Justin Carnecchia Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Hi, this is a osoraku-zukuri tanto that I have been working on for the last couple months. Around 3,600 layers of W-2 and 1075. Lots and lots of sanding on this one, getting the ridge line right took me a couple days at 180g. Just about done (at least with the polishing), just a little more to bring out a little more contrast between the hamon and the ji. Also a little more refining of the kissaki section, it is hard to get it nice and even polishing perpendicular to the blade. Sorry for the poor pictures, I'll get some better ones when the project is finished. thanks for looking, feedback is always welcome. -Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Man, your making my arm hurt just thinking about that much sanding :o. Can't wait to see it fininshed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Dave Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 3,600 layers. To the non-blade person, does that mean you forged welded it, cut it in half, and forged welded again, cut and forged again, X @...#e.&%+=3,600 layers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Carnecchia Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Yeah, except I cut it in 3-4 pieces each time. The 3,600 is just an estimate, when they get that thin there is no way of telling how many were lost to decarb and grinding off scale and inclusions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 What kind of power hammer do you have? I'm worn out after a couple of folds. It would take years for me to hammer that out. Power hammer or arms so big you can't scratch your own nose.. :lol: I gotta know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhartironwerks Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Nice work! I'm anxious to see the finished blade. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Carnecchia Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 I have a hydraulic press. Yeah, I've done damascus by hand and I wouldn't do it again. Thanks John, I'm pretty anxious to see it all together myself. I've been at it a couple months and I'm ready for a new project :lol: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalmangeler Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 With that many layers will you be able to see them? As ussual a nice active hamon. When you do consistantly nice work people begin to expect it, you need to be carefull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Carnecchia Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 Thank you, the layers are subtle on this blade. At this many layers they become more like the grain of the steel. Personally I was expecting the layers to come out clearly when I etched the blade but it didn't really happen. So a few hours of polishing later the layers are visible but they don't stand out. Having only seen Japanese blades in pictures it is hard to tell but I believe it can vary quite a bit blade to blade. I've seen some where the grain or "hada" is very subtle, and so refined it is almost uniform, others where it has been manipulated to produce obvious patterns. It is important to remember though that the Japanese were not folding the steel to necessarily create a pattern welded affect but rather to refine the steel. So my blade is an imitation of what they were doing but with modern steel. The customer and I decided on a layered blade to add that aesthetic to the project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loneforge Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 That Hamon looks like water......Can't wait to see it finished. Nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Carnecchia Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 So here it is pretty much done. I still have to work on the fit of the saya, it is too tight right now, but other than that it's done. I'll try to get some better pics in the next few days. Thanks for looking, Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loneforge Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Awesome job, That is gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
switchjv Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Gorgeous! Beautiful work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tantofolder Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Beautiful craftsmanship! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhartironwerks Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 awesome! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Carnecchia Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Thanks everyone, this was definitely a learning process. I can see why in Japan the crafting of a sword is broken up between four different craftsmen, each with lengthy apprenticeships. Given that I'm just the smith I'm happy with how everything else came out. Thanks again, Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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