Island Blacksmith - Summer 2016

In this issue: a full sized tanto from the Tools for Satoyama project, a new video series called TimeWarp, and another installment of the TLDW workshop observation series. The collection of video resources on the Crossed Heart Forge channel is growing and there are plenty of ideas in the works for new projects and DIY experiments, so be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more.

Please visit the website at islandblacksmith.ca and follow us over on Instagram to see photos of work in progress, life on the island, and things that inspire.

TLDW - Realtime in the Workshop

Not for the faint of heart or short of focus! At the other end of the spectrum from the TimeWarp series, carefully observing these long and meditative videos for detail whilst chopping charcoal may be considered a reasonable approximation of the pace and format of a traditional apprenticeship experience.

In this episode, hand carving a classical aikuchi tanto style mounting using traditional Japanese woodworking tools. Note that this is the longer process version intended for serious students of knifemaking, the shorter overview edit may be found here.

Some interesting items to look for include the use of sokui (rice paste glue), several tools that were made right here at the forge, and dried tokusa (wild horsetail plant) as a polishing medium for the wood.

Watch: TLDW #5 - Carving an Aikuchi Tanto Koshirae

In the shadow of Mt. Arrowsmith,
deep in a forest clearing,
away from the things of man,
there is a place where blades are born
of earth, and air, and fire, and water.