Custom WKC Heart of the dragon Katana

[Takatom]

In another thread I had a picture of my new tsuka. Member Caliper asked for some pictures of the rest of the katana.
Allthough I'm waiting for a new tsuba, I decided to show some pics anyway. The tsuba on the pics was a rough kogai blank that I bought at Sei Do Kai.

For this costum piece I was inspired from a Bob Engnath katana at this link: http://www.summerchild.com/summer.html




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Darkness reigns at the foot of the lighthouse

[Caliper]

Niceeee :lager:

[Katana Hunter]

Looks great!

[69NINJA]

Beautiful

[andysoard]

pretty :)

[Taygrd]

Great work, that is a beautiful sword.=D>

[Takatom]

Thank you all. I've costumized this katana several times. I feel I'm about to get close to what I want, well you know what I mean. Soon the tsuba I want will also sit on it and the Heart of the dragon katana will fit to its name.

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One who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger

[Takatom]

My new tsuba arrived from Fred Lohman today. Here some pics after mounting. Finally after several costumizations it feels like this katana found itself. I love it:)
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If you want a thing done well, do it yourself

[the blade master]

takatom hi
thats a real nice job done real well
at the moment im trying to decide
if i should redo one ive allready done
but this time do the tsuka in indian rosewood no same or ito
just inset the menuki into the rosewood with a lighter colour for the mekugi so they stand out with brass fushi and kashirashould look nice
but need all the brass fittings first
this is a pic just to give some idea of what i hope to achive
ive had permission from tora blades to use this pic

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/3886/deluxe20katana2.th.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/my.php?image=deluxe20katana2.jpg)

[Takatom]

takatom hi
thats a real nice job done real well
at the moment im trying to decide
if i should redo one ive allready done
but this time do the tsuka in indian rosewood no same or ito
just inset the menuki into the rosewoodwith a lighter colour for the mekugi so they stand outwith brass fushi and kashirashould look nice
but need all the brass fittings first

Hi blademaster

That sounds interesting. I dont know indian rosewood. Is it strong since you will leave it raw? Ive seen katanas before with raw tsukas.
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The tongue is more to be feared than the sword

[the blade master]

takatom hello
indian rosewood is a real beautifull timber
its the same stuff they use on khukerie handles and scabards
get a piece and see what you think the only treatment it needs
is a drop of linseed or tung oil to keep it in fine fettle (fine fettle /good condition)
it realy makes the grain pattern stand out i belive it is a hard wood because of
the treatment it gets when being used (talk to someone a bit more knowledgeable than me as to weather it s a hard wood or not i belive it is but cant swear to it)
regards mick

[Taygrd]

Yep rosewood is a hardwood. You need a little flex for a tsuka if you are going to cut with it. I use poplar wood for tsukas, but it is plain and has little figure. The are some exotic woods that may work. I would have to look and my wood encyclopedia to find a fairly soft non-acidic wood.

[the blade master]

hi tay
if i do go ahead it probably will just for ocasional use more decorative id just like to see what it would look like i just like the idea of rosewood and brass :ohyeah:

[Taygrd]

That would be a neat combo. I have seen some older short blades with that type of koshirae. Gotta show pictures when you are done:)

[Caliper]

very nice looking tsuba Takatom, definetaly a good choice there, rep for you

hey Blade Master, that's good idea, did the custom bug finally bite you? ;)

[the blade master]

yeah but my biggest problem is trying to find decent bits and pieces locally like the wood needed to make the sayas and tsukas best i can do is my local funeral directors making the brass pieces aint too bad as i have a jewler that makes custom jewlery and if i ask him nicely he will do the odd custom job for me providing i can supply the nessessary materials for him used the last of my scrap gold on a piece i moded a yashamaki conversion job changing the brass catfish for gold ones not bad but dont look much better than it did before i started.salvaged a silver locket and chain and took the silver filligree off a banged up kothimora hope to make some silver seppa's and menuki for another project i.e. may use it instead of brass on the rosewood modification.

[Mako]

Very nice tsuba TT, looks great on that sword. =D>

[Takatom]

Thanks again... according to the Brass Black that I applied on the fuchi/kashira, It wears of a bit. Not exactly what I had in mind, but thats ok for now. Maybe I have them silverplated some day.
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A good sword is the one left in its scabbard

[goose710]

T B M
Would it look like this!????

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8991/hiltb.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/hiltb.jpg/)


Or this??
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/393/koshrira.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/i/koshrira.jpg/)

I had another variaty but cannot find it at the moment
I love the skeliton one!!!
Should look great whatever you try!
da gooseman


Found the other one !! the band around the center i believe is to give the wood unwrapped tuska strenght. i can be wrong.
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/8633/99084124wc2.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/99084124wc2.jpg/)

[RobbyDoom]

Lohman has some really sweet tsuba!!!!
I just wish he had what I was looking for, for my project.

none the less, everything looks good. Good job!!

[the blade master]

hi goose
the top one is the one i had in mind or somthing very much like it mind you all three look real nice but no 1 is my first choice
mick