Process: Carving the Inside – Aikuchi Tanto Koshirae
In this video the tsuka is carved first, starting with the omote side and then the ura, carving each half from the mune to the ha. The saya is next, starting with the omote and then the ura, each half beginning with the fitting of the blade (from the mune towards the ha) and then…
Making a Swordsmith Anvil from Scrap
A Japanese swordsmith style anvil made from junkyard scrap. The two side pieces are cast steel or iron John Deere 8255C rear counterweights from a shovel dozer. They weigh about 200-240lbs each and measure about 2 1/8″ x 14 3/4″ x 25″. There is a ‘T’ shaped face and stem that extends to the ground…
Process: Making the Mountain Kotanto
The wider profile of the mountain style kotanto is inspired by a kamakura sword and has a more deeply curved tip (fukura-tsuku) and shorter drop point. The simple and humble mounting style is inspired by the age-old style of farming and foresting tools traditionally used in managing satoyama lands. Satoyama are the managed forest areas…
Arashiage – Hand Filing a Forged Tanto
Hand filing a classical tanto style blade forged from half of a reclaimed horse carriage leaf spring. (4x) Arashiage is the rough shaping stage that comes after hizukuri (fire shaping) and before yaki-ire (hardening). Serious students of the forge can read more and watch the full process version here.
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Sounds of the Workshop: Tanto Overview
The tools are simple and few, but the work is long and hard. A collection of clips documenting the steps and sounds involved at many stages of the process of crafting charcoal forged classical tanto and mountings from reclaimed materials. Footage from several recent projects is included, some extended and some previously unreleased, some from…
Opening Shirasaya
1. Never pull or jerk the blade out with the power of your arms or you will lose control of the blade and possibly damage the saya (scabbard), yourself, or others. Use only small hand muscle movements to loosen it before drawing. 2. When unsheathing, make sure the edge is up, then pull just enough…
Testing Blacksmithing Charcoal
More about making softwood charcoal: How Charcoal is Made
Crossed Heart Forge Maker Video By Stria
Created by team Stria
Making Charcoal for Blacksmithing
More about making softwood charcoal: How Charcoal is Made
Forged from Farm Scrap – the Culinary Knife Project
Forging a spring tip cheese knife, along with some finished works from the Culinary Project.
PKN16 Presentation: Before & After
See the finished Mikazuki Kotanto project: Mikazuki Kotanto
Chopping charcoal (sumi-kiri)
More about making blacksmithing charcoal: How Charcoal is Made
Sharpening a Nata (variation of a Japanese brush knife)
Sharpening a Kama (Japanese farmer’s sickle)