Tsukimizu Tanto

Tsukimizu (月水, “tsu-key-me-zoo”) literally translates “moon-water” and carries the idea of the reflection of the moonlight in the ripples of a pond or stream. The name is drawn from the layered steel ripples along the edge of the hamon and also ties into the motifs of the fittings. This is a unique combination of a satoyama mountain tanto with a full classical chisagatana mounting incorporating antique sword fittings in kura style, a satoyama blade that displays and carries like a classical tanto.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

The core of this project is a charcoal-forged blade, water quenched with clay and sharpened with waterstones, an outdoor knife that has the foundation of the Japanese sword. The chisagatana mounting is in the rustic kura (蔵, storehouse) style and includes antique fittings from swords carried centuries ago.

Satoyama are the managed forest areas that border the cultivated fields and the mountain wilds in Japan. Historically they provided soil nutrients, firewood, edible plants, mushrooms, fish, and game, and supported many local industries and crafts such as farming, timber construction, and charcoal making. The interaction of forest, arable land, wetlands, and streams are an important component of the satoyama landscape.

The subtle appearance of hammer marks on the blade, the rustic carved and lacquered wooden scabbard, paired with antique sword fittings—treasures from the kura storehouse. A hand crafted tool for adventure mounted in a classical tanto koshirae.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Forged from century-old pre-industrial blister or shear steel from a mining car rail, the blade retains some of the original pitting along with some forged hammer texture but was partially polished before yaki-ire to reveal some of the layering in the steel. The wider blade profile of the mountain style tanto is based on proportions of a classical katana and this blade has a very slight drop point. The temper of this high carbon steel blade has been left relatively hard in order to hold a keen edge. This particular combination of old steel and heat treatment is well suited to users who require a good edge and are willing to take care of it.

The tang is constructed in a similar manner to a Japanese sword requiring only a single bamboo peg to hold the knife assembly together. In addition to the sense of beautiful simplicity, this design allows the knife to be taken apart for cleaning, polishing, detailed cutting tasks, or major resharpening work.

Six antique Edo period sword fittings are incorporated into the mounting of this knife—the copper habaki (blade collar), the shakudo fuchi (ferrule, of copper and gold alloy) with inlaid copper crescent moon and clouds, brass ripple inlaid iron tsuba (hand guard, attributed to the Omori school, late 17th century), gold overlaid copper seppa (blade washers), and gold overlaid shakudo koiguchi (scabbard mouth, copper and gold alloy). Additionally, the buffalo horn kurikata (cord loop) appears to vintage or older, and the samegawa (ray skin) handle under-wrap was carefully repurposed from an antique sword handle.

The core of the handle is carved from Magnolia, fully wrapped with antique samegawa, and finished with traditional leather tsukamaki in the style of tomaki nihon kumiage. The mekugi (removable peg), kashira (pommel), and kurikata (cord loop) are made from water buffalo horn. The scabbard is carved from Magnolia, left with subtle planed facets, and lacquered in a deep reddish colour made from multiple layers of unfiltered black urushi and natural tree-source urushi.

Along with the lovely antique fuchi, one of the crowning details of this mounting is the antique Omori school tsuba (hand guard) crafted for tanto in the late 1600s (early Edo period) in Japan, a collector’s piece on its own. The tsuba features patinated refined tamahagane iron with wide forged mimi around the rim, carved and inlaid with twenty individual pieces of brass depicting two reflecting ripples in a pond and imitating repetitions of the crescent moon form.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

The blade is just under 7.5″ long with an overall length of just over 12.5″ and 15″ when sheathed. The spine at the munemachi is 6.5mm thick.

Specifications

長さ/刃長 Nagasa (blade length): 188mm
重ね/元重 Motokasane (spine thickness): 6.5mm
元幅 Motohaba (blade width): 32mm
反り Sori (spine curve): muzori/uchizori (almost straight, very slight drop point)
中心/茎 Nakago (tang length): 99mm
柄長 Tsuka (handle length): 117mm
拵全長 Koshirae (overall): 380mm

形 Katachi (geometry): hira-zukuri, iori-mune, with slight ubuha
刃文 Hamon (edge pattern): suguha with ko-notare
帽子/鋩子 Boshi (tip pattern): ko-maru
中心/茎 Nakago (tang): futsu, kuri-jiri, one mekugi-ana
銘 Mei (signature): mumei (unsigned)
拵 Koshirae (mounting): satoyama kura style chisagatana, issaku (sole authorship) plus 7 antique parts

Materials: antique mining car rail steel, Magnolia, water buffalo horn, antique samegawa, leather cord, antique fittings, natural-source urushi lacquer

This piece is available online.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.


Process

This blade was forged and yaki-ire was performed at the museum forge. It began as a century-old mining car rail that was heavily pitted by rust. The handle and scabbard were crafted at the museum during the summer demonstrations.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
This blade was forged from the web of a century-old mining car rail that was deeply pitted by rust.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The steel is very rare and unique in that it is pre-industrial, a form of blister or shear steel that retains layering from the process of refining it under a steam hammer.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
This blade was forged from a scrap of the web between the base and the top of the mining car rail.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
View of the traditional charcoal forge during the forging of this blade.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The sunobe (blade pre-form) allocates the correct amount of steel to each area of the blade and establishes the tapers, note that the edge is facing upwards.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The bevels forged in, only hammer work up to this point to preserve the entire original volume of steel as much as possible before filing to clean up the profile.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
After a bit more adjustment and cleanup before filing in the final details.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
After filing the notches and profile and cleaning some of the surface scale by drawfiling, the steel is normalized by thermal cycling to relieve stresses.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Applying the clay for yaki-ire, it will delay the cooling effect and produce a hardened edge with a tough spine.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
After yaki-ire some of the layers in the steel are visible along the edge of the hardened hamon area.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
An antique katana habaki which has some battle damage will be re-soldered and fit to this blade.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
After forging the split shut, silver and borax are placed along the joint. At this point the habaki is slightly undersized for the tang.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Carefully heating the habaki in an “oven” made of charcoal to maintain a reducing atmosphere.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Once the silver liquifies and flows into the joint the habaki is quickly removed from the forge and allowed to cool slowly.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The habaki is cold forged to harden it while it stretches enough to fit over the tang snugly.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The Magnolia is marked and handsawn in half to form the cores of the tsuka (handle) and saya (scabbard) and flattened inside with a kanna (handplane).
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
After choosing the best grain direction, the tsuka (handle) blocks are carved inside to fit the tang precisely.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The tsuka is glued back together with sokui (rice paste glue), wrapped with leather, and wedged for tension overnight to dry.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Preparing the inside surfaces of the scabbard with a kanna (handplane).
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The saya (scabbard) blocks are carved inside to fit the blade precisely.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The saya is glued back together with sokui (rice paste glue), wrapped with leather, and wedged for tension overnight to dry.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The tsuka block is shaped with kiridashi (carving knives) and kanna (hand planes) based on the size and shape of the fuchi (ferrule).
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The form is set by carving and then adjusted with a small rasp or file.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Half of the samegawa (ray skin) from an Edo period katana handle will be repurposed, here wet formed and wrapped to dry to the shape of the tsuka.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The profile of the saya is planed into the scabbard block.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Using the antique koiguchi fitting for reference, the shape is roughed in using kanna, refined with kiridashi, and finished with small files. Note the shaving in the scabbard mouth to prevent small chips from getting wedged inside while working.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
A small shoulder is carved for the antique koiguchi band to reinforce the scabbard mouth.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
At this point the antique sword fittings have been integrated into the koshirae (mountings).
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
A hole is drilled in the nakago (tang) and the tsuka (handle) then the mekugi is carved from water buffalo horn and adjusted to fit.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Preparing for tsukamaki (handle wrapping), even the hishigami (paper diamonds) under the wrapping will be repurposed from an Edo period sword! The kashira (pommel) is made from water bufffalo horn.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
The samegawa has been patched in one place previously, indicating that this is not the first time it has been repurposed from one sword to another. It is attached to the tsuka with sokui (rice paste glue).
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
In the right light it can be seen that the suguha hamon has taken on some undulating patterns due to variations in the layers of steel.
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
All parts of the koshirae carefully fit and finished, prepared for final assembly. The kashira, koiguchi, and kurikata have been attached using nikawa (膠, にかわ, natural hide glue).
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Direct light reveals some of the deep texture and colour variations in the scabbard, created by layering and selectively polishing thin layers of black and natural urushi over the wood grain.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.


Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.


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