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): 170-200mm
Motokasane (blade thickness): 5-7mm
Motohaba (blade width): 28-32mm
Sori (curve): uchizori
Nakago (tang): 100-110mm
Tsuka (handle): 110-120mm
Koshirae (overall): 320-340mm

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