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Montino Bourbon · 22nd May 2011, 12:45 AM

I took a one-week long smithing class and made this. Yes, I have videos of me hammering the red-hot steel.

I was inspired by the 12th century sword “Hocho Masamune". The "yaki-ire", quenching the steel to harden it after applying clay to the blade, came out perfectly, and the hamon is clearly visible.

My friend and colleague Michael Bell of Dragonfly Forge taught the class. I made the sheath and handle, sort of "Shira-saya" style, after I got back.

Bill M · 22nd May 2011, 02:46 AM

One of my dream pieces. Ron has the only one I ever saw that was similar. I very much admire the way he acquired it! Scratch and sniff!!"

This much gold is very rare. Makes Islamic men weak. "Unless you are a king." Well-known Moro authority told me. Perhaps both of these were made for kings?

A.alnakkas · 22nd May 2011, 08:59 AM

"This much gold is very rare. Makes Islamic men weak"

Not more then other human beings

beautiful pieces all and lovely Craftmanship, Montino.

asomotif · 22nd May 2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

This much gold is very rare. Makes Islamic men weak. "Unless you are a king."

Weakens your budget, unless you are a king

Very nice piece. Love the structure of the ivory.

Best regards,
Willem

Gavin Nugent · 22nd May 2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Weakens your budget, unless you are a king

Damn right there, my budget is very weak now

My thanks to a quiet member for helping me obtain this example.....hmmmmm gold

Gav

A.alnakkas · 22nd May 2011, 02:44 PM

Amazing ! congrats Gav. Is it wootz?

Gavin Nugent · 22nd May 2011, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

Amazing ! congrats Gav. Is it wootz?

G'day Lofty,

No wootz but a very fine patterened blade. E.Astvatsaturyan shows a small line drawing of the same pattern in the work on Caucasian arms. The steel quality is amazing, extreme gratitude to he who made this available to me.

Gav

Spunjer · 23rd May 2011, 07:25 AM

Wow, that's a beauty, maurice! Love the inlay work!
I think what Bill meant was the belief in old Mindanao, not necessarily Islam in general even at that point in time...

DanielUka · 1st May 2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Damn right there, my budget is very weak now

My thanks to a quiet member for helping me obtain this example.....hmmmmm gold

Gav

AMAZING !! very beautiful weapon ! where did you find it ?

David R · 3rd May 2012, 11:51 AM

These have just arrived. To be frank, when I bid on them I neither expected nor particularly wanted to get them. It was an experiment to see what would be accepted as a bid from the UK, ...and I won,... and they are here. So what have I got? Coming from China........they are slightly different from the posted vendors photo, one of them has a tang 27 cm 10.5 ins long but otherwise just as described and shown, width from barb to barb 5 cm on one and just under that on the other.

Timo Nieminen · 3rd May 2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David R

These have just arrived. To be frank, when I bid on them I neither expected nor particularly wanted to get them. It was an experiment to see what would be accepted as a bid from the UK, ...and I won,... and they are here. So what have I got? Coming from China........they are slightly different from the posted vendors photo, one of them has a tang 27 cm 10.5 ins long but otherwise just as described and shown, width from barb to barb 5 cm on one and just under that on the other.

Modern, and an attempt at a replica of bronze Chinese arrowheads, Shang, Zhou, through to Warring States style. Most Chinese heads had relatively short tangs, but long tangs were used too. Also socketed heads, especially in Qin and Han. After that, iron/steel heads rather than bronze.

"Attempt" I say, since these are huge compared to the usual long-tanged Chinese bronze arrowheads. And very fat, too. The long 25cm or so ones are usually thinner, with much smaller blades. So, these look like the maker got the size very wrong. Perhaps these should be about 10-12 cm long?

I don't recognise what particular heads these are meant to be copies of, so can't check what the original size was.

These are usually brass, rather than bronze like the originals. The quality of the modern copies (not just of arrowheads, but spears, axes, swords, ge) varies a lot. Some are quite nice.

22nd May 2011, 12:45 AM	#1
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	not exactly “ethnographic”... I took a one-week long smithing class and made this. Yes, I have videos of me hammering the red-hot steel. I was inspired by the 12th century sword “Hocho Masamune". The "yaki-ire", quenching the steel to harden it after applying clay to the blade, came out perfectly, and the hamon is clearly visible. My friend and colleague Michael Bell of Dragonfly Forge taught the class. I made the sheath and handle, sort of "Shira-saya" style, after I got back. Attached Images

22nd May 2011, 02:46 AM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	One of my dream pieces. Ron has the only one I ever saw that was similar. I very much admire the way he acquired it! Scratch and sniff!!" This much gold is very rare. Makes Islamic men weak. "Unless you are a king." Well-known Moro authority told me. Perhaps both of these were made for kings? Attached Images

22nd May 2011, 08:59 AM	#3
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	"This much gold is very rare. Makes Islamic men weak" Not more then other human beings beautiful pieces all and lovely Craftmanship, Montino. Last edited by A.alnakkas; 22nd May 2011 at 10:50 AM.

3rd May 2012, 11:51 AM	#10
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,123	Arrived today. These have just arrived. To be frank, when I bid on them I neither expected nor particularly wanted to get them. It was an experiment to see what would be accepted as a bid from the UK, ...and I won,... and they are here. So what have I got? Coming from China........they are slightly different from the posted vendors photo, one of them has a tang 27 cm 10.5 ins long but otherwise just as described and shown, width from barb to barb 5 cm on one and just under that on the other. Attached Images

22nd May 2011, 02:44 PM	#6
A.alnakkas Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuwait Posts: 1,340	Amazing ! congrats Gav. Is it wootz?

23rd May 2011, 07:25 AM	#8
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Wow, that's a beauty, maurice! Love the inlay work! I think what Bill meant was the belief in old Mindanao, not necessarily Islam in general even at that point in time...