A “gentleman’s tantō” of 6 and 1/8 inch nagasa, cable construction, hira-zukuri, with silver habaki.

Overall length of 10 and 3/4 inches.

In a simple koshirae, in a style similar to most kwaiken, only slightly larger, with black and red lacquer-work. Fuchigashira of buffalo horn. Silver mekugi-ana fittings with buffalo horn mekugi. Silver ring for sageo on saya in flower design. Comes with black silk sageo and handmade sword bag.

By Michael Bell.

FOR SALE AT REDUCED PRICE

$2,200

This blade forged from a single piece of forge-welded cable has a 23 inch (59.7 cm) nagasa. Blade is tori-zori with chu-kissaki. Well-controled gunome hamon with usturi.

Mr. Nakajima referred to similar swords as “castle swords”, because the somewhat shorter length could be more easily wielded in confined indoor combat. A blade of this size would also have been similar to those carried by merchants and others not of the samurai class, who were legally allowed to carry one sword shorter than a katana during the Edo period.

The blade in mounted in black koshirae, also by Michael Bell. Tsuka of full-wrap same, wrapped with black silk ito. Dragon menuki of shibuichi. Silver shitodome. Buffalo horn kurigata, koiguchi, and kojiri. Black silk sageo. Copper habaki and seppa.

Tsuba is a collaborative work by Michael, Anna, and Gabriel Bell of Dragonfly Forge. It is forged antique wrought iron, pierced and carved in an openwork floral motiff.

Other measurements:

nakago nagasa: 9 1/4” (23.5 cm)
sori: 1/2” (1.27 cm)
kasane at habaki: 1/4” (64 mm)
motohaba: 1 3/16” (3.02 cm)
sakihaba: 7/8” (2.22 cm)

$8,600

Silver habaki. Copper seppa.

The tsuba is forged of antique wrought iron, in a rounded square form with a raised rim. Pierced and carved dragonfly motiff, with ude-nuke-ana. Unique design by Michael.

Koshirae with black-on-black ‘ghost tiger stripe’ lacquered saya. Buffalo horn koiguchi, kurigata and kojiri. Handle with full-wrap same-kawa(rayskin) under black silk handle-wrap. Dragonfly menuki of gold-plated silver. Higo style fuchigashira of shibuichi. Gold-plated silver shitodome. ‘Red-black’ silk sageo.

Unfortunately, the final polish is of somewhat lower quality and there is a visible blemish where the polisher slipped with the burnishing needle on the shinogiji. The beauty of the steel can still be thoroughly appreciated, but a touch up polish by a more qualified polisher at a later time would certainly further enhance the subtle activity in the steel.

FOR SALE

Price Reduced!
$9,900

Two sword bags by Anna Bell.

Dragonfly Forge is now proud to start offering sword bags custom to fit each sword. They are handmade by Anna Bell of Dragonfly Forge here in our shop in Oregon. Every bag is padded with quilting material, keeping the swords well protected for storage and/or travel.

Prices:

Small tanto size bag: $45
Medium wakizashi size bag: $55
Large katana size bag: $65

In order to fit the bag for the sword, the following measurements of the sword are needed:
Total length of sword
Total length of handle
Measurement of the diameter of tsuba (if it has one)

For more information and or to place an order, please contact Anna Bell, at anna@dragonflyforge.com.

2009 OKCA Show Best Art Knife of Show

Fully polished Tanto in the shobu-zukuri style of standard-twist forge-welded cable construction. 10 inch nagasa with dynamic hamon.

Copper habaki. Koshirae mounted with hamidashi tsuba of antique forged wrought iron with matching wari-bashi (or wari-kogai). Seppa of copper. Partially ribbed, black and red, two-tone saya, “tiger stripe” pattern. Buffalo horn koiguchi, kojiri, and kurigata.  Gold and silver shitodome.  Black silk sageo.

Handle wrapped is black silk ito over a full-wrap of same. Gold shitodome and dragon menuki. Fuchigashira of shibuichi.

Come with small  “Best Art Knife 2009″ award and custom handmade cotton sword bag in olive green by Anna Bell.

FOR SALE

$7,200

For more photos and information read this work-in-progress blog, which was written during the making of the koshirae. It has a series of step-by-step photos.