Tanto(finished) and naginata(rough ground)

[Sam Salvati]

Here is a small tanto, I forged just the outline last year at my old shop, meant to send it to someone for them to file to shape but that fell through(weirdo). Ground a chisel edge onto it, and heat treated it and it is ready for mounting. No frills, flat grind on the platen up to the tip, and the tip is convex ground on a slack belt. Forged from old leaf spring. I left the rough hammer marks on the back and upper bevel, because it showed my early hammer technique and mess ups. It is MUCH more gorgeous effect in person up close, alas my camera does not do close ups well. AT the plunge cut, that is grease/oil, not a grinder screw up.

And here is the naginata i am working on from 5160.

Comments and critique welcome, i am JUST starting to make friends with the platen.

 

[Robert_Phelps]

Definitely want to see the naginata when it's finished. I love pole arms. Can't wait to start making that kind of stuff myself, actually. Where do you get quality long handle woods like that at?

 

[bryce]

They both look good

the hammer marks on the tanto look really distinctive

your constantly at work it seems lol
do you work fulltime too?

is the sword on the side for now or did you finish it too?

right now im spending all my time just trying to get all of my shop equipment working right and some time grinding because i really need to improve here lol

 

[Sam Salvati]

Thanks guys. BD, I don't think I will mount it, if anyone wanted to buy it it would be troublesome and expensive to ship, if nobody does wants to buy it though then I will mount it. Bryce, I work at a welding shop, and my shop is located in the same building(I rent), any free time i am not working in the welding shop i am working in my shop, days off I am in my shop, some times late nights I am in my shop.

 

[Sam Salvati]

Here is some better shots. I still have to bring up the "bevel"(deliniation from the hammer finish to the polished) towards the tip more, the platen offers amazing amounts of control but with a bit higher risk of use than the wheel, i am amased at how precise it can be.

 

[Sam Salvati]

Got the tang and shoulders defined a bit better.

Also got a bit of grinding done on a 1095 tanto, forged from a 6 inch section of 3/8ths thick 1 1/2 inch wide. It is Aldo's 1095, it forges very nice!

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Do you have any stats on the naginata (OAL, thick, blade...)?? I think if it were not for the wedding I have in July I may have been in the doghouse for picking that up from you- Looks really nice!!

 

[sunshadow]

Nice looking work Sam! your grinds cleaned up nice

-Page

 

[Sam Salvati]

Do you have any stats on the naginata (OAL, thick, blade...)?? I think if it were not for the wedding I have in July I may have been in the doghouse for picking that up from you- Looks really nice!!

22 1/4 overall, 6 1/2 inch tang, 16 1/2 inch blade(measured the whole curve). 1/4 inch thick. I'd say weighs about 1 1/2 pounds. I am going to have it mounted by a friend and fellow craftsmen Matthew Baldwin in a naginata naoshi style, basically mounted like a wakizashi with a bit longer handle. Congratulations on your wedding!

Thanks Page! they really are MUCH rougher looking than my crappy camera can pick up, hopefully they will clean up a bit better with the higher grit belts.

 

[steelshaper]

Looking good sam. Do you have a M setting on your camera? M is for macro and is used for close ups. The macro stting needs more light but should take better pics.
Hope this helps.

 

[Sam Salvati]

Thanks Bill, i have a very old early generation camera, it has macro but it sucks to use it. I just snaped a few quick pictures in the poor light in the house at the end of the night here at the house.

 

[swede2207]

naginata ..me likey!! later Luke