Tim Zowada sword blade
I met Tim at The Knifemakers’ Guild show back in the late 1980s. After a long conversation with him, I commissioned a sword blade and here is what was delivered.
What I wanted was a Wakizashi length blade, one in which I could hold in my hand, and the tip of the blade would be just an inch from the earth. Also, I wanted conventional shoulders so that I would have an option as to what type of guard I would later make for it. Lastly, I wanted a tang with an integral bolt to give me another option for handle attachment and take down, if that was the version I chose to build.
Ultimately, Tim used his expertise and delivered a perfect sword blade. If you choose to, you can simply cut the bolt from the end of the tang, reshape and drill it and attach it the conventional way with a mekugi.
As you can see in the photographs, there is a small wrench, the actual nut, as well as an octagonal shaped pommel. The original pommel was round, but I reshaped it by hand because my thought at that time was to have a roughly octagonal shaped handle. This can be easily reshaped, or another can be made as the nut is a simple 90° arrangement. Tim made an ingenious three-pin head on the nut and a corresponding wrench.
In 2010, I became interested in making a handle for this but then I noticed that Tim had not put his maker’s mark on the blade, I contacted him, and he said to ship it back to him, which I did. It was soon returned with both his mark etched on the ricasso, as well as a bit of “spa treatment”. I remember Tim saying that “I have learned a bit since I made this”. It is near razor sharp.
This has been kept in my gun vault, covered with several coats of Renaissance wax.
Overall length = 34.5 inches, from the tip of the blade to the shoulders= 25 1/8, tang length from shoulders to the end of the bolt = 9 ½. Width at the ricasso = 1 3/8 inches. Total weight is 2 lbs. 1 oz.
As I remember, Tim said he forged this blade from W-2 steel and the initial bevels were hand forged as well.
Price shipped to you will be $750.00. If you wish to use PayPal G&S, the price is $777.00. Or, I will accept a USPS Postal money order and will ship when it clears. No other MO's accepted. A cashier's check will work and I will ship when it clears.
I have looked and have never seen another Tim Zowada sword. This would be a great project for someone who wants to make a scabbard and handle in the traditional Japanese style.
I met Tim at The Knifemakers’ Guild show back in the late 1980s. After a long conversation with him, I commissioned a sword blade and here is what was delivered.
What I wanted was a Wakizashi length blade, one in which I could hold in my hand, and the tip of the blade would be just an inch from the earth. Also, I wanted conventional shoulders so that I would have an option as to what type of guard I would later make for it. Lastly, I wanted a tang with an integral bolt to give me another option for handle attachment and take down, if that was the version I chose to build.
Ultimately, Tim used his expertise and delivered a perfect sword blade. If you choose to, you can simply cut the bolt from the end of the tang, reshape and drill it and attach it the conventional way with a mekugi.
As you can see in the photographs, there is a small wrench, the actual nut, as well as an octagonal shaped pommel. The original pommel was round, but I reshaped it by hand because my thought at that time was to have a roughly octagonal shaped handle. This can be easily reshaped, or another can be made as the nut is a simple 90° arrangement. Tim made an ingenious three-pin head on the nut and a corresponding wrench.
In 2010, I became interested in making a handle for this but then I noticed that Tim had not put his maker’s mark on the blade, I contacted him, and he said to ship it back to him, which I did. It was soon returned with both his mark etched on the ricasso, as well as a bit of “spa treatment”. I remember Tim saying that “I have learned a bit since I made this”. It is near razor sharp.
This has been kept in my gun vault, covered with several coats of Renaissance wax.
Overall length = 34.5 inches, from the tip of the blade to the shoulders= 25 1/8, tang length from shoulders to the end of the bolt = 9 ½. Width at the ricasso = 1 3/8 inches. Total weight is 2 lbs. 1 oz.
As I remember, Tim said he forged this blade from W-2 steel and the initial bevels were hand forged as well.
Price shipped to you will be $750.00. If you wish to use PayPal G&S, the price is $777.00. Or, I will accept a USPS Postal money order and will ship when it clears. No other MO's accepted. A cashier's check will work and I will ship when it clears.
I have looked and have never seen another Tim Zowada sword. This would be a great project for someone who wants to make a scabbard and handle in the traditional Japanese style.
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