A low budget custom: the "Gin no Senshi" katana

[Katana Hunter]

Hello everyone!

I've finally gotten to customize another katana. I could say this is my 2nd full customization where I also customized the saya.

This is just a 1060 carbon steel katana with a wire brushed hamon that I bought from a local dealer here in the Philippines and the price and quality is quite good.

Here's what the katana originally looks like:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/original-01.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/original-02.jpg

This is just a low budget customization and was done in installment.

The first thing I did was changed the tsuba, twice. Ended up using the tsuba from my Hanwei Practical Special Katana. Then modified the habaki to make it look like a 2-piece construction habaki. I think you've already see this modified habaki before.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/original-04.jpg

Then I stripped off the original lacquer, reshaped the sayajiri, and bought a can of spray and re-lacquered it.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/original-03.jpg

I re-used some of the fittings I had laying around. I used the same fuchi-kashira. Replaced the original brass dragon menuki with a pair of brass kabuto (samurai helmet) menuki that I had for a long time that was waiting to be mounted. Added 2 additional seppa. Then nickel plated everything.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-12.jpg

I re-wrapped the tsuka with black synthetic silk tsukaito, also in hinerimaki style. The outcome would have been better if I used silk tsukaito and mounted quality fittings from Japan. Maybe when I have enough funds, I'll work on this one again. But for now, this will do.

Here are the before and after photos of the tsukamaki:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/beforeafter-01.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/beforeafter-02.jpg

More photos of the finished tsukamaki:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-tsukamaki-03.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-tsukamaki-04.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-tsukamaki-05.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-tsukamaki-06.jpg

Before I placed the kashira, the end knots were almost perfect. But after placing and hammering it for a tight fit, it compressed the end knots.

And here's the mounted katana...

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-01.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-02.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-03.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-04.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-05.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-06.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-07.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-08.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-09.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-10.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b98/katana_hunter/customs/gin-no-senshi-11.jpg

The saya was done in a silver gray stone finish. This was just my 2nd time lacquering a saya and I really don't have a skill for it so it's not a very good job. I also removed the wire brushed hamon and polished the blade with a satin finish.

There you go! I hope you like my "Gin no Senshi" or Silver Warrior katana.

Thanks!

[the blade master]

a job nicley done aldwin maybe a couple of gold highlights on the menuki
would really have set the tsuka off real well
mick:ohyeah:

[Katana Hunter]

Thanks Mick!

If I were to put gold highlights on the menuki, then that would go against the color of the overall fittings.

But that's a great idea. Will probably try that on a different project. :)

[Kurubushi Kamu]

Nice work Aldwin! I'm a big fan of silver fittings,this sword reminds me of the Hanwei 25th anniversary Shinto Katana (although I like yours better!). The habaki is a very nice touch too. Your customs never fail to impress! KK

[andysoard]

thats a great job there KH.

[loempe]

that project turned out pretty sharp. Lots of inspiration ;-)

could silver plating be done in the same way? would you please explain how you did the plating (was it electro..erh...lytic?)

[goose710]

KH
Beautiful

rep inbound

da gooseman

[Maynar]

Sweet! +1 for that.

[Katana Hunter]

Thanks a lot everyone!

that project turned out pretty sharp. Lots of inspiration ;-)

could silver plating be done in the same way? would you please explain how you did the plating (was it electro..erh...lytic?)

I had the nickel plating done professionally which only cost me about $3 as I cannot find the materials I can use (especially the solution) here in the Philippines.

I've been wanting to buy one of these http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/plugnplate.htm but they only accept wire transfer for international orders. They have all sorts of easy to use plating kit there. And with the brush plating wand, I think you can put gold highlights to a silver or nickel plated menuki, fuchi-kashira, and tsuba! Maybe when I have a lot of stuff to plate, I can ask one of you guys to buy one for me and I'll just pay you before you ship it out. :)

EDIT: our friend Geir (Ichiban) has an excellent copper plating tutorial but it's posted over another forum. I hope he can post it here as well.