(Video) Recreating a Katsuhira tsuba

[Jaepheth]

Video of Ford Hallam recreating a lost 19th century tsuba (Japanese sword's hand guard)

Video Link

Watching him work is just mesmerizing, and the finished work is just a joy to look at; especially after seeing the work that went into it.

[Ford Prefect]

That was really incredible work. Not only is it impressive seeing Hallam create such a thing, it actually helps put Katsuhira's skill in perspective. All those individual stripes ...

[Lord Revan]

especially when you remember that back into those times Japan was rather backward and insular nation (I'm assuming this was made before the restoration of the emperor's power) so alot of the tools Hallam used in this work just wouldn't have been avaible even though technically they had been invented.

[LaCroix]

especially when you remember that back into those times Japan was rather backward and insular nation (I'm assuming this was made before the restoration of the emperor's power) so alot of the tools Hallam used in this work just wouldn't have been avaible even though technically they had been invented.

And which ones would that be? The jigsaw, the file, the hammer, grinding stones or the engraving chisels?

[Lord Revan]

especially when you remember that back into those times Japan was rather backward and insular nation (I'm assuming this was made before the restoration of the emperor's power) so alot of the tools Hallam used in this work just wouldn't have been avaible even though technically they had been invented.

And which ones would that be? The jigsaw, the file, the hammer, grinding stones or the engraving chisels?

no need to be rude, I meant things like electric lighting or magnifying glasses, though now that I look what I wrote I should be have said "some" and not "alot", so that's my bad there.

[Jaepheth]

I'm no expert, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the original was cut entirely with chisels and without a jeweler's saw.

I imagine such fine blades that break easily and would thus have to be regularly purchased/imported and cut into the Katsuhira's margins wouldn't have been too appealing.

Though it probably only saved a few days of labor at most to use a saw instead of chiseling out those areas; which out of a 5 month project is not a huge deal.