Hira-zukuri Ko-wakizashi

Product Description for Hira-zukuri Ko-wakizashi

Maker: Anthony DiCristofano (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 85423
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 13.87 in.
Total length: 19.12 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.42 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.28 in.
Item weight: 16.96 oz.
Shipment weight: 23.2 oz.
Blade: Blend of tamahagane and oroshigane
Bolster: Solid silver habaki
Handle: Alder wood
Sheath: Alderwood
Description: This Wakizashi is the work of renowned bladesmith Anthony DiCristofano. The blade was forged in close adherence to traditional Japanese methods and combines tamahagane (jewel steel) and oroshigane into a majestic tanto. By combining tamahagene with oroshigane, DiCristofano is able to assure an ideal carbon content for edge holding and durability. Tamahagane is extracted from iron sand using techniques developed over 1500 years ago. The blade is dense forged ko-itame (wood grain pattern resembling the surface of a wooden board). A traditional clay heat treatment results in a hamon characterized by choji midare with gunome and ashi. This heat treatment line is a repetitive wave pattern with clover or mushroom shaped tips. The resulting blade is soft and supportive at the spine, with a very hard blade edge. The nakago (tang) is finished with sujikai file marks (slanting toward the spine). DiCristofano marked the nakago on the omete (front) "Sukemitsu". On the reverse, he has marked it "heisei ju hachi nen, haru" (The 18th year of Heisei, Spring) -- "2006, Spring".
The blade has bo-hi (grooves) on both sides. It has a wide mihaba (width) at just shy of 1 1/2 inches and relatively thin kasane (thickness) at just over 1/4 inch. The spine is iori mune (formed as an inverted V). The blade has been fully polished and comes in shirasaya. A solid silver habaki (blade collar) protects the blade from scratches caused by the saya (sheath). Naturally, the handle fully disassembles.
Exceptional fit and finish throughout.


Availability: Not currently available