jblakey
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I'm very excited about this new project I've just started on. Thanks to a request from none other than Adam Frikin' Savage, I've begun putting together a screen accurate replica of the Bride's sword. I had posted up some pics of my Bride's Sword (BS) a little while ago, and Adam contacted me concerning building a replica for him. I explained that there were three options available:
1. Cheap, not so accurate, barely usable.
2. More expensive, not so accurate, very usable.
3. Very accurate, not usable (for anything other than iaito drawing practice), very expensive.
To my great excitement, Adam picked option #3! I'd finally be able to build a spot-on replica, using special order Japanese iaito parts (just like in the films). I'd also get to put together and start using a home workshop CNC (for the carvings).
So, here's where things stand at this point :
1. I've determined sword dimensions using promo material, screen shots, and some pics of the stunt sword taken for "Profiles in History" Hollywood auction number 37.
2. I've researched all the parts used on the sword, tracked down their vendors, ordered relevant bits and bobs.
3. I've tested out using Gold Mylar tape for the stripes down the sides of the saya. I'm 99% sure this is how the stripes were done in the films. The mylar looks great, sticks great, and look just like in the film.
4. I've begun re-creating the artwork involved with the sword. These are the carvings I'll need a CNC for (not being a carver myself). They are 1) the Lion, 2) the Foo-Dog, and 3) the Tri-foil leaf mon. At this point the lion is ready to go, and I'm currently working on the foo-dog.
Here's a list of supplies I've ordered, and where from:
1. Blade/saya/habaki/sageo
Ordered from Tozando Iaito, Japan. Blade is a 23.5 shaku (28") standard iaito blade, with no bo-hi. Hamon pattern is "Ujishige" (an unlisted option). Saya is kuroro, plain shiny black. Habaki is natural brass.
2. Fuchi/Kashira/KoJiri/Tsuba/Menuki/Seppa
Ordered from Yamato Budogu. Fuchi/Kashira/Kojiri are called "Momoji" or Maple Leaf. Antiqued brass (which I'll patinate). Tsuba is called "Hanzo", Menuki are called "Kogosho". I'll need to gold-leaf the leaf on the fuchi.
3. Mylar Gold Chrome tape, 3/4 inch. From HoopTapeCanada.com.
4. Leather handle wrapping (ito), from Fred Lohman Company. Best on market, 8mm, non-strech.
5. Grade 1 dried and scraped rayskin, and a set of gold-plated kashira ****odome from Namikawa Heibei. Beautiful skin.
6. Krylon gold-leafing pens. eBay.
7. One gold-filled 6mm brass bangle, rounded on outside, flat on inside. eBay.
8. Chunk of copper pipe. Home Depot.
Here are the dimensions I've come up with so far:
- Tsuka, 27.95cm including fittings
- Ito width 8mm
- Saya, 75.6cm
- Habaki, 2.54cm
- Koiguchi Band, 1cm
- Blade Length, 71cm
- Gold Band, 6mm wide
- Distance from Koigouchi to Gold Band, 52.2cm
- Distance from Gold Band to Kojiri, 23.45cm
- Distance from Kurigata to Lion, 19.7cm
- Distance from Koiguchi to Kurigata, 8.2cm
- Distance from Koiguchi Band to Leaf Carving, 1.18cm
- Distance from Habaki to Foo Dog Carving, 6mm
- Dimensions of Leaf Carving, 2.5cm x 2.5 cm
- Dimensions of Foo Dog Carving, 1.9 cm x 3 cm
- Dimensions of Lion Carving, 2.9cm x 9.6cm
Well, I think that's all for now. I'm waiting for the custom ordered parts to come in from Japan, it should give me time to finish up the artwork.
Thanks,
jason
I'm very excited about this new project I've just started on. Thanks to a request from none other than Adam Frikin' Savage, I've begun putting together a screen accurate replica of the Bride's sword. I had posted up some pics of my Bride's Sword (BS) a little while ago, and Adam contacted me concerning building a replica for him. I explained that there were three options available:
1. Cheap, not so accurate, barely usable.
2. More expensive, not so accurate, very usable.
3. Very accurate, not usable (for anything other than iaito drawing practice), very expensive.
To my great excitement, Adam picked option #3! I'd finally be able to build a spot-on replica, using special order Japanese iaito parts (just like in the films). I'd also get to put together and start using a home workshop CNC (for the carvings).
So, here's where things stand at this point :
1. I've determined sword dimensions using promo material, screen shots, and some pics of the stunt sword taken for "Profiles in History" Hollywood auction number 37.
2. I've researched all the parts used on the sword, tracked down their vendors, ordered relevant bits and bobs.
3. I've tested out using Gold Mylar tape for the stripes down the sides of the saya. I'm 99% sure this is how the stripes were done in the films. The mylar looks great, sticks great, and look just like in the film.
4. I've begun re-creating the artwork involved with the sword. These are the carvings I'll need a CNC for (not being a carver myself). They are 1) the Lion, 2) the Foo-Dog, and 3) the Tri-foil leaf mon. At this point the lion is ready to go, and I'm currently working on the foo-dog.
Here's a list of supplies I've ordered, and where from:
1. Blade/saya/habaki/sageo
Ordered from Tozando Iaito, Japan. Blade is a 23.5 shaku (28") standard iaito blade, with no bo-hi. Hamon pattern is "Ujishige" (an unlisted option). Saya is kuroro, plain shiny black. Habaki is natural brass.
2. Fuchi/Kashira/KoJiri/Tsuba/Menuki/Seppa
Ordered from Yamato Budogu. Fuchi/Kashira/Kojiri are called "Momoji" or Maple Leaf. Antiqued brass (which I'll patinate). Tsuba is called "Hanzo", Menuki are called "Kogosho". I'll need to gold-leaf the leaf on the fuchi.
3. Mylar Gold Chrome tape, 3/4 inch. From HoopTapeCanada.com.
4. Leather handle wrapping (ito), from Fred Lohman Company. Best on market, 8mm, non-strech.
5. Grade 1 dried and scraped rayskin, and a set of gold-plated kashira ****odome from Namikawa Heibei. Beautiful skin.
6. Krylon gold-leafing pens. eBay.
7. One gold-filled 6mm brass bangle, rounded on outside, flat on inside. eBay.
8. Chunk of copper pipe. Home Depot.
Here are the dimensions I've come up with so far:
- Tsuka, 27.95cm including fittings
- Ito width 8mm
- Saya, 75.6cm
- Habaki, 2.54cm
- Koiguchi Band, 1cm
- Blade Length, 71cm
- Gold Band, 6mm wide
- Distance from Koigouchi to Gold Band, 52.2cm
- Distance from Gold Band to Kojiri, 23.45cm
- Distance from Kurigata to Lion, 19.7cm
- Distance from Koiguchi to Kurigata, 8.2cm
- Distance from Koiguchi Band to Leaf Carving, 1.18cm
- Distance from Habaki to Foo Dog Carving, 6mm
- Dimensions of Leaf Carving, 2.5cm x 2.5 cm
- Dimensions of Foo Dog Carving, 1.9 cm x 3 cm
- Dimensions of Lion Carving, 2.9cm x 9.6cm
Well, I think that's all for now. I'm waiting for the custom ordered parts to come in from Japan, it should give me time to finish up the artwork.
Thanks,
jason
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