Tanto: aikuchi or hamidashi?

[Shadetree Phenolics]

I'm finally getting around to fitting up a tanto blade I've had for a bit.

I laid up some carbon fiber and copper colored silk for handle and saya and made up my first habaki.

I was intending to fit it with a small copper tsuba (fingerguard) but,

After I roughed in some black linen spacers I started to think it would look nicer without the tsuba. I will bring the linen spacers flush with the handle and Koshirae/ shirasaya (scabbard) with a copper (or brass) spacer and perhaps taper the handle a small bit.

If I add the tsuba I'll probably keep the saya and handle the same profile.

So what do you think? Should I add a tsuba or not?

Of course other suggestions welcome.

Thank you for looking

-Todd

 

[Knifemaker87]

Todd,
i like the tsuba!
I think it looks great. if it were me, (not telling you to do this, but..)
i would taper the handle a little bit towars the butt, and keep the spacer on the handle, but smooth it to match the saya. that is what I would do.. but it tlooks like the knife is in good hands.

Great job on the habaki!
thanks for showing
~chris

 

[Shadetree Phenolics]

Thank you , Chris.

I pretty much have come to the same conclusion as you. I'm going to make the whole thing the same profile, then put some taper on the handle.

I'll probably need another one soon to keep me busy. I'm having fun fitting these up. BTW, this one will be a take down.

Also, do you recall the steel on this one?

 

[Knifemaker87]

the blade is W1
be sure to post pictures when you are done! i think it is going to turn out GREAT!
so awesome
thanks for showing
~Chris

 

[Shadetree Phenolics]

Thanks, Chris Will do. You did the "hard" part (bad pun alert)


Getting closer, thin brass spacers roughed in:

I think it will need a little thicker brass spacer between the black linen ones, where the tsuba would be, only flush with the rest.

 

[Knifemaker87]

the brass looks fine to me.. it is an accent... i think it looks great!
thanks for showing.. keep us posted!
~chris

 

[Shadetree Phenolics]

It is getting closer.

I need to go to the hardware to get a fresh drill bit to to make the hole for the take down pin, after a tiny bit of final fitting. Then I will decide on whether or not to alter the handle profile further. I like how it looks just now.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks for looking