Dragonfly Forge

Swordsmithing Dōjō 2010 School Year Schedule

Gabriel Bell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:21:20 +0000

This past week, we scheduled the 2010 school year for our swordsmithing school. Like we have done in the past, the school will begin the school year in April after the annual Oregon Knife Collectors Association (OKCA) Show. We have scheduled one week of class every month from April to September of 2010. October will be left unscheduled at this time, although if there is sufficient interest in an additional forging class, we will add one.

Please visit Tomboyama Nihontō Tanren Dōjō’s website to see the 2010 schedule and reserve a place in our classes.

Photos of Completed Tensho Koshirae

Gabriel Bell — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:21:18 +0000

Dragonfly Forge recently completed and delivered a commissioned koshirae for a katana by top Japanese swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara. The photos of the project have been uploaded to our site.

The koshirae is in the Tensho style, of which some characteristic stylistic features are: the waisted tsuka, leather tsuka-maki which is wrapped over, rather than through, the kashira, which is made of buffalo horn and is approximately the same size as the fuchi. This koshirae has a shibuichi kogai inlet into the saya. The fuchi is also shibuichi. The menuki are of “water dragons” and also matching shibuichi, wrapped in leather ito, which is lacquered in a dark brown, over black lacquered same. The saya is a bright “Momoyama Red” and black striped pattern with gold highlights. It features buffalo horn koiguchi, kojiri, kaerizuno, and kurigata, with gold-plated shitodome. The sageo is of reddish black silk.

The large tsuba is of antique wrought iron with lustrous dark brown patina that will continue to darken and even out nicely as it ages. It is of a crab (kani) silhouette, pierced and carved, and inspired by a classic Owari school design. To see a photo of the tsuba in the process of being sculpted, visit this page.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156–1868 Exhibit

Gabriel Bell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:33:32 +0000

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is currently featuring an outstanding exhibit: Art of the Samurai Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156–1868. The ambitious loan exhibition will bring together 214 masterpieces, including 34 National Treasures, 64 Important Cultural Properties, and six Important Art objects, a number of which have never traveled outside Japan. The several meitō being displayed include the exceptional 12th-century blade called Ôkanehira, disputably known as the greatest of all Japanese swords.

The last day of the exhibit is January 10, 2010.

While we will not be able to attend ourselves, its currently seems like a worthwhile exhibit for anyone interested in nihontō who can attend. A collection this large available for viewing in one place is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

August 2009 Oroshigane Seminar Results

Gabriel Bell — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:27:06 +0000

With a super busy summer here at Dragonfly Forge, we were finally able to update our swordsmithing school’s website, www.tomboyama.com with some photos and information regarding our August, 2009 Oroshigane Seminar.

We hope to update this site with some photos of the resulting oroshigane blades forged by Michael and Gabriel from the results of the class soon!

A successful and enjoyable August Oroshigane Seminar!

33rd Annual San Francisco Token Kai

Gabriel Bell — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:02:16 +0000

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the 33rd annual San Francisco Token Kai will be held at the San Francisco Airport Marriott. Once again, Michael and Gabriel Bell of Dragonfly Forge will be attending the show on Saturday and Sunday. The show is sponsored by the Northern California Japanese Sword Club; for more information visit the club’s site. The Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) – American Branch (NBTHK-AB) will be hosting exhibits and seminars well worth attending.

We hope to see you there!

Seashell ‘kai’ Tsuba by Anna Bell

Gabriel Bell — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:34:47 +0000

This tsuba is in the Higo style, with two seashell, or ‘kai’ in Japanese, pierced and carved in negative silhouette. It is forged from antique wrought iron. It was pierced and carved by Anna Bell and given a finish and patina that emphasizes the inherent beauty of the iron’s organic grain structure.

The tsuba itself is only one piece of a larger ongoing collaborative mounted katana project by the Bell family.

The blade itself is a katana of 25 inch (63.5 cm) nagasa forged of cable by Michael Bell. Point is Michael’s standard extended chu-kissaki. The hamon shows excellent control with activity due to the cables grain throughout.

The tsuba, pictured above, is made of antique wrought iron by Anna Bell.

The blade has a copper habaki by Gabriel Bell. The koshirae is also by Gabriel. Black lacquered saya with buffalo horn kojiri, koiguchi, and kurigata. Silver shitodome. Tsuka is full-wrap same lacquered in black, with Higo style fuchigashia in shibuichi, wrapped in brown silk ito.

More pictures and information to be posted as work progresses.

Custom Handmade Sword Bags

Gabriel Bell — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:48:06 +0000

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.

Dragonfly Forge has a Facebook!

Gabriel Bell — Sat, 30 May 2009 21:48:07 +0000

If you don’t what Facebook is then this probably has no importance to you. But now that more and more people are on Facebook, Dragonfly Forge has decided to jump on the bandwagon too!

So go ahead and visit us on Facebook, you can even become a fan

2009 OKCA Best Art Knife of Show tanto, For Sale

Gabriel Bell — Sat, 09 May 2009 03:59:42 +0000

This tanto by Gabriel Bell was awarded “Best Art Knife of Show” at the 2009 OKCA Show in Eugene, OR. This sword showcases the ability of the only second-generation Japanese swordsmith outside Japan.

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.

FOR SALE

$8,700

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.

2009 School Year of Dragonfly Mountain Swordsmithing School Begins

Gabriel Bell — Sat, 09 May 2009 03:05:29 +0000

As the fruit trees around the shop blossom and the everything else on Dragonfly Mountain begins to grow at a nearly unmanageable rate, Tomboyama Nihonto Tanren Dojo once again opens its doors to students.

We already had our first, very sucessful, Basic Forging Course, and classes scheduled for our swordsmithing school are already starting to fill up, so those very interested in attending one of our courses should sign up before space runs out.

Our scheduled classes run from April to August, although we may schedule a class for the beginning of October as well, depending on interest. During the winter, we will once again close our doors, as winter storms and other weather conditions can make travel difficult.