This one is a real cutter, and I will be using it for that purpose. So apart from having a nicely polished mune and shinogi-ji, I expect that if there is any flaws in the geometry - which I doubt - they may be corrected, and the rest should be a cutting polish.
I don't think Howard makes any wobbles in the surfaces of his blades.
The cutting polish, however should not hinder the blade to be etched to bring out the hamon (so we're talking of a hybrid polish) as I feel that a Howard blade without a visible hamon is not complete, no matter how simple it may be, in this case.
THE TSUKA
If you see the blade specifications at this link
, you will notice that I have requested for a 12 inch nakago.
Therefore, the Tsuka is to be a 13 and 3/4 inch
long.
SAME
Obviously a good one and naturally full wrapp.
THE KOSHIRAE
As for the Koshirae, it is as
follows.
Tsuba is now being made and will require blackening
the way you do it. I will be sending it to you. It is made of mild steel. This
is a tsuba I designed and it has very important numerological significance.
Click for a larger view
Fuchi-Gashira
is this one which was scanned from Bugei's
catalog. It was the only one that I found to be matching with the Tsuba.
The Menuki
is this one, again to match with the circles of the tsuba. If you have a similar
one without any engravings at all, the better.
As for the ITO I definitely want the BLACK TSUNAMI as it gives the best possible grip I have experienced so far.
The SEPPA is to be
rope design, silver plated.
HABAKI is to be the
BUGEI'S CATALOG S40608 GROOVED and SILVER
PLATED.
As for the SAYA my
first choice goes for this one that you call STRIPPED SAYA
and my second choice goes for
the TRADITIONAL SAYA which is this one.
In both cases I look for a round Kurigata with
silver plated Shitodome. The center of the Horn Kurigata should be placed at
exactly at 5 inches from the Koiguchi mouth.
Koiguchi, Kurigata
and KOJIRI should be in black horn.
SAYA LENGTH not less than 32 inches.
SAGEO is to be all black silk, 4 loops
instead of three loops, like this one.
Same style, though.
Click thumbnail if necessary.
I think this is all. I'd appreciate if you would print this. Only way to keep the records, I suppose.