What should I do with this blade?
Mar 23, 2015 23:51:24 GMT
Post by ambulocetus on Mar 23, 2015 23:51:24 GMT
pic_0001.ppm (766.45 KB)I obtained this piece from a wise old sword collector who was also a pretty handy in the work-shop. In fact he fabricated a very elegant fuchi/kashira for me that I mounted on a katana that I wish now I didn't sell.pic_0004.ppm (766.45 KB)
Anyway, the story as I remember it goes like this. He had a couple of valuable Koto that he probably could have polished himself, but since they were so old and he had some connections in Japan, he decided to ship them over there for a really good polish. Apparently, since they were mu-mei , the custom official said "weapon, not art" and broke them in half and sent the pieces back.
As I said he was rather handy and he had access to a heli-arc welder. I remember he specified heli-arc because he said it would limit oxidation and make the strongest weld. So he welded 2 of the pieces together, and it came out pretty good. A friend and I did some light tameshigiri with it and it seemed to be tough, but in the back of our minds we were still careful. None the less we were younger then and I'm sure the old guy was aware of that and I don't think he would have given it to us if he wasn't confident of its safety.pic_0002.ppm (766.45 KB)
I include some pictures, but between my cheap camera and his good welding I don't know if you will even be able to make out exactly where the weld is.pic_0003.ppm (766.45 KB)
The way I see it is my options are mount it up as a Tachi and hang it on the wall, or cut it down and make a wakizashi out of it. Normally my first instinct would be wakizashi, but then I get to thinking he had more knowledge and experience than me and he could have made a waki, but he didn't. He must have thought the project worthwhile or he wouldn't have done it.
Anyway, the story as I remember it goes like this. He had a couple of valuable Koto that he probably could have polished himself, but since they were so old and he had some connections in Japan, he decided to ship them over there for a really good polish. Apparently, since they were mu-mei , the custom official said "weapon, not art" and broke them in half and sent the pieces back.
As I said he was rather handy and he had access to a heli-arc welder. I remember he specified heli-arc because he said it would limit oxidation and make the strongest weld. So he welded 2 of the pieces together, and it came out pretty good. A friend and I did some light tameshigiri with it and it seemed to be tough, but in the back of our minds we were still careful. None the less we were younger then and I'm sure the old guy was aware of that and I don't think he would have given it to us if he wasn't confident of its safety.pic_0002.ppm (766.45 KB)
I include some pictures, but between my cheap camera and his good welding I don't know if you will even be able to make out exactly where the weld is.pic_0003.ppm (766.45 KB)
The way I see it is my options are mount it up as a Tachi and hang it on the wall, or cut it down and make a wakizashi out of it. Normally my first instinct would be wakizashi, but then I get to thinking he had more knowledge and experience than me and he could have made a waki, but he didn't. He must have thought the project worthwhile or he wouldn't have done it.