Tanto koi
2019 year
Materials: steel, beech, copper, linseed oil and wax.
Techniques: forging, locksmithing, hardening, polishing, soldering, wood carving, patina
Dimensions (edit)
total length 36.5 cm.
blade length 21 cm.
blade width at the guard is 27 mm.
blade thickness at the guard is 7 mm. the blade tapers evenly towards the point.
The tanto sword was used by samurai as an auxiliary weapon to finish off a wounded enemy.
Along with wakizashi and katana, tanto is considered a sword, only of a different length, up to 30 cm. The first tanto appeared in the Heian era (794-1185). Towards the end of the 12th century and later, masters turn the tanto into a work of art.
A rusty file has found a new life in the form of a tanto blade.
The tanto blade is coated with a mixture of clay, charcoal and sand for zone hardening according to the traditional Japanese yaki-ire technology. Thus, only the blade will be hardened. 
Habaki needs to be tightly fitted to the shank and soldered from below, then given the final shape. 
Tanto handle glued from two halves cut from beech wood. 
Copper elements of the tanto handle – fuchi and still unfinished kashira. 
Copper elements of the hilt are covered with a fiery patina.
Mounting on a scabbard – kurikata – inserted into a special groove and fixed with glue. 
Copper tsuba with koi carp – a symbol of good luck. 
Copper tsuba for tanto with the image of koi carp. Fiery patina. 
The scabbard is cut from the same beech block as the hilt. Thus, the wood grain on these two elements will match each other. 
