Andy Jones
@andyjones147.bsky.social
Professional dad, smith, martial artist, geek, living history enthusiast, and lover of crafts.
Gently drawing out the billet, after all folding has been completed, concentrating on the thickness.
November 1, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Gently drawing out the billet, after all folding has been completed, concentrating on the thickness.
Setting the first weld on the billet for a new project.
November 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Setting the first weld on the billet for a new project.
Getting there slowly.
September 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Getting there slowly.
Started the foundation polishing on a shobu zukuri wakizashi.
September 18, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Started the foundation polishing on a shobu zukuri wakizashi.
A quick etch on one of the katana, it will receive sashikomi polishing after the koshirae it made.
September 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A quick etch on one of the katana, it will receive sashikomi polishing after the koshirae it made.
This was one of the first knives I made, used daily for twelve years, and still going strong.
July 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
This was one of the first knives I made, used daily for twelve years, and still going strong.
And the polishing begins.
July 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
And the polishing begins.
Just finishing up some chisels for saya making.
July 9, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Just finishing up some chisels for saya making.
Another blade survived yaki ire, had a slight warp, now fixed.
I've got a lot of polishing in my near future.
I've got a lot of polishing in my near future.
July 1, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Another blade survived yaki ire, had a slight warp, now fixed.
I've got a lot of polishing in my near future.
I've got a lot of polishing in my near future.
Got the grinding done on the blade from yesterday.
Will be some time before this will get polish and dressed.
Will be some time before this will get polish and dressed.
June 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Got the grinding done on the blade from yesterday.
Will be some time before this will get polish and dressed.
Will be some time before this will get polish and dressed.
These four are all ready for heat treatment in the next few days.
June 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
These four are all ready for heat treatment in the next few days.
I've been building a heat treatment forge, with lots of length.
June 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I've been building a heat treatment forge, with lots of length.
Glued and drying, tsukamaki will be done next week.
June 11, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Glued and drying, tsukamaki will be done next week.
Core ready to receive the celluloid panels back on.
Though new samégawa would be more attractive, originality is more important here.
Though new samégawa would be more attractive, originality is more important here.
June 11, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Core ready to receive the celluloid panels back on.
Though new samégawa would be more attractive, originality is more important here.
Though new samégawa would be more attractive, originality is more important here.
Doing a bit of conservation/restoration on a shin gunto surrendered to a British officers in Burma.
Nothing has been done to it since the jungle, and the wood it very contaminated with rust, and will need replacing before the blade goes for polishing.
Nothing has been done to it since the jungle, and the wood it very contaminated with rust, and will need replacing before the blade goes for polishing.
June 11, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Doing a bit of conservation/restoration on a shin gunto surrendered to a British officers in Burma.
Nothing has been done to it since the jungle, and the wood it very contaminated with rust, and will need replacing before the blade goes for polishing.
Nothing has been done to it since the jungle, and the wood it very contaminated with rust, and will need replacing before the blade goes for polishing.
Clayed up, ready for yaki ire, and waiting for a day when I'm feeling brave.
May 6, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Clayed up, ready for yaki ire, and waiting for a day when I'm feeling brave.
Old patina stripped by boiling in citric acid, then the tsuba was heated, and oil applied until it reached a black with a hint of brown.
April 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Old patina stripped by boiling in citric acid, then the tsuba was heated, and oil applied until it reached a black with a hint of brown.
I had this tsuba sent to me.
Though made in Japan, it was produced by casting.
The owner wanted the patina darker, and the ridge removed from the nakago ana.
I removed the material with a lot of filing.
Though made in Japan, it was produced by casting.
The owner wanted the patina darker, and the ridge removed from the nakago ana.
I removed the material with a lot of filing.
April 26, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I had this tsuba sent to me.
Though made in Japan, it was produced by casting.
The owner wanted the patina darker, and the ridge removed from the nakago ana.
I removed the material with a lot of filing.
Though made in Japan, it was produced by casting.
The owner wanted the patina darker, and the ridge removed from the nakago ana.
I removed the material with a lot of filing.
This little one is off to kitchen life now it's finished.
April 13, 2025 at 9:00 PM
This little one is off to kitchen life now it's finished.
Making a little knife for the kitchen, for fine slicing garlic, scoring meat and the like.
Will give the handle a coat shellac to finish.
It's turned out ridiculously sharp, it can cut tomato thin as paper without deforming it's shape.
Will give the handle a coat shellac to finish.
It's turned out ridiculously sharp, it can cut tomato thin as paper without deforming it's shape.
April 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Making a little knife for the kitchen, for fine slicing garlic, scoring meat and the like.
Will give the handle a coat shellac to finish.
It's turned out ridiculously sharp, it can cut tomato thin as paper without deforming it's shape.
Will give the handle a coat shellac to finish.
It's turned out ridiculously sharp, it can cut tomato thin as paper without deforming it's shape.
Woke up a bit meh today, so broke out the Boba Fett socks to cheer me up.
February 28, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Woke up a bit meh today, so broke out the Boba Fett socks to cheer me up.
Hira zukuri tanto forged, ground, hardened, and tempered.
More work from this week to follow.
More work from this week to follow.
February 22, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Hira zukuri tanto forged, ground, hardened, and tempered.
More work from this week to follow.
More work from this week to follow.