This started out as a larger tanto blade, which had developed a small crack during the quench...
I normalised the blade, cut of the portion of the kissaki that had the crack, and re-shaped the kissaki, before claying the blade for the quench.
After hardening, you can just see the ghost of the new hamon...
After finish grinding, the blade is given a test etch...
Before forging and brazing a copper habaki, and filing it to shape
A brass seppa is made and fitted, and the sycamore wood is split for the saya and tsuka, chiselled out to a precise fit, and glued back together...
The saya and tsuka are rasped to shape and a mekugi ana is bored, tapered and fitted with a horn mekugi to draw everything up tight...
