This piece is named for the silvery crescent moon in the drifting clouds of spalted pear tree on the saya. The moon was formed from a piece of forged nickel silver from a silver plated spoon. The handle wrap is attached with kusune (薬練, くすね, natural pine resin glue made from matsuyani). The process of creating the mounting for this blade may be seen here: https://islandblacksmith.ca/process/making-the-mikazuki-tanto/
The clay tempered blade blade construction is muku with a hira-zukuri shape. The habaki is hand forged from a large copper fuse connector and the tsuba and kashira are carved from partially fossilized cow bone. The seppa was made from the same spoon as the crescent moon. The handle is Nootka Cypress wrapped with black ray skin and the scabbard has been coated with pure tung oil. The blade is about 2.5″ long and the overall length when closed is just under 8″.
This piece is accompanied by a handmade lined silk koshirae bag, a handcrafted walnut kiribako style storage box, and a 40 page full colour hardcover book documenting its creation (Mikazuki Project Portfolio).
Material: Reclaimed farm harrow tooth steel, antique silver/nickel silver spoon, reclaimed copper fuse connector, partially fossilized cow bone, spalted Pear wood, ray skin, red bamboo chopstick, reclaimed Nootka Cypress, Pine resin glue, rice paste glue
This piece is in a private collection in Vancouver.
View the process of making this work | View the process photo essay