tanto help

[JTknives]

i must say i have onley tryed making a tanto once befor and that was when i was still learning, wate im allwase learning. any way, what i have got is some 1" x 1/8" x 13" pg bar of o1. i looked at it the other day and thought to my self, self that would make a sweet knife. i also have a 9" x 1/4" by 1 1/4" chunck of L6, which steel do you think would make a good tanto. i just thouht about the L6 while i was posting this. also is 1/8 to thin for say a 10" blade. I will be doing a solid cocobolo wood handle and sheath with probabley some type of inlay. whats the best way to do a wooded sheath, i have seen them made from 2 halves glued togather and some made from 3 sections where the center section is cut out to the blade shape. one more question, should i glue the haldle to the tang or shold it be pined with one pin like the old types.thanks for you help with my many questions

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A bunch of questions -
1) use the O-1. 1/8" is fine for a 10" tanto (4.5" handle,5.5" blade).It is a simpler HT,too.
2) The sheath is best a two part one for this type of knife.Done right it will not show a seam.
3) The handle can be mortised to fit the tang nice and snug (made in two pieces,then glued together),and pined on with one bamboo peg only,or glued on and use a mosaic pin (I like this the best).The one pin will be plenty if the handle is properly fitted.
4) Cocobolo makes a very nice tanto.Keep the sheath and handle fairly narrow,or it will be too heavy.Cocobolo can be sanded to 1/16" thick with no problems (but you don't need to go that far).The cross section should be a narrow elipse.The important thing is to mortise the sheath and handle for a perfect fit,no slop.I sometimes line the sheath with kip leather,which I oil lightly after the sheath is done (use a long Q-tip,I use choji oil).A lined sheath will hold the blade quite firmly,but not bind on drawing the knife.
Let us see pictures when it gets done.
Stacy

 

[JTknives]

thanks so much for your help with this problem, well its not a problem its an adventure realy. ya i did not think the O1 would be a problem onley being 1/8, this will make the blade haver a thiner conver taper and should cut very nice. im thinking of using a coin my grama gave me for the hilt. its from when she and my mom went to japan for the olympics. its solid silver and has the famous mountian on one side but the problem is the its about 1" around so i could have to cut down the sides. its this a good idea or should i use a chunk of O1

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The coin would be sentimental,but most of the detail would be lost when a 1"X1/2" ellipse is made from it.Still,it might be a neat thing.I would use mokume'.

 

[JTknives]

ya i was looking at it and i would loose most of the detale like you said. plus i think i should keep the coin as a coin and not a knife.