Here are some of the swords I've completed recently.  Right now I don't have any long blades in stock, but more are in the works, so check back soon.    Please note that at this time I'm not doing any mounting work.  All new blades will be sold unmounted with habaki.   Click on the pictures for further details.

Folded shinogi-zukuri blade.  NEW!  This 29 inch beast is forged from high-layer folded steel composed of 1095 and 1050 carbon steels.  Roughly 1000 layers.   This is a very large, sturdy blade with a very short kissaki and an active choji hamon.  Some utsuri is visible.  SOLD.

1086M Hira-zukuri.  NEW!  This 27 inch blade is forged from 1086M steel, a high carbon steel with a pinch of vanadium for increased edge-holding.   I purchased a gob of 1086M from Howard Clark and have really been happy with the results I've gotten from it.  This blade has an extremely active choji hamon, some utsuri, a pierced copper habaki, and very little niku.  The martial artist who commissioned it intends to use it primarily for mat cutting.  SOLD.

Buck-eye Hira-Zukuri.  This was a custom project designed by a client.  The blade, forged from 1075 steel, is thin and light with very little niku.  The sword is mounted in a saya of California buck-eye burl with a 14" long leather-wrapped tsuka, copper kurigata and water buffalo horn fittings.  The very small tsuba is wrought iron.  The blade length is 28 inches with a very long 13 inch nakago.    I'll have more detailed pictures available soon.  This will be the last blade that I'll mount myself for quite a while.  After this, it's unmounted blades only!  SOLD. 

Saka-choji Katana with Egg Shell Koshirae.  No joke.  Egg shells! This shinogi zukuri blade is 28", with 3/4" of sori.  The hamon is a very detailed saka-choji (slanted clove blossom) based on suguha.  The saya was lacquered red, then crushed egg shells were embedded in the lacquer, sanded flat, then clear coated.  A ridiculously laborious process.  It took about two and a half months to finish the lacquering.  Ain't gonna do another one like this for long, long time!  Simple wrought iron tsuba forged from a piece of vintage 1906 anchor chain.  Click picture for more details.   SOLD.

Hira-Zukuri Katana.  27" blade forged from 1050 steel.  It has a really wild choji hamon.  The blade is fairly thick at the machi, and tapers quite a bit, so it feels light, despite being relatively brawny. It has an unusual feature in the form of a maru mune (rounded spine).  This blade has been extensively tested including hundreds of cuts on light bamboo.  It's a wicked cutter.  SOLD.

Sanbon-Sugi Katana.  This 1050 monosteel blade has a sanbon-sugi-based hamon.   Sanbon-sugi translates as "three cedars" because the pattern resembles a row of cedar trees in groups of three.  This pattern was characteristic of the Mino style and can be seen on many gunto Seki blades.  In fact, this blade was forged to have a gunto feel.   The blade length is 26" with a 7" tang and curvature of about an inch.   This blade has been tested out the wazoo and cuts like a demon.  In this photo the kissaki is still unfinished and the shinogi unburnished.   SOLD.

Forge-Folded Katana.  This high layer forge-folded shinogi-zukuri katana features 23K gold foil on the saya, 18K gold on the copper fuchi-kashira and menuki, as well as on the steel tsuba.  Features a heavy 30 inch blade with a bo-hi and horimono of a ken.  More pictures of this one will follow soon.  SOLD. 

Choji Katana.  This shinogi-sukuri blade is hand forged from 1050 steel.  Its blade is 26 inches and has a strong curvature (1.1 inches).  The fittings are copper.  The hamon is a very active choji.  The saya has a koiguichi (mouth) and kurigata (sageo retainer) of the extremely durable material micarta.  Menuki are bamboo, made from copper and 18 karat gold.    Originally I polished using a traditional Japanese polish, but wasn't happy with the results.  Repolished with my normal hybrid polish with dramatic results.   SOLD.

San-mai  katana.   This shinogi zukuri katana is of san-mai construction -- very hard 1095 steel sandwiched between more resilient 1050.  O-kissaki.  Click the picture to see a much more exciting and detailed image.   SOLD. 

Look for more blades coming soon!

If you're interested in purchasing an existing blade from the gallery or ordering a custom piece, click the ORDER INFORMATION button.