Design Your Own: Aikuchi Tanto

$3250$4050

The aikuchi tanto is characterized by the meeting of handle and scabbard and may be fully lacquered or combined with a lacquered samegawa handle.

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Description

Design a custom tanto mounted in the classical style of your choice. More info: Design Your Own Custom Tanto.

Variation shown: 8″ blade, yasurime habaki, ironwood fuchi, koiguchi, and kurikata, black matte finish, and decorative mekugi.

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 tanto from reclaimed steel.
Fittings: Horn Koiguchi (shown before lacquering)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Fittings: Copper Koiguchi (with ring style kurikata)

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged tanto from reclaimed steel.
Handle: Samegawa (lacquered rayskin)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Lacquer: Ishimeji (stone look, in antique crimson)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Lacquer: Negoro (worn look, in natural and black)

Island Blacksmith: Traditional techniques and natural materials.
Lacquer: Matte (smooth matte look, in black)

Habaki / Blade Collar

  • yasurime (linear texture)
  • tsuchime (hammer peened texture)
  • ishimeji (stone/frosted texture)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Seppa Material

  • none (lacquer only)
  • forged copper (water pipe)
  • forged brass (door push plate)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Fuchi & Koiguchi

  • Oceanspray ironwood
  • horn (cow or buffalo, availability/colour varies)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Handle Finish

  • match scabbard lacquer
  • lacquered samegawa (various colours)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Mekugi

  • bamboo (traditional style)
  • decorative (metal or capped style)

Kurikata Material

  • wood (lacquered Oceanspray ironwood)
  • horn (cow or buffalo, availability/colour varies)
  • ring style (must be paired with a metal koiguchi)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Scabbard Finish

  • ishimeji (stone-like texture created with crushed tea leaves)
  • tsuya keshi (smooth matte surface layer)
  • negoro (“worn-look” matte surface done with two colors)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Scabbard Colour

  • natural (a red-brown when smooth, a dark chocolate when used for ishimeji)
  • black (very deep)
  • antique crimson (very deep red/brown with plum undertones)
  • black and red (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, varies greatly)
  • black and antique crimson (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, more subtle)
  • natural and black (streaked “negoro” or texture fill, very subtle)
  • or give unlimited creative license to the maker

Measurements

Nagasa (blade length): 170-240mm
Motokasane (blade thickness): 5-7mm
Motohaba (blade width): 22-28mm
Sori (curve): uchizori
Nakago (tang): 100-110mm
Tsuka (handle): 100-110mm
Koshirae (overall): 300-380mm

Potential Raw Materials

Blade: reclaimed carriage spring steel
Habaki: reclaimed copper bus bar or fuse bar
Seppa: reclaimed copper water pipe, reclaimed brass door push plate
Fuchi and Koiguchi: Oceanspray ironwood or reclaimed horn
Handle and Scabbard: reclaimed Nootka Cypress
Kurikata: Oceanspray ironwood, reclaimed horn
Handle wrap: lacquered rayskin
Finish: natural urushi lacquer, reclaimed crushed tea leaves
Mekugi (removable peg): Bamboo