In this video, I take you through my process of making my Ghost XL model; a modern wakizashi-styled blade from start to finish. Using 80CRV2 blade steel, I begin by cutting out and profiling the blades. I then prep them for heat treating by drilling my pin holes, adding my makers mark, and doing my pregrinds. I heat treat my own blades in my Evenheat kiln and quench in Parks 50 quenching oil, I temper the blades and draw back the temper on the spine to enhance toughness and durability.
Next, I wet grind in my final grinds, to get the desired edge geometry and final appearance of the grinds. The blades are then sandblasted and rust-blued to achieve a sleek, dark, and durable finish. I also hand-shape the handle scales for an outstanding hand feel and good grip on the knife. Finally I craft custom Kydex sheaths to perfectly fit each blade.
At the end of the video, watch as I demonstrate the cutting power of these modern wakizashi-style swords by slicing through a four inch wide heavy-duty towing strap to show off their sharpness and functionality.
If you’re interested in owning one of these handmade wakizashi blades, check my website to see if one is available: https://northedgetools.com/products/ghost-xl.
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