W2 tanto w/sterling silver fittings

[Chris Moss]

hello everyone

 

Well, after a long while, this knife is up for sale for several reasons. This was made on commission, and was an evolution of design. It started out as a american tanto, then a habaki was added.. still with a wrapped handle, then what about a tsuba? oh what the heck..why not.. (the customer is never wrong) then why not throw a real handle on there.. and oh by the way the habaki the tsuba and menuki need to be silver... then... after completions.. silence.

 

So after sending half a dozen emails, and waiting six months, it is up for sale. (That, and my new wife needs books and classes paid for...)

 

here is the skinny:

 

15.5" oal 10" blade

forged W2 blade (hybrid polish)

cast and antiqued sterling silver habaki, menuki, and tsuba.

copper seppa

madegascar ebony tsuka

silk ito

 

I am asking $800 shipped for this knife. if you are interested PM or Email me at Knifemaker87@gmail.com. I prefer paypal but work with other forms of payment as well.

 

Also, i wanted to mention on the left side of the blade near the top of the kissaki there is a small surface imperfection. It was coming out as i ground then polished the blade, however i was unable to remove it completly. I you want a close-up i would be happy to provide one.

 

for more finished and WIP pictures go here: http://picasaweb.google.com/Knifemaker87/JaySTanto#

 

 

the silver has gotten darker since i took the first pics:

 

 

thanks for looking!

~Chris

Edited September 10, 2009 by Chris Moss

[Serge Panchenko]

Gorgeous work man! Sorry about that customer, good luck with the sale.

[John Smith]

Chris

 

That is a wonderful piece you have there. I love the high shinogi-ji. And The habaki is beautiful. Even though your boshi is a little short don't ya say?

 

 

As for the customer I think some of them like to do this and see how far you will go. This is why I always ask for 50% down before I even start, this gives them a vested interest in the project. And the other 50% on completetion.

[Chris Moss]

Chris

 

That is a wonderful piece you have there. I love the high shinogi-ji. And The habaki is beautiful. Even though your boshi is a little short don't ya say?

 

 

As for the customer I think some of them like to do this and see how far you will go. This is why I always ask for 50% down before I even start, this gives them a vested interest in the project. And the other 50% on completion.

 

thanks John, your comments are particularly rich knowing what kind of work you do.

 

As for the boshi, the tip got hotter than i wanted to and the hamon jumped back. I really should have put the clay thicker and further forward. Do you put ashi on your boshi? i know some people tend to leave them more of a suguha style, but i didnt know if that was personal preference or tradition.

 

AS for the guy walking out on me.. i had already made him one knife, and the transaction had gone smoothly, if not quickly. I just cant get in contact with him.. he is totally incommunicado via his old email addresses.

 

thanks so much!

Chris

[Lee Bray]

Great sole authorship of a blade in mounts.

 

I've got to respectfully disagree with the 'short' boshi comment.

From the pics, it looks ichimai.

In pics 3 and 6 it clearly extends back to the yokote, effectively making the whole kissaki hardened, hence ichimai.

Perhaps we're talking the same thing and semantics is rearing its ugly head.

 

Chris - I think as far as 'tradition' goes, the boshi ranged from thin suguha with no turnback to the whole kissaki being hardened, with whatever hataraki the smith chose(maybe) to add. It comes down to school and personal style as opposed to tradition. Over the years, I'm pretty sure Japanese 'tradition' has encompassed many, many varieties...

[Jason Taylor]

Beautiful work. Loads of character. Good luck.

[John Smith]

Chris

 

I do use Ashi when I do my Boshi as I do not want my tip to break off to far back. I have seen several Japanese swordsmiths who use Ashi strips all the way up the blade.

 

As for tradition I may add that there are so many so called traditions in Japan it is hard to determine what is traditional and not as the Japanese adapted so quickly to the ever changing War Lord or Emperor. So for me I design my Blades and forge them as if I was making a blade for Combat not tatami cutting or Tameshigira ( not sure on spelling ). So again me personally I want my kissaki to have Ashi.

 

And Yes dude I love your work. And I would like to think that we all draw on eachother for inspiration.

 

Oh one more thing, the kissaki is the hardest part of the blade to heat treat as it gets hot the quickest but cools the fastest before the quench, it is like there is not middle ground for the kissaki. And yes the clay has a tendancy to peel back or even blow off allowing water to quench far back.

 

Heck I even had a tip break clean off whileinthe water. It broke where the boshi ended so I assume that, that is where the perfect break happened. There are pictures of the grain structure of both pieces. And the funny thing Chris I watched it happen like it was in slow motion it turned and kept going and then ping no more tip.

[neil gagnon]

Great looking piece Chris overall a beautiful knife. As far as tradition goes, i would not worry about it. It is a knife and it looks like it cuts. Good job.

[Sam Salvati]

I got to handle this blade at F&B last year, WOW what an amazing blade! Congrats again to you and your new wife Chris!

[Brian Madigan]

That is a very good looking blade, nice activity in the hamon. The mounts look fantastic.

[Matt Stagmer]

I got to handle this blade at F&B last year, WOW what an amazing blade! Congrats again to you and your new wife Chris!

 

How did I miss this at the hammer in. Chris you better stop holding out on me bro.

 

Sweet work. I love it.

[Chris Moss]

hey guys... price drop

$800