This blade forged from a single piece of forge-welded cable has a 23 inch (59.7 cm) nagasa. Blade is tori-zori with chu-kissaki. Well-controled gunome hamon with usturi.

Mr. Nakajima referred to similar swords as “castle swords”, because the somewhat shorter length could be more easily wielded in confined indoor combat. A blade of this size would also have been similar to those carried by merchants and others not of the samurai class, who were legally allowed to carry one sword shorter than a katana during the Edo period.

The blade in mounted in black koshirae, also by Michael Bell. Tsuka of full-wrap same, wrapped with black silk ito. Dragon menuki of shibuichi. Silver shitodome. Buffalo horn kurigata, koiguchi, and kojiri. Black silk sageo. Copper habaki and seppa.

Tsuba is a collaborative work by Michael, Anna, and Gabriel Bell of Dragonfly Forge. It is forged antique wrought iron, pierced and carved in an openwork floral motiff.

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Other measurements:

nakago nagasa: 9 1/4” (23.5 cm)
sori: 1/2” (1.27 cm)
kasane at habaki: 1/4” (64 mm)
motohaba: 1 3/16” (3.02 cm)
sakihaba: 7/8” (2.22 cm)

$8,600

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Silver habaki. Copper seppa.

The tsuba is forged of antique wrought iron, in a rounded square form with a raised rim. Pierced and carved dragonfly motiff, with ude-nuke-ana. Unique design by Michael.

Koshirae with black-on-black ‘ghost tiger stripe’ lacquered saya. Buffalo horn koiguchi, kurigata and kojiri. Handle with full-wrap same-kawa(rayskin) under black silk handle-wrap. Dragonfly menuki of gold-plated silver. Higo style fuchigashira of shibuichi. Gold-plated silver shitodome. ‘Red-black’ silk sageo.

Unfortunately, the final polish is of somewhat lower quality and there is a visible blemish where the polisher slipped with the burnishing needle on the shinogiji. The beauty of the steel can still be thoroughly appreciated, but a touch up polish by a more qualified polisher at a later time would certainly further enhance the subtle activity in the steel.

FOR SALE

$11,500

Two sword bags by Anna Bell.

Dragonfly Forge is now proud to start offering sword bags custom to fit each sword. They are handmade by Anna Bell of Dragonfly Forge here in our shop in Oregon. Every bag is padded with quilting material, keeping the swords well protected for storage and/or travel.

Prices:

Small tanto size bag: $45
Medium wakizashi size bag: $55
Large katana size bag: $65

In order to fit the bag for the sword, the following measurements of the sword are needed:
Total length of sword
Total length of handle
Measurement of the diameter of tsuba (if it has one)

For more information and or to place an order, please contact Anna Bell, at anna@dragonflyforge.com.

2009 OKCA Show Best Art Knife of Show

Fully polished Tanto in the shobu-zukuri style of standard-twist forge-welded cable construction. 10 inch nagasa with dynamic hamon.

Copper habaki. Koshirae mounted with hamidashi tsuba of antique forged wrought iron with matching wari-bashi (or wari-kogai). Seppa of copper. Partially ribbed, black and red, two-tone saya, “tiger stripe” pattern. Buffalo horn koiguchi, kojiri, and kurigata.  Gold and silver shitodome.  Black silk sageo.

Handle wrapped is black silk ito over a full-wrap of same. Gold shitodome and dragon menuki. Fuchigashira of shibuichi.

Come with small  “Best Art Knife 2009″ award and custom handmade cotton sword bag in olive green by Anna Bell.

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FOR SALE

$7,200

For more photos and information read this work-in-progress blog, which was written during the making of the koshirae. It has a series of step-by-step photos.

Overall length of 10 and 3/4 inches.

In a simplykoshirae, in similar style to most kwaiken, only slightly larger, with black and red lacquer-work. Fuchigashira of buffalo horn. Silver mekugi-ana fittings and ring for sageo. Black silk sageo (not pictured).

By Michael Bell.

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FOR SALE

$3,200

Copper habaki. Koshirae mounted with hamidashi tsuba of antique forged wrought iron with matching wari-bashi (or wari-kogai). Seppa of copper. Partially ribbed, black and red, two-tone saya, “tiger stripe” pattern. Black silk sageo.

Handle wrapped is black silk ito over a full-wrap of same. Gold shitodome and dragon menuki. Fuchigashira of shibuichi. By Gabriel Bell.

This tanto is Gabriel’s finest piece to date. The blade has some wonderful activity and nice ashi thanks to a well executed heat-treatment. Given how well this tanto came out, Gabriel used it as a opportunity to showcase his koshirae-making talents. Wari-bashi and a hamidashi tsuba were forged out of antique wrought iron to mount the blade in Gabriel’s personal favorite style.

Because of this tanto has so much time lavished on it, as well as it’s extra embellishments, it will be available after the Oregon Knife Collectors Association (OKCA) Show in April.

Photos to be posted soon.

FOR SALE

$7,200

More photos and information read this work-in-progress blog, which was written during the making of the koshirae. It has a series of step-by-step photos.

Katana as displayed at exhibit.

The katana, 28 inch nagasa, with bohi,  is constructed of composite cable.

Silver habaki.  Koshirae in han-dachi style in shibuichi with gold shitodome.

Pierced tsuba of folded antique wrought iron in the Higo style of floral motif. Silver and gold Buddhist ken menuki. Tsuka wrapped in brown silk ito over black lacquered same-kawa. Polychrome lacquered saya.

The katana comes in a handmade sword bag with a copy of the museum exhibit catalog signed by Michael Bell.

AVAILABLE TO SHIP IMMEDIATELY

$16,500

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Bare blade chisa-katana by Michael Bell

Single-twist cable steel construction, shinogi-zukuri, chu-kissaki, tori-zori, high shinogi.

nagasa 23” (59.7 cm)

nakago nagasa 9 1/4 inches (23.5 cm)

sori 1/2 inch (1.27 cm)

kasane at habaki 1/4 inch (64 mm)

motohaba 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm)

sakihaba 7/8 inch (2.22 cm)

Ready for polishing stones. Mounting options also available.

$1725

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Copper habaki. Silver dragonfly menuki over black lacquered same. Horn fuchigashira, koiguchi, and kurigata. Black lacquered saya.

SOLD!

20 and 7/8^th inch nagasa

Hand stoned to 320 grit (binsui-do).

SOLD!