"Baby Naginata" style weapon with KC Naginata blade.
This is the latest of my experimental Japanese style mountings projects. It was done mainly to experiment with traditional polearms mountings, and also as a "just in case home indoors-optimized" practical weapon.
The blade is Naginata from KC (a bit short at 10.5"). I polished it with sandpaper (to 1200 grit), etched with vinegar, and cleaned up with Simichrome. This treatment brought up a weird hamon - double and with some strange break in it. The pictures don't show all of it very well, so I also have a drawing (like an oshigata).
The handle is only 26" long, made of strong
hickory with oval crossection (I used a sledgehammer handle as material). It is
traditionally reinforced with copper "Fuchi" and a band were the tang
ends, with a brass "Kashira" for the butt. There is also some black
laquered cord wrapping in front and near the butt, for looks and better gripping
surface.
The blade is held in by two brass pins, or Mekugi (placed in the middle of each
copper fitting), and can be dismounted as any Japanese style sword. There is a
small black polished buffalo horn Tsuba and two brass Seppa to complete the
assembly.
The saya is made of poplar wood, painted black, and has a copper band as Koiguchi to match the handle fittings.
Feel free to comment or ask questions, by email or on Swordforum (links are on my main page)!