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Sounds of the Workshop: Finishing a Hon-Yaki Nata
Read more about the process of making a nata here: islandblacksmith.ca/2015/06/making-a-hon-yaki-nata/
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Yozakura Tanto
The nightime viewing of cherry blossoms by moonlight is cherished for the unique perspective and focus it brings to the experience. The dark tones of the sky and the gentle light of the moon provide subtle variations in colour, texture, and detail that cannot be fully appreciated by day. This piece is reserved in its…
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On Swordsmith Apprenticeship
A traditional apprenticeship does not consist of asking someone to “teach” you, instead it is asking to sit in a corner doing mundane repetitive work to build discipline while carefully observing a master at work to glean as much information as possible. This is not a bad thing by any means, but you need to…
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Kuromatsu Aikuchi Tanto
The Kuromatsu tanto with koshirae is named for a species of Black Pine (黒松) that grows near the seaside in Japan. The bark changes from grey to black as the tree matures and ages, symbolized by the colour and contrast of the smoother texture of the blade with the leathery texture of the darker scabbard.…
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Louie Mills – Full Process: Yakiire
Filmed by Tony Mann, edited by davej. Read more about the Louie Mills here. Thanks to Tony for inviting me to be part of this project, and to Louie for allowing us to publish the footage and for being one of the pioneers of traditional Japanese swordsmithing in North America…ありがとう、康友 さん！
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Louie Mills – Full Process: Forging a Tanto
Louie Mills began creating traditional Japanese swords in the early 1980’s. Working with top Japanese swordsmiths to refine his techniques, he became known for the finest traditionally crafted Japanese swords made in North America. This project is the first after his recovery from a heart attack three years earlier. oroshigane – 0:33 (making steel from…
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Louie Mills – Yasutomo – 康友 – Forging a Tanto
Recently I was invited to contribute to a project documenting the work of one of North America’s best-kept secrets in bladesmithing and the closest thing we have to a living (inter)national treasure. Louie Mills began creating traditional Japanese swords in the early 1980’s. Working with top Japanese swordsmiths to refine his techniques, he became known…
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Antique Hatchet Restoration
When I have time, I enjoy restoring old tools back to a more useful and beautiful state. The most fuel, energy, and time intensive part of making an axe from scratch is punching or forge welding to form the eye. When quality antique axe and hatchet heads can be found in scrap piles or at…
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Sounds of the Workshop: Aikuchi Tanto Urushi Lacquer
…a.k.a.: the *even* quieter edition. The final stages of finishing the aikuchi tanto. This is a collection of clips documenting the steps and sounds involved at most every stage of the process of hand lacquering a traditional aikuchi tanto mount made from reclaimed driftwood. Several of the layers have been omitted from the video when…
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Kuromon Aikuchi Tanto
Kuromon can be translated as “the black gate”. Designed around the concept of textural exploration as a companion project to Kuromatsu Aikuchi Tanto, this tanto with koshirae is a bold yet restrained piece that has the austere simplicity that appealed to the refined tastes of working samurai centuries before the Edo period. This tanto is…
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Sounds of the Workshop: Aikuchi Tanto Koshirae
…Sounds of the woodshop, that is…a.k.a.: the quiet edition. Sit back and chill to the sounds of sharp blades and smooth wood. This is a collection of clips documenting the steps and sounds involved at most every stage of the process of hand making a traditional aikuchi tanto mount from reclaimed driftwood. The project began…
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Classical Tanto Construction: Habaki の Machigane
Habaki is a non-ferrous collar for the blade that strengthens the base of the tang and holds the blade tightly in the scabbard. Often made of copper, it is composed of a large jacket and a small wedge that are forged and filed to shape and then soldered together before polishing and patinating. The topic…
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Tsukimi Tanto – Final Assembly
A quick clip of the final assembly of the Tsukimi Tanto. All parts of traditionally constructed tanto and koshirae fit together tightly and the assembly is locked together with a single bamboo peg. Each part fits only one way, even the bamboo peg has a specific alignment for maximum strength. Tsukimi means “moon watching” (in…
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Tsukimi Tanto
The bright orange moon of late Summer and early Autumn is the inspiration for this work. Tsukimi means moon watching, and brings to mind a lovely harvest moon and the rustling sounds of the dry, frost coloured susuki grass as the evening breeze blows across the plateau. The unusual ring and plate style kurikata is…
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Sounds of the Workshop: Creating a Tanto Blade
Just for fun! This is a collection of clips documenting the sounds involved at each stage of the process of making a traditional tanto blade from reclaimed steel. A little slower the second time in case you missed anything in the intro! The blade is based on design elements of the 13th century Aizu Shintogo…