Design Your Own: Forest Kotanto

$875$1450

The narrower blade profile of the forest style kotanto is based on a yoroidoshi tanto and has a takenoko (bamboo shoot) shape and gradual drop point.

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Description

Design a custom kotanto blade mounted in the rustic satoyama kaiken style of your choice. More info: Design Your Own Custom Outdoor Knife.

Variation shown: hammer finish blade, copper seppa, and natural brown ishimeji lacquer on handle and scabbard.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed files.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed farm equipment.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives reclaimed from harrow teeth.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Tsuchime (Hammer Finish)

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Kaji Togi (Stone Finish)
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Togi (Polished Finish)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Fukiurushi (Wiped Surface)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Ishimeji (Stone Surface)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Negoro (two colour “worn” fukiurushi) in natural and black

Blade Finish

  • tsuchime – hammer texture (as-forged surface shows marks of hammer and fire)
  • kaji togi – stone finish (blade is smoothed with files and a coarse stone before hardening)
  • togi – polished (blade is smoothed with fine stones after hardening)

Kurikata Placement

  • none (no cord loop, smooth kaiken style scabbard)
  • tanto (loop on omote side for edge-up cross draw)
  • nata (loop on ura side for edge-back right hand side carry)

Lacquer Finish

  • fukiurushi (smooth wiped-on layer, often in natural brown colour)
  • ishimeji (stone-like texture created with urushi and crushed tea leaves)
  • negoro (“worn-look” fukiurushi done with two colors)
  • lacquered cord wrap (full handle wrap, saturated with urushi)
  • or some combination (including giving unlimited creative license to the maker)

Lacquer Colour

  • natural (a red-brown colour when used for fukiurushi, a dark chocolate brown when used for ishimeji)
  • black (shows some wood through with fukiurushi, very deep black with ishimeji)
  • antique crimson (very deep red/brown with plum undertones)
  • black and red (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, varies greatly)
  • natural and black (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, more subtle)
  • natural and red (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, more subtle)
  • or some combination (including giving creative license to the maker)

Approximate Measurements

Nagasa (blade length): 100-130mm
Motokasane (blade thickness): 4-6mm
Motohaba (blade width): 22-26mm
Sori (curve): uchizori/takenoko
Nakago (tang): 90-100mm
Tsuka (handle): 100-110mm
Koshirae (overall): 220-260mm

Potential Raw Materials

Blade: reclaimed file steel, harrow tooth steel
Seppa (guard): forged copper washer, brass door plate, steel, or wrought iron
Handle and scabbard: Nootka Cypress, hemp or cotton cord wrap
Finish: natural urushi lacquer, crushed tea leaves
Mekugi (removable peg): Bamboo, hardwood