Tsukimi (autumnal moon watching) Tanto

[islandblacksmith]

(*opens workshop door, blinking at the harsh light*) ...just wrapped this one, the inspiration is a night out enjoying the bright orange moon of late Summer and early Autumn. Tsukimi means moon watching, and brings to mind a lovely harvest moon and the rustling sounds of the dry, frost coloured susuki grass as the evening breeze blows across the plateau. The blade is just under 11.5″ long, overall length is just under 17″, and the overall length when sheathed is just over 18.5″, all hand tools start to finish.

Materials: Reclaimed Caterpillar tractor pushrod steel, ocean-salvaged steel spike, silver and nickel-silver spoons, reclaimed souvenir buffalo horn, copper bus bar, copper water pipe, copper wire, Nootka Cypress, samegawa, red Bamboo chopstick, natural urushi

[video=vimeo;107195848]https://vimeo.com/107195848[/video]

Finished work: http://islandblacksmith.ca/2014/09/tsukimi-tanto/
Complete process photo essay: http://islandblacksmith.ca/process/making-the-tsukimi-tanto/

Nagasa: 9 sun 6 bu 5 rin (292mm)
Motohaba: 9 bu 2 rin (28mm)
Motokasane: 2 bu 4 rin (7.2mm)
Nakago: 3 sun 7 bu (112mm)
Sori: 5 rin (1.6mm)

Construction: hira-zukuri, iori-mune
Hamon: suguha hotsure, mizukage, utsuri
Boshi: yakitsume
Nakago: futsu, kuri-jiri, one mekugi-ana, signed near the tip
Mei: hot stamped katabami-ken logo

 

[AVigil]

Stunning work.

Amazing blade

 

[islandblacksmith]

Just a few highlights, those who know my 13th century working constraints have seen it all before I am sure, but there is a comprehensive photo essay and walk-through here:
http://islandblacksmith.ca/process/making-the-tsukimi-tanto/

Handmade softwood charcoal fueling the forge as the blade is formed and shaped with a hand hammer.

Before and after, blade forged from a Caterpillar tractor engine part. Elements of its form are based on the Aizu Shintogo Tanto (http://islandblacksmith.ca/2014/04/aizu-shintogo-kunimitsu-tanto-kata/).

The blade before hardening, after rough shaping with files and smoothing by drawfiling.

Clay layers dried and ready for yaki-ire.

Habaki formed, filed, and soldered.

Tsuba from steel salvaged from 30 feet under the Pacific Ocean. Forged copper sekigane keep the steel from contacting the blade.

Silver and nickel-silver spoons are cold forged, cold chiseled, hammer textured, and filed to make seppa.

Carving the split Nootka Cypress tsuka core to fit the tang.

Carving the handle to fit the fuchi and kashira.

Carving inside the split and hand planed Nootka Cypress saya.

Fitting the hand carved buffalo horn koiguchi onto the shoulder on the saya.

Creating the ring and plate style kurikata from reclaimed copper water pipe and wire.

Heat bluing the tsuba over the charcoal forge after polishing the rim and creating yasurime on the faces.

Steel powder from the rough polish of the blade along with a few of copper from the habaki are repurposed to create the ishime-ji (stone-face texture) by sprinkling into the third layer of natural urushi lacquer while wet.

Polishing the blade on natural Japanese waterstones to reveal the suguha hotsure hamon, utsuri, and mizukage.

The final step, koshirae parts waiting for assembly.

Detailed accounts of various stages of the process are documented here: http://islandblacksmith.ca/process/making-the-tsukimi-tanto/

 

[Storm Crow]

I haven't commented on your work before, but I sure have gotten a kick out of it every time you've posted it. Beautiful work, and the usage of salvaged materials adds to the interest for me.

 

[Mecha]

This is wonderful work, Islandblacksmith! Great photography and presentation, like a story.

 

[SBranson]

A very balanced piece. Nice work!

 

[Salem Straub]

I love what you're doing! Digging way down deep into fascinating soul smithing.

 

[i4Marc]

Extraordinary.

 

[Steve Randall]

Old world craftsmanship and salvaged materials . I like it a lot, very nice.

Steve

 

[Dawkind]

Superb....wonderful piece from beginning to end....congrats on such a great job.

 

[Lorien]

spoons!

 

[evanPGH]

Love the metalwork of the fittings on this one.

Beautiful as always my friend, some day I'll commission a full size piece from you