WIP Traditional tanto

I got a bit more work done, the habaki is finished and only needs the decorative filing done with a dull fine to create the right surface. The tsuba is underway but the kogai hitsu-ana and kozuka hitsu-ana (the outside two holes) still need a lot of work.

Filing the nakago-ana for a good fit.
tsuba001.jpg

tsuba003.jpg

tsuba.jpg
 
Thanks, its finally gotten above freezing so its actually enjoyable to work in the shop now. :thumbup:
 
Well its going, waiting for the wood to arrive... USPS has been losing my mail lately.. and opening my package of silver bars :confused::mad: Anyways the kogai and kozuka are ready to be cast from silver once I get another ounce.

kogaihitsu-ana001.jpg


kogaihitsu-ana002.jpg
 
I have the wood and silver now so progress can continue again. I'm having a bit of a dilemma, there is a small gap between the silver and the tsuba; and I don't know if I want to leave it as "character" or try to fix it. Any thoughts? Also yes that is a nick in the blade from the file slipping off the habaki, gotta fix that too :p.
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Dan---Looking good. :)
I can't offer advice for your dilemma.
You'll get advice.
 
Maybe you could build it up with a little silver solder? And yes, before I'm too criticized for that, I know it's not for gap filling but for this instance I think it would work...
 
I consider gap filling kinda cheating, for me to fix this I would need to rework the habaki a little in the back. Not much work just easy to screw up. Thanks for the input though. :)

Thanks Lycosa, I sharpened my chisels last night in preparation for starting the tsuka and saya... daaaaang 8000 grit makes anything look pretty hehehe.
 
Hey Dan,

I think you should try to get the habaki to seat flat against the spacer, the tsuba can put a lot of force on it and work it loose, and it looks like it's almost there, just needs a hair adjustment.

As a matter of personal preference I think the habaki looks better when the gap at the ha machi is smaller, looks like you made the machigane too wide, but overall it looks very good, nice work.
 
Thanks for the kind words Luke. I did a 70% fix of the gap between the spacer and habaki today and re-soldered the habaki to get rid of the ugly gap that was bothering me. I'm going to finish polishing the blade before I make the tsuba and saya.

I need to order more satanite so I can cast the kozuka and kogai...

The beautiful jatoba that is going on this blade came from Mr. Sheridan, thanks again Luke!

-Dan
 
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