PDA

View Full Version : Walter Sorrells Katana

Justice
October 21st, 2007, 07:09 PM
I have a custom katana in the works, a Walter Sorrells piece.

Walter Sorrells is a newcomer in the sword field who's skyrocketed in popularity lately.

Here is Walter starting the forging from a round bar of steel.

http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/wr.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/wr-1.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/wr-2.jpg


You can see the shape the blade is taking. It is a fairly wide blade, 1 5/16ths wide at the habaki, and it has a decent taper to the tip.

Walter then underwent the claying process.

http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/wr-3.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/wr-4.jpg

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks. That's Mt. Fuji...

Here's after the quenching and the initial rough polish.

http://forums.swordforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65792&d=1181855752

Here's a bit more of the foundation established and the machi being set.

http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/machi.jpg

The blade looks pretty even in low polish stages. And now...

http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/sor1.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/sor2.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/sor3.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/sor4.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/sor5.jpg

Mt. Fuji has never looked so beautiful... the blade isn't even in full polish yet, it still has a bit to go before it's all completed.

I have a sold silver Fred Lohman Higo fuchi and Kashira going on the tsuka, a Fred Lohman Mt. Fuji tsuba, a silver pair of hat and paddle menuki (from the Gorin Iaito) and a solid silver habaki and seppa set.

http://www.japanese-swords.com/tsuba-gallery/images/029-mt-fuji.jpg
http://www.japanese-swords.com/fuchi-gallery/images/012.jpg

The fuchi and kashira will not be black steel, but solid silver. They will also be darkened, like an old silver dollar.
Jason Moore
October 21st, 2007, 08:17 PM
Omg =P~
Brian Brazier
October 22nd, 2007, 01:00 PM
That looks great, I cannot wait to see it finished, I have alway thought more could be done to the Hamon, I really like how he has intergrated Mt. Fuji, was that something you asked for, or does he do it on all his swords?
Justice
October 22nd, 2007, 04:13 PM
That looks great, I cannot wait to see it finished, I have alway thought more could be done to the Hamon, I really like how he has intergrated Mt. Fuji, was that something you asked for, or does he do it on all his swords?

As far as I know,mine is the first sword ever done like this, or at least this well. Walter said he had seen some hamons somewhat imitating Mt. Fuji, I asked him early on how much like Mt. Fuji he could make it. The details are amazing. It really looks like clouds surrounding a snow capped peak.
Travis Morris
October 22nd, 2007, 05:53 PM
Hi "Justice",

Good to see you on hear, love the WS kat. Truly beautiful.

For those of you that dont know, Justice does AMAZING custom work himself. From saya/same lacquer to tsukamaki. I actually have a Justice Custom PC Bushido Wak. His work is 100%

PS, were is that tanto I keep asking about ;)
Mako
October 23rd, 2007, 09:46 AM
Awesome hamon on that blade Aaron.;)
Justice
October 24th, 2007, 10:50 PM
Hi "Justice",

Good to see you on hear, love the WS kat. Truly beautiful.

For those of you that dont know, Justice does AMAZING custom work himself. From saya/same lacquer to tsukamaki. I actually have a Justice Custom PC Bushido Wak. His work is 100%

PS, were is that tanto I keep asking about ;)


Hey Travis, good to see you here.
Travis Morris
November 19th, 2007, 01:59 AM
I can not wait to see this fully mounted. Please post pics ASAP

I am actually going to commision a piece by Walter next year this time, and hopefully get it the following year. His back log is crazy, but he said if he can get me in he will. Thinking of doing a Tamahagane kat, O-kis, with choji hamon, 29"/13"
Justice
November 28th, 2007, 12:58 PM
I got news I should hve it before Christmas. The saya is being lacquered (he uses traditional lacquer which will take him about a month...) and the handle wrapping.

http://homepage.mac.com/aaronjustice/.Pictures/web/waltersaya.jpg
Brian Brazier
November 28th, 2007, 04:25 PM
who is doing the laquer? Are you doing the Tsuka?
gypes37
November 29th, 2007, 12:53 PM
MaN that sword is great, i never saw such a design in hamon... just breath taking. I can't wait to see the final product plz post pics when finished.
Justice
December 1st, 2007, 01:51 AM
who is doing the laquer? Are you doing the Tsuka?

Nope, Walter Sorrells is doing everything. Hopefully the lacquering will be done by Christmas. See, this is why I use synthetic lacquer... maybe a day to cure for a caot at the most instead of 3 days per coat for Cashu lacquer.

MaN that sword is great, i never saw such a design in hamon... just breath taking. I can't wait to see the final product plz post pics when finished.

Definitely.
Justice
January 11th, 2008, 01:03 AM
Hopefully I'll have this blade in the next week. it was finished, but when buffing and polishing the lacquer Walter says a small little sliver came off, forcing him to have to relacquer it.
Jason Moore
January 11th, 2008, 11:00 AM
I am very excited as well to see this blade. =P~
bobO
January 11th, 2008, 06:00 PM
Justice this blade is BREATH TAKING,can't wait to see it finished.Will this be a Heirloom piece.
Taygrd
January 17th, 2008, 09:44 PM
Okay I have to admit that I have been waiting with eager anticipation to see this sword in it's completed state. I have katana envy again.=P~ The wait is unbearable and I am expecting pictures. Thanks Justice for sharing this with us.
daigoro
January 24th, 2008, 01:03 PM
the katana looks great justice can't wait to see it finished=P~
Justice
January 24th, 2008, 11:46 PM
I expect it to be here either tomorrow or the day after.
bobO
February 3rd, 2008, 10:11 AM
Justice, You haven't forgotten about us, have you? Gotta see this bad boy!
ZimZum
February 15th, 2008, 11:46 PM
Justice must really be enjoying that sword, as he has not replied in quite a while. I must say...I can't blame him.
Justice
March 18th, 2008, 02:30 AM
Hey guys. I check back in periodically, but I've been posting less.

I actually sent the blade to Chris Osborne at www.swordpolish.net . The hybrid polish done by Walter is good, but more of a cutting polish. Chris is doing a full stone polish, so the blade will be back and even more glorious.
mancosbob
March 18th, 2008, 06:40 AM
It looks mighty fine already, can't wait to see more pics though. :)
Sairon
April 4th, 2008, 10:50 PM
Nice blade Justice love the Hamon=P~ but to bad it wasn't folded insted of being made from a bar.=(
Hey Justice grey and white would go good with the mount fuiji theme (clouds snow) just a thought though.
Travis Morris
September 3rd, 2008, 06:06 PM
Well,

I am glad to say that this has become my katana. It should arrive tomorrow. I am very excited.

I have also commissioned Mr.Sorrells for a custom design of my own. So far the specs are as followed:

Shinogi zukuri
29.5" nagasa
10" nakago
O kissaki
I am leaving the hamon up to him, he is the smith after all and its going to be a big, full blade like a Bugei Samurai or Bamboo.
Last but not least, its going to be made from tamahagane/orishigane
After Mr.Sorrells is done, it is going to Mr.Chris Osbornes for a full polish.

VERY EXCITED
bobO
September 3rd, 2008, 06:23 PM
As well you should be! I cannot wait to see this, should be to cool. Congrats.
Brian Brazier
September 3rd, 2008, 07:31 PM
Please keep us updated with pics, that sounds like it will be a big katana, the 10" nakago should help balance that big of a blade out, can't wait to see it fully dressed