Description
Design a custom tanto mounted in the classical style of your choice. More info: Design Your Own Custom Tanto.
Variation shown: yasurime habaki, copper fuchi and kashira, iron tsuba, natural lacquered samegawa handle, and horn koiguchi. (read more info below)
Habaki / Blade Collar
- yasurime (linear texture)
- tsuchime (hammer peened texture)
- ishimeji (stone/frosted texture)
- or give unlimited creative license to the maker
Fuchi & Kashira
- both copper
- both iron
- copper fuchi / horn kashira
- iron fuchi / horn kashira
- copper fuchi / hardwood kashira
- iron fuchi / hardwood kashira
- or give unlimited creative license to the maker
Handle Reinforcement
- none (for hardwood handle)
- shikagawa (deer rawhide, must be paired with gangimaki, cotton, or leather wrap)
- samegawa (rayskin rawhide, can be lacquered, or paired with gangimaki or leather wrap)
Handle Wrap
- gangimaki (spiral seude wrap)
- leather lace ito (style of wrap depends on handle reinforcement)
- lacquered samegawa (handle reinforcement must be samegawa)
- hardwood (Sapele with fukiurushi lacquer finish)
- lacquered cotton cord (tough and utilitarian style)
- or give unlimited creative license to the maker
Mekugi
- bamboo (traditional style)
- lacquered bamboo (sealed end)
- or give unlimited creative license to the maker
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
Lacquer 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
Lacquer 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): 190-270mm
Motokasane (blade thickness): 5-7mm
Motohaba (blade width): 23-29mm
Sori (curve): uchizori
Nakago (tang): 100-110mm
Tsuka (handle): 100-110mm
Koshirae (overall): 320-400mm
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
Tsuba: forged copper bus bar, fuse bar, salvaged steel, or wrought iron
Fuchi: copper bus bar, salvaged steel, or wrought iron
Kashira: Oceanspray ironwood, Wenge, reclaimed horn, copper bus bar, salvaged steel, or wrought iron
Handle core: reclaimed Nootka Cypress or Sapele
Handle reinforcement: deer rawhide, ray rawhide
Handle wrap: reclaimed suede, leather lace, lacquered rayskin
Koiguchi: reclaimed horn, copper bus bar, salvaged steel, or wrought iron
Scabbard: reclaimed Nootka Cypress
Kurikata: Oceanspray ironwood, reclaimed horn
Finish: natural urushi lacquer, reclaimed crushed tea leaves
Mekugi (removable peg): Bamboo