Design Your Own: Kaiken Tanto

$2500$3300

The kaiken tanto was designed to be carried in the fold of a kimono and is characterized by a smooth profile and unadorned lacquered exterior.

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Description

Design a custom tanto mounted in the classical style of your choice. More info: Design Your Own Custom Tanto.

Variation shown: 8″ blade, yasurime habaki, forged copper seppa, natural brown ishimeji finish, and optional kurikata cord loop.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged tanto from reclaimed files.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged tanto reclaimed from farm equipment.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged tanto reclaimed from files.
Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Ishimeji (Stone Surface, in antique crimson)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Negoro (worn look, in natural and black)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Matte (smooth matte polish, in black)

Habaki Texture

  • yasurime (linear texture)
  • tsuchime (hammer peened texture)
  • ishimeji (stone/frosted texture)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Seppa Material

  • none (lacquer only)
  • forged copper (water pipe)
  • forged brass (door push plate)

Lacquer Finish

  • ishimeji (stone-like texture created with crushed tea leaves)
  • tsuya keshi (smooth matte surface layer)
  • negoro (“worn-look” matte surface done with two colors)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Lacquer Colour

  • natural (a red-brown when smooth, a dark chocolate when used for ishimeji)
  • black (very deep)
  • antique crimson (very deep red/brown with plum undertones)
  • black and red (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, varies greatly)
  • black and antique crimson (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, more subtle)
  • natural and black (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, very subtle)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Mekugi

  • bamboo (traditional style)
  • decorative (metal or capped style)

Kurikata Material

  • none (smooth, most common kaiken style scabbard)
  • wood (lacquered Oceanspray ironwood)
  • horn (cow or buffalo, availability/colour varies)

Measurements

Nagasa (blade length): 140-210mm
Motokasane (blade thickness): 5-7mm
Motohaba (blade width): 21-27mm
Sori (curve): uchizori
Nakago (tang): 90-100mm
Tsuka (handle): 90-100mm
Koshirae (overall): 270-350mm

Potential Raw Materials

Blade: reclaimed carriage spring steel
Habaki: reclaimed copper bus bar or fuse bar
Seppa: reclaimed copper water pipe, reclaimed brass door push plate
Handle and Scabbard: reclaimed Nootka Cypress
Kurikata: Oceanspray ironwood, reclaimed horn
Finish: natural urushi lacquer, reclaimed crushed tea leaves
Mekugi (removable peg): Bamboo