Ninja-to.. Doing it all wrong again.. LOL..

[jlpservicesinc]

As usual I pick up and do things that should not be done according to everyone else.. 

With this I decided to bring a unique item to the NYSDB fall meet which I demonstrated at and this gave an opportunity to show the method.. Of course I suggested to use clean 1084 to the like to start the taco aspect.. But I just used a dirty old rasp and some mild steel with mill scale on it. 

I'll keep the thread updated as work progresses.. 

The basic method was shown, then I showed how to do the layout for the hilt and tip areas..  This was forged to shape. 

 

[Les L]

Very nice. Thanks for posting the pictures of the process 

[jlpservicesinc]

Thanks Les.. 

Latticino, you can see by the photos nearly all the hammer blows are in the middle of the flat..  I switched to a more rounded faced hammer which I should have just stuck with my dogs head.. would have been better.. 

The lines are decent.. 

Keeping the file flat is how the results are obtained. 

 

The tip is the hardest part as it's a diverging forging from the spine, the side bevel and then a slight upset where the tip joins the other 2. 

[arkie]

The sequence of photos shows the progress of the filing nicely...well done.  LOTSA FILING THOUGH!!!!

[jlpservicesinc]

Arkie, not that bad..  about 1hr. I use old horse rasps so the cut is very course. 

[arkie]

With the care and skill you impart on your work, that blade should turn out absolutely beautiful and functional.

[Davor]

That is cool. Do you do it by hand or with a power hammer? I can’t play the video, if you showed it there.

[jlpservicesinc]

Arkie,  I hope so..  Clay just came in today.. I have a few more moments to file the section that was not clean..  I stopped there because I wanted to straighten the blade some. 

I'll do the final clean up..  Problem I have now is the water in the trailer is to cold.. 

The rasp is about 1095 from what I have been told.. Way hard for a sword like this .50-.70 carbon is about right..   

I just wanted to see if I can pull it off..   Fingers crossed. 

Davor, by hand..  It only takes about 1hrs  to forge and weld the Sunobe..   Then about 1hr to 1.5hrs to forge it to shape. 

[Davor]

17 hours ago, jlpservicesinc said:

Davor, by hand..  It only takes about 1hrs  to forge and weld the Sunobe..   Then about 1hr to 1.5hrs to forge it to shape. 

+ how many years of acquiring the skill to do it in 2.5 hours? I love it, not having a power hammer myself this kind of thing is inspiring.

[jlpservicesinc]

Davor,  I think it has more to do with getting good instruction and spending time with knowledgable person who you want to emulate.   When I teach new people they seem to learn the fastest and have the least amount of problems.  

Often times it's hard for people to let go of an idea and exchange it for a new one. 

I'd suggest forging mild steel blades and then daggers until the process is easy..  Then take on swords..  There are some steps that make it a tad easier but the basics work very well. 

[bluerooster]

It appears that you forged in the curvature of the blade. Once you get it filed, and clayed, are you not worried that it will curve even more in the quench?  I forge my "hotdog/taco" (Kobuse) style as straight as I can. They take on the desired curve in the quench.

[jlpservicesinc]

Hello, sorry for the delay..  I've been so busy I have not been on here at all..  

The curve is pre planned based on experience and the desired belly..  

Few people outside of long term martial arts really understand how a sword cuts..  It's not a straight on hit unless you are trying to break a bone.. It's a slicing motion created by how the sword moves which for the most part is an arc.. 

[Frosty]

You busy?  I'll be looking forward to seeing the finished blade. Thanks for the look.

Frosty The Lucky.

[jlpservicesinc]

Frosty, it's a combination of things..    Maybe in the summer the sword will get finished..     

Most the time  since i have a fully functional sword to use, these types of things take a back seat until I find interest in them again.. 
 

[Frosty]

No need to explain Jennifer, you have to be one of the busiest most ambitious people I know. Putting things on the back burner until you're interested or obliged to finish them is How most of us are. 

I'm glad you're taking enough of a break today to bring us up to date, I enjoy your posts.

Frosty The Lucky.