Tanto, grenedillo, water quench hamon on 1095

Knifemaker87

Knifemaker87

Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
1,073
This is something that i kinda "threw together" after a cracked a blade on saturday. i had the blade blank cut out, but i made it not caring as much how it turned out. it is a semi flat grind, filed and hand sanded. it is what the japanese smiths call an "appleseed" profile it is slightly convex. i quenched it in water and it hsa s very unique hamon. it actually has a "blip" in it. i am not usre what to make of it, but it is really hard!
the handle is grenedillo wood secured by two 3/16 brass pins. the steel is 3/16" 1095 high carbon steel. the blade is down to 2500 grade paper.

comments and criticizim is welcome and asked for.

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thanks for looking!
~Chris
 
Sometimes ones on inspiration leads them to something good. I think that worked out very nice, good clean lines, sweet blade. How long is the handle and blade.

I forget do you make sheaths?

Keep them coming :thumbup:

PS: I would ask the senior knife maker's about the blip, sounds like a good learning experience could be available.
 
i dont make good sheaths. but i do make slip sheathes. i am working on making Kydex. i know HOW... i just dont have the funds right now, i blew the head gasket in my truck... so i am going low expense right now.
thanks very much!
i will ask the older guys
~Chris
 
Chris,
Awhile ago you posted a more traditional interpretation of this style blade. I responded with an opinion and you asked what I thought might be done differently... Sorry I didn't get back to you on that... But you've already incorporated one of my preferences...

On the first one you posted, I prefer more of a curve to the spine - not downward, but gracefully, and subtley, upward - this is what it appears you have done with this effort!!! IIRC, most of the traditional Japanese versions that I have seen and have prefered demonstrated that kind of arc to the overall apperance...

My only other preference, on the original one, would have been a different style tsuba - instead of the file work on the outer rim, either coining the edge, or rounding the edge off and making the rest of the tsuba thinner than the edge would be my preferences.. if that makes any sense???

Either way, you are definitely on track to making some nice knives!
Good luck and keep up the good work! :thumbup:
:cool:
 
joeshredd
hey thanks alot!
i love the upward curve as well... on the tradtional one the heat treat was supposed to curve it... but i didnt put clay on teh spine so it hardened (therefore no curve) this on is actually perfectly flat, but becaue of the grind it looks curved. rather graceful i thought.

as to the tsuba i know EXACTLY what you are talking about, but i dnt know how to accieve the thicker edge and thinner inside. it is rather traditional but i cant figure out how to do it "cleanly" you know? any help there would be nice.

thanks!
~Chris
 
Chris,
I'm not a maker! LOL!! I just collect purty stuff!! LOL!!! :D
But, IIRC, traditionally, especially the non- mokume style tsubas may actually have been cast. As to the others, I think they were probably carved... Hence the traditional bladesmithing was one process, the furniture were another artisan's bailiwick, the handle maker and the scabbard maker being a whole 'nother ball'o'wax! A community process and you're trying to learn it all... My only "advice" would be to visit Don Fogg's website, and any of the other makers who do the stuff you're trying to learn and go from there...
Otherwise, I think you have a good start in the right direction!
Good luck and Happy Hammerin'! :thumbup:
 
joe,
heh, the whole knife making thing... i personally would be content to just do the blades, but i enjoy the handles as well... though with no equipment other than a old hand drill and files, the hardware isnt as fun. but one i have it made then it is much more funner! so once i can afford some real equipment i think that the handle making part will be more fun.
i think that i have read everything on Don's website at least twice, and i keep going back. i'm on his boards too. great stuff there
thanks for the info! keep it coming, heaven knows i need it
~Chris
 
A great looking knie. I would have loved to see what the knife you would have made out of the blade that ended up with the stress fractures would have looked like. Are you planning on making another blade like that one?
 
I know you posted one for sale a while ago. I hope it sold you put allot of hand made labour into it.

If you make a knife that you feel is good enough to be used let me know? I'll try to support you by buying in the future.
 
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