I am by no means a pro at this, just a couple things I did tinkering. Some recent knife threads here reminded me to drag out some pictures. And these are old pictures, sorry they are small and the whole process is not shown.
I did not make the blade to this katana (but I did sharpen it, it is a ''shaver'') I made the tsuka (grip) and saya (scabbard). This is the shirasaya style mounting, meaning for storage of the blade...the all important blade. For a battle ready sword the tsuka would be a wrapped one for better grip and a tsuba (hilt/hand guard) added. But at my place the blade is just stored/displayed, no sword fights.
This I did make from scratch, the only knife I have ever made. A left handed sushi knife, for my brother. This knife is single ground, meaning only one side of the blade is beveled-the back side is flat. A little challenging to get razor sharp, but I managed. :yes:
It started with a scrap of tool steel and a chunk o' wood.
Rough ground and heat treated.
Handle installed...now to the sharpening stones (already working on it, just took a break for the picture).
After hours (yes) working down through finer and finer stones I am getting somewhere. And that is a bandage, it got me .
Two-tone dye job on the quilted maple handle and she is ready for action.
I did not make the blade to this katana (but I did sharpen it, it is a ''shaver'') I made the tsuka (grip) and saya (scabbard). This is the shirasaya style mounting, meaning for storage of the blade...the all important blade. For a battle ready sword the tsuka would be a wrapped one for better grip and a tsuba (hilt/hand guard) added. But at my place the blade is just stored/displayed, no sword fights.
This I did make from scratch, the only knife I have ever made. A left handed sushi knife, for my brother. This knife is single ground, meaning only one side of the blade is beveled-the back side is flat. A little challenging to get razor sharp, but I managed. :yes:
It started with a scrap of tool steel and a chunk o' wood.
Rough ground and heat treated.
Handle installed...now to the sharpening stones (already working on it, just took a break for the picture).
After hours (yes) working down through finer and finer stones I am getting somewhere. And that is a bandage, it got me .
Two-tone dye job on the quilted maple handle and she is ready for action.