Dragonfly and Cattails katana

[Jesus Hernandez]

This is the third katana of the series. W2 steel. All the fittings are based on the dragonfly and cattails motif. 29" nagasa with O-kissaki and intended for tameshigiri (test cutting).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim P]

WOW! that is just beautiful.

[jdsmith02115]

Fabulous 'Utsuri' on this one too!

[Christopher Makin]

Fantastic ,I aspire to one day be be as skilled as you.

[Alan Longmire]

Whoa!

 

I thought you were getting good hamon on the others, but this one is incredible!

[Garrett McCormack]

Wicked! What a nice package all around, Jesus.

[Kevin Colwell]

Jesus, this is a winner. you should be happy with this. The kind of thing to look at (or pics of) later to remind yourself that you can make those. It is really quite nice.

 

thanks for sharing it with us.

kc

[Ito Matsumoto]

just beautiful.

[Dave Stephens]

Holy cow! That is amazing. I don't understand half of what I'm looking at, but I know it looks awesome.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

--Dave

 

PS -- Okay, there's probably some very traditional Japanese name for this, so forgive the layman's terms here, but: The tip on this one looks more pointy than I see on other katanas, less blunt. I like it.

[Jesus Hernandez]

Thanks, guys. Much appreciated.

 

Dave, you are correct. This type of point (kissaki) is rather long and pointy (O-kissaki), there is medium length (chu-kissaki) and shorter (ko-kissaki). "O"=big, "chu"=middle, "ko"=little in Japanese. It is a matter of proportion when comparing the length of the kissaki to the width of the blade. If they look proportional, it's called chu-kissaki. If longer, O-kissaki and shorter ko-kissaki.

Sorry I couldn't help to explain this detail but I always like to try to share with others this terminology and so after reading a few of my posts, people can take something with them. The study of the Japanese sword is very rich in vocabulary. All of the words are very descriptive and useful.

Here is another for the day, "utsuri" which JD mentioned. It is a shadow of the hamon that occurs above the hamon itself, like a mirror copy of the hamon. The word "utsuri" in Japanese means "reflection" like in a mirror. These series of blades quenched in the hot oil using W2 steel seem to all have develop utsuri. There is a story about why utsuri is so desirable in a Japanese-tradition blade but that is for another day.

[Jim Kelso]

Another amazing ensemble Jesus. Are there wood-elves down that way that you have charmed into service?

 

Jim

 

edit: Did you do test cutting?

Edited May 28, 2012 by Jim Kelso

[Jesus Hernandez]

Another amazing ensemble Jesus. Are there wood-elves down that way that you have charmed into service?

 

Jim

 

edit: Did you do test cutting?

 

 

Thank you, Jim. I have two elves. One I call "Rhand" and the other "Lhand".

As a matter of fact, yes. I test cut with the blades. It seemed like the right thing to do.

[J.Arthur Loose]

Thank you, Jim. I have two elves. One I call "Rhand" and the other "Lhand".

 

Your elves have indeed blessed your hand, Jesus. Keep feeding them milk and cookies!

[Dan O'Connor]

Beautiful,

 

I am quite the fan of O-Kissaki or maybe an extended Chu-Kissaki not sure where the line is on this. Yours is definitely O-Kissaki though.

 

I think this would be an extended Chu-Kisssaki

 

Katana by Sa Yukihide

 

I have taken a big interest in the swords of the Sa Yukihide school.

 

Sa Yukihide was as Smith working just before the Meiji restoration in 1868 when the wearing of swords by the Samurai was banned. He was able to get in a good thirty years of swordmaking before that. His students where not so lucky.

 

He followed the works of Go Yoshihiro a 14th century student of Masamune and Nagasone Kotetsu a famous 17th century smith. Both of whom I like as well.

 

I like that you are able to set a theme and carry it out complete.

 

Oh! And can I borrow Rhand and Lhand for a while

[B_Rogers]

Ok, that hamon is just SICK! The rest of it is amazing as always too... VERY inspiring to a new maker like myself.

 

This seals it, Im getting some parks 50.

 

 

Brent

[matt venier]

Hey Jesus,

 

Do you ever sleep? The amount and quality of work you've posted lately astounding!

 

Matt

[Kevin Colwell]

Jesus, when you first posted about the hot oil and positive sori, I remember I asked about how fully things hardened and what the hamon looked like. I forgot to mention since I have now seen a couple of these blades...wow... there seems no doubt that the hamon comes out quite nice.

 

I remember reading and also speaking to Kevin Cashen, and he said that in his metallographic work he had noticed a, "sweet spot" for Parks 50 somewhere around the 120F range. Now, I may have the exact range wrong, but I know he said there was a spot with different and maybe better performance with temp that he had found. I immediately thought of that when I saw your earlier posts, but I forgot to mention. I don't know if you know Kevin. You two may want to compare notes. Maybe not. Just thought you would like to know this factoid.

 

your production rate in the new shop, and quality, are impressive.

 

have fun!

 

Kevin

[Jesus Hernandez]

I certainly enjoy more time these days to put into these pieces and that is a nice luxury.

 

I have not talked with Kevin Cashen about this nor do I know if he has tried this oil at these temperatures. I met him years ago at Larry Harley's but we never sat down and chat. From his postings elsewhere he seems like he would enjoy some conversation/experimentation on the topic.

 

Sorry, Dan. Rhand and Lhand are very "attached" to me.

[Rob Toneguzzo]

Such neat clean perfect work...inspiring!