Silly Sword

I like it!

-- Pine is fine, but Oak's no joke!

Not so Silly! The name of my website is Katana Design. I would love a handle like that for mine. Very nice look. Is that really textured or is it the quilting in the maple that gives it the 3D look?

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" Bibb in CO at http://katanadesign.com

Nice looking katana dude. Looks like a Masamune style tip if I’m seeing it correctly, the tip is in shadow and it’s hard to tell. How would it handle when wet, not having the wrapping to absorb sweat and such?

Paul

-- The nicer the nice, the higher the price!

Wow! For a second it looked like an irregularly carved tsuka, but the top-down view shows it’s flat. That’s some crazy quilting in that wood.

Bibb, I took a look at your site. Love your designs!

-- Brian in Arlington, TX - Laziness is the foundation of efficiency.

Bibb, the handle is flat and smooth and like BigTiny points out it wouldn’t be a practical design if it were to be used in anger.

It turned out more intricate that I had originally envisioned with 17 different pieces having to come together very precisely.

Taihen Steki desu!

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

DocSavage45,

Sorry my Japanese is a little rusty….something like “It’s difficult” perhaps?

Very Slpendid is close!

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

Ah. Well sometimes Very Splendid is Very Difficult!

Thanks.

So desu. ( true) LOL!

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

I waited for our O-Sensei to come over from Japan to take my exams for first dan. He had a Masamune katana, and gave me the great honor of allowing me to use it for my kata demonstration. It felt like it grew out of my hands rather than being held by them. Afterwards, we retired to the little steam behind the dojo. It was fall and the leaves were floating along with the current. We placed both his katana and my sensei’s katana about a foot apart in the flow. Leaves would brush against Ari’s sword and cut a bit off, but no matter where we put the Masamune sword in the stream, the leaves went around it uncut. I knew the legend that one of the master’s blades would never do unintended harm, but here was proof right in front of my eyes. I will never question such legends again without seeing for myself.
Wakarimas-ka?

Paul

-- The nicer the nice, the higher the price!

BigTiny: Great story! The blade I was playing with is quite plebeian and nothing like the master work of Masamune. I would love to see some of his work someday.

Beautiful work, nicely done!

-- John, BC, Canada

Ken, there are only about a dozen of the master’s katanas known to have survived. One is in the imperial collection in Tokyo I know, but where the rest are today I have no idea. Since they are valued in the seven figure range, I imagine the owners aren’t anxious to make their ownership known. Ari’s was kept in a custom made vault in his home built by the same company that builds them for banks. I don’t blame him. In old Japan, people were killed over owning one.
I don’t think a complete “suit” of katana, wakazashi and tanto exits. Too bad.

Paul

-- The nicer the nice, the higher the price!