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.
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.
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May 30th, 2009 · News
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 
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.
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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.
