but.., ah...."
Well, Stuart assured me that it was MUCH more promising in person than the photo suggested - some nice figure and colour, etc.
I was still, like, "Um, are you suuuuure?"
But I know two things" Mark knows his stuff and so does Stuart. Both of them had the wood in hand, I didn't. I said roll with it. As you will see, I would be very glad that I did.
Before we get to that, though, here are a series of pics of fitting the horn collar on the saya. Stuart explained the traiditonal use of this material in this application:
By the way, the buffalo horn pieces I was going to use are bought directly from a Japanese sword fittings supplier and are used on almost every saya without issue. The reason it's better than wood, in this application is that when banding the mouth of the saya, the piece gets quite thin. Wood grain would be weak at those points and negate the purpose. The homogenous structure of the horn doesn't have the "grain" weakness problem and as such serves the purpose to strengthen the weakest, most stressed part of the saya.
Let's move to the saga of the saya. Mark (itsaburl) was kind enough to send Stuart a long block of walnut that he felt might serve.
Stuart sent me the pic:
I was all, like, "Umm, uh, well it's definitely wood... but.., ah...."
Well, Stuart assured me that it was MUCH more promising in person than the photo suggested - some nice figure and colour, etc.
I was still, like, "Um, are you suuuuure?"
But I know two things" Mark knows his stuff and so does Stuart. Both of them had the wood in hand, I didn't. I said roll with it. As you will see, I would be very glad that I did.
Before we get to that, though, here are a series of pics of fitting the horn collar on the saya. Stuart explained the traiditonal use of this material in this application:
By the way, the buffalo horn pieces I was going to use are bought directly from a Japanese sword fittings supplier and are used on almost every saya without issue. The reason it's better than wood, in this application is that when banding the mouth of the saya, the piece gets quite thin. Wood grain would be weak at those points and negate the purpose. The homogenous structure of the horn doesn't have the "grain" weakness problem and as such serves the purpose to strengthen the weakest, most stressed part of the saya.
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Ahh, Sapporro! Now I understand the key ingredient.
Very good, Stuart.
John
Very good, Stuart.
John
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Ha Ha John... I wondered if someone would notice that.
I'll reserve comment on much until later. Joe, the saya is not lined. Walnut is harder than alder for sure but it is much softer than Padauk on the Janka scale. As far as acidity and such, I cannot find information contraindicating it's use in this application.
I'll reserve comment on much until later. Joe, the saya is not lined. Walnut is harder than alder for sure but it is much softer than Padauk on the Janka scale. As far as acidity and such, I cannot find information contraindicating it's use in this application.
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Learning a lot from this one. Great project Roger & Stuart!
- Joe
- Joe
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