Carnecchia Osoraku Tanto

This is one magnificent tanto. It is based on a style called Osoraku with an extremely long and stout tip (kissaki). Justin Carnecchia of Idaho forged the blade finally stopping somewhere around 3500 layers he figures. The activity in the blade goes much further than the obviously eye-popping hamon. To really see it all you need to go out into the sunlight and roll it in your hand. This project was a  long term investment of Justin's time and sweat. The first blade cracked during the quench and set us back. Luckily the next one survived the tortuous ordeal of plunging red hot steel into water.

I asked Justin to use black same gawa on the handle and then a brown silk ito (wrap). This matches my "Peace" katana from Bugei Trading co. The handle is waisted in the best tradition giving it a much better feel in the hand despite the extra  difficulty in wrapping it. Justin also made the traditional copper hibaki. To hold the knife in your hand is to appreciate the lethality of such a weapon. The small tsubua (guard) is blued damascus and nicely shaped.

The natural colors in the wooden saya compliments the silk wrapping and and black ray skin. All in all you would be hard pressed to find a nicer tanto and this is one of Justin's first efforts at this. He makes other hand forged knives in bowie, fighter, and hunting styles. I don't even want to know how  many hours Justin put into this because I would really feel guilty.

Check out more of Justins work at http://www.wrencoforge.com/