Tanto in Kanmuri-otoshi-zukuri
 
"Naohiro"


blade length 26.7cm  width at the base 27mm  thickness at the base 6mm
style of shape: kanmuri-otoshi-zukuri
 
The hamon pattern is komidare and small choji, made of konie(small particles) and nie(large particles).
The hamon becomes wider toward the kissaki, and the particles becomes larger toward the kissaki.
The steel is fine and tight near the hamon, and is a little rough near the ridge line.
The layer pattern is mainly a little large wood grain.

This blade has a steel construction of hyoshigi (two blocks).
On this blade the difference between the two steels is easy to be seen.
Please watch the photo below, there is a shadow-like deeper colour area along the hamon.
But it is not a shadow of the hamon, the deeper colour area is the cutting edge steel, the shallow colour area is the back one.
The border is come from difference of the steels as material, not come from tempered effect.
We can see every thing honestly by its good polishing of the classical style. (=>polishing)
 
 

"Keiun Naohiro"

"tsuchinoe tora Jugatsu nichi" ( 1998 October )
 
Once there was a happening on this blade in the Keiun forge.
On the rough shaping stage, just after the tempering work, an apprentice of the smith had ground this blade so much, and broke the shape.
Before he broke it, it had 8mm thickness and 30mm width at the base. And the hamon line was sharp and hard.
Then it was shaped again by the master .
Now the hamon looks old, because the hamon line has become mild by much grinding.
It is good example to study the inner effect of tempering.
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