Design Your Own: Forest Tanto

$1500$2450

The narrower blade profile of the forest style tanto 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 tanto mounted in the rustic satoyama tanto style of your choice. More info: Design Your Own Custom Tanto.

Variation shown: hammer finish blade, copper chisagatana guard, natural brown fukiurushi on handle, and natural brown ishimeji lacquered scabbard.

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: Charcoal forged knives from reclaimed steel.
Tsuchime (Hammer Finish)

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged tanto from reclaimed steel.
Kaji Togi (Stone Finish)
Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged tanto 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.
Antique Crimson Ishimeji

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)

Habaki

  • habaki (blade collar, improves hold in the scabbard)
  • without habaki (not recommended for large blades)

Guard Style

  • hamidashi (almost flush with the handle)
  • chisagatana (slightly extended around all sides)
  • nata (slightly extended/flared on the edge side)

Fuchi Style

  • cord wrap ferrule (lacquered cotton or hemp)
  • forged copper open ferrule
  • forged iron open ferrule

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 when used for fukiurushi, a dark chocolate 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)

Measurements

Nagasa (blade length): 200-220mm
Motokasane (blade thickness): 5-7mm
Motohaba (blade width): 24-28mm
Sori (curve): uchizori
Nakago (tang): 100-110mm
Tsuka (handle): 110-120mm
Koshirae (overall): 350-370mm

Potential Raw Materials

Blade: reclaimed file steel, harrow tooth steel, spring steel
Habaki (blade collar): forged copper bus bar
Tsuba (guard): forged copper bus bar, salvaged 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