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JAPANESE SWORD-MAKING VIDEOS

We are in the process of producing a line of videos which will detail the methods Walter Sorrells uses in making his own Japanese style blades.  Taken as a group, the projected series of videos will show everything from selecting your tools, steel and supplies...to forging, polishing and mounting your blade. 

The first three videos in the series, MOUNTING JAPANESE SWORDS, MAKING HAMONS and HYBRID POLISHING FOR JAPANESE STYLE BLADES, are available now.  The fourth video, FORGING JAPANESE STYLE BLADES, is projected for completion in late 2008.

Unlike many bladesmithing videos, every attempt has been made to use high production values so as to maximize your opportunity for learning.  If you've bought knife-making videos before, you've probably seen a few where somebody just set up a wobbly camera in the back of a dimly lit shed and rolled tape.  Not these.  This series is thoughtfully scripted, narrated in crisp digital audio, well lit and shot, and carefully edited.  The MOUNTING video is shot in Hi-Def for crystal clear image quality.  Details of every operation are shown in close-up so you can actually see what's going on.

Walter's approach is to incorporate as wide a range of techniques as possible in these videos.  He's not Japanese trained and doesn't believe there's a single "correct" way to make, polish or mount a blade.  He stresses starting with a thorough understanding of the function, use and construction of the traditional blade.  From there, both traditional and modern tools and techniques are freely incorporated.

MOUNTING JAPANESE SWORDS.  This brand new two-DVD set covers the basics of mounting of Japanese blades.  With well over two and a half hours of video (all shot in Hi-Definition so you can see everything with maximum clarity), this video set shows you everything you need to fully mount a Japanese style blade.  The video starts with woodworking fundamentals as you learn how to make a shirasaya (resting scabbard) using traditional and modern tools.   Then we move on to two fully mounted katanas.  The video shows how to carve and lacquer scabbards.  Then I'll wrap the handles using two different methods.  Rayskin, handle wrapping, chisels, planes, woods, lacquer -- it's all covered here.  2 DVDs.  2:30 minutes.  Available now.  $69 + shipping ($5 US or $10 international).

 

 

HYBRID POLISHING FOR JAPANESE STYLE BLADES.  This DVD hows basic polishing methods for Japanese style blades, including final polishing methods to make the hamon really pop.  Several methods are shown including sandpaper, belt grinder and Japanese water stones.  Etching and final hybrid (i.e. non-traditional) polishing will also be covered.  It should be noted that this is not a "how to polish nihonto" video.  It's aimed first and foremost at smiths who are making functional modern blades.  That said, if you're looking to improve the polish or geometry on an imported tameshigiri blade, this video will have plenty of information for you.  In particular we've tried to demystify the subject of Japanese water stones.  Three blades are polished, including a shinogi zukuri blade, so you'll see how to set the geometry of the shinogi and the kissaki -- the two most difficult aspects of foundation polishing.    1:45 minutes.  Available now.  $49 + shipping ($5 US or $10 international).

 

 

MAKING HAMONS.  The traditional Japanese method of heat treating swords yields a blade with a hard edge and a soft spine.  This method manifests itself in the form of the "hamon," a visible line in the steel.  This line was traditionally used to ornament the blade.  On this video, three blades are "clay hardened", leading you from simple heat treating and clay layout techniques, through more complex and challenging designs.  Includes information about various kinds of traditional hamons and how to make them, basic heat treating of carbon steel, and sources of tools and equipment.  1:15 minutes.  Available now.  $40 + shipping ($5 US or $10 international).

 

 

 

FORGING.  How to make a Japanese style blade starting from ground zero.   Currently in production but not yet released -- this video will start with the assumption that you've never made a knife before in your life.  Walter will start you out on a very simple blade made with minimal tools and equipment, then move to a more complex forged blade, and finally conclude with the apex of the bladesmith's art:  a full-length shinogi-zukuri katana.  The video will include information on stock removal, forging, tools and equipment, traditional Japanese blade geometry, and heat treating.  Coming late 2008.

 

 

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