Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Aug 27, 2012 21:26:22 GMT
I ordered a "Folded T10" blade from Hua Wei, and got it in the mail. However, I only see the "damascus" folded stuff in the hamon/edge area. The rest of the sword has a really good mirror polish. Do the fold patterns go away when the sword is mirror polished? I figure you'd still be able to see them even with a high level of polish, right? Or am I going to have to do some kind of modification to "bring out the folds?"
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Aug 27, 2012 21:31:17 GMT
Most hada is subtle without an acid etch or a certain type of polish done to bring it out. A high mirror polish may not be the best type to highlight the grain. Could you put a picture or two up showing what it looks like?
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Aug 27, 2012 22:03:47 GMT
Here we go. Sorry it's not up to my normal quality, but I went for time to get them up for you as fast as possible. I took them with the sword facing blade "down" and blade "up" to be sure it wasn't just an angle of light issue.
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Aug 27, 2012 22:10:34 GMT
Here's one with hada on both sides of the shinogi, but it took way more shots to eventually get it to work, and this is with flash right up on it at the right angle. I can't see the fold pattern with my out of camera vision in normal ambient and kitchen lights.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Aug 27, 2012 22:26:11 GMT
Yep, looks like they just mirror polished it. It actually takes a separate set of stones and procedures to make the hada really stand out. The grain on most "genuine" folded swords isn't super loud, rather they are pretty subdued.
Also, I love the Shobu shape on this one. Looks really good.
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Aug 27, 2012 22:32:35 GMT
Thanks, Adrian. So it's a choice of either get the hada above the hamon line by etching it like they did the hamon area, or keep the neat polish?
Won't etching and bringing out the hada make it so that it all looks like the hamon area and there won't be a visible difference as to where the hamon is, since the whole blade will be etched?
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Marc Kaden Ridgeway
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Post by Marc Kaden Ridgeway on Aug 27, 2012 22:34:04 GMT
Looks good to me...
Is that a shobu or a kanmuri otoshi?
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Aug 27, 2012 22:43:09 GMT
The main problem with etching is that it greys the steel, which will make it look duller. With some judicious application of Mothers Mag polish, it's possible to remove the etch enough so that you get the contrast, but don't lose the hamon. I'm not proficient enough in etching to give you any really good advice, though. You could check out Slav's guide on etching and it will help. The problem with mirror polishing is that while it gives a neat and uniform look, but obscures some of the finer details. A hybrid polish gives better(though not always the best) of both, but can be difficult to do and it's easy to eff-up the sword while trying it.
I'd personally leave it as is. It looks pretty sweet. Either way, congratulations on the new sword, hahaha.
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Aug 28, 2012 0:02:46 GMT
KK, I'm glad then. I was worried a bit that maybe they folded it wrong or made fake fold lines or something. It's a Shobu.
KK, I'll just leave it for now. It's not a new sword, though... just a new blade. I have to have it sent in for a handle and saya when the fittings I ordered come in, and I get my stipend.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Aug 28, 2012 1:12:58 GMT
That's awesome. What plans do you have for it?
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Kuya
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Post by Kuya on Aug 28, 2012 1:19:46 GMT
It's going to end up being a "tachi" without the hangars, so I guess that is called something like a hondachi or handachi? Since it's mostly going to be a display piece that can still cut without snapping in half like a normal display piece... I'm going kinda flamboyant and flashy with it, hence the tachi fittings (which usually have way more decorations and design stuff on them than katana pieces). It's going to end up costing me a lot, but we all know Josh's work is worth the money, plus it'll be my own unique thing that no-one else will want. :lol:
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Aug 28, 2012 1:22:34 GMT
That sound sweet. Handachi are a popular style, but one you don't see much because of their more expensive nature. i can't wait to see it.
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