blade

wWAKASASHI

This is the first thing I made

after I built my forge in the back yard. It was a high school graduation gift for my Daughter.

Steel is L-6

Fittings are Nickel Silver

Wood is Coco Bolo

WAKASASHI

The temper line is uneven in this blade. Shows what lack of practice will get you.

PLANE BLADE

This is a Japanese style plane blade made from pattern welded steel. The body of the blade was folded 5 times.

BOKUTO

Not really a blade but I use this while practicing Kendo Kata. If you look close you can see the dings in it from impacting other bokuto.

Wood is Macassar ebony

SHOTO

This is the companion to the sword at right.

I usually make a set of these as the prize at our bi-annual Kendo Taikai here in Dallas.

PLANE BLADE

This is the cutting edge side of the blade above. I folded high and medium carbon steels 15 times and welded it to the main body of the blade. This was done on the recommendation of an old Japanese gentleman who said steel for razors was folded this many times. I nearly lost all my steel in the process and the cutting edge was not as good as if I had just welded a piece of W-2 to it. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

MOKUME TSUBA

This is a tsuba I made for a friend of mine's sword. It is copper, silver, shakudo and shibuichi. I made the shakudo and shibuichi myself in my forge. Forged it into plate, and fused it all in the forge also. It is great fun. Will be the subject of a tutorial over on the bladesmithing page in the future.

HABAKI

This is a habaki made for the same friends sword.

Copper with an antique finish.