A Wooden Wakazashi

[johnpipe108]

My ex's six-year old has a cheap plastic toy sword, and asked me to make him a wooden one. I took the toy, a flimsy wakazashi, traced it onto a piece of 1/4" oak from Lowes, laminated two pieces around the hilt, and sanded to a profile. Shown in the first couple photos with "tsuka-ito practice" (red bias tape).



I whipped up a saya (scabbard) out of (I think) Honduras mahogany:



I went to a craft & fabric shop to find something suitable for the ito, that will hold up to play; I found some black fabric tape that should do, and I used a piece of naugahyde for the skin.



Here it is with the sageo re-tied.



My tsuka-ito wrapping isn't perfect, but then I've never had any training, and I've done the best I could on this (my hands are tired from many tries at wrapping!).

Regards, John

 

[Weekendworrior]

I like it. I like it a lot! Nice work.

 

[Sealeveler]

He ought to get plenty of use from that one,nice job.
Tony

 

[Mike Davis]

Very nice work as always. How are you doing, John?

 

[CaptnA]

looks pretty good - Can't imagine a 6 year old that wouldn't want one just like it!

 

[awldune]

That looks amazing! How did you make the scabbard?

 

[TenguWoodwork]

Great job! Nice choice on the color scheme, and I love the butterfly knot on the scabbard. Did you mimic an actual blade to keep the hand guard in place?

 

[MagGeorge]

Cool sword! It looks authentic and believable. Great work on the shape, wrapping and the knots. I bet the kid was delighted to have it. Great job!

 

[thsb]

That is very cool. great, special thing for your him.