Hamidashi with KC Tanto blade.

This is a full hamidashi koshirae made for a KC tanto blade. All more or less traditionally constructed (not counting things like use of modern spray lacquer), and all parts except menuki made from scratch.

The blade itself is pretty well shaped for a KC, no reshaping of either blade or tang was necessary this time. I gave it a better polish combined with sharpening, but the vinegar etch displayed some really unorthodox things going on in the steel (a total of 3 hamons visible, converging or shifting in places, and an odd spot here and there). No beauty, but definitely a strong and sharp blade.

The vital statistics are:
blade length (nagasa) 10"
width (at machi) 1 1/8" (28 mm)
thickness (at mune-machi) just under 1/4" (6 mm)
handle (tsuka) 4 1/4"
total length in saya 16 1/2".

Handle (tsuka):

Tsuka core is made of poplar and covered in same (ray skin), lacquered and sanded (not totally flat, some texture left for grip). I think this is the technique that was called "same-nuri" in Japanese? 
The tsuka is decorated with nice repro menuki of gilded coiled dragons, the only parts I had to purchase rather then make.
All other metal fittings (Fuchi/Kashira and Tsuba) are made of copper with so called "stone surface" ("ishime"?) finish. The Tsuba is of course a small "hamidashi" size, my favorite for a tanto blade. 
A pair of fileworked brass seppa completes the assembly, and everything is held together by a buffalo horn mekugi (pin).

Saya (scabbard):

The saya is also made of poplar, lacquered black, then covered in clear lacquer with some gold dust sprinkled in it (gradually thinning out from the point up). 
The koiguchi and kurikata are both made of black buffalo horn and clear lacquered together with the rest of saya. 
And of course, the top of the saya is covered in "same-nuri" (similar to the tsuka, but sanded and lacquered somewhat more smooth). This serves two purposes: looks nice (at least a bit unusual) and protects the saya from being split or cut through during tanto-jutsu practice.
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