Barrett Shobu Zukuri Katana Project: Part 3 The Gashadokuro

This is the final update for the barrett shobu katana. Its all done and I made a video about the details n such. Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNEaZ36jJk Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c168HcPtOYY You can find other items from Rick Barrett Here www.barrettcustomknives.com This is obviously not a run of the mill sword. It is a custom sword project done to a very high standard with something of a fantasy theme.. Without going too far off the deep end. The sword is shobu zukuri style sword and does not match most contemporary notions of a Japanese style sword. That means there is no defined yakote or start to the tip. The kissaki or tip is iris leaf shaped and comes to a finer point than most Japanese style swords. The shape was supposedly more popular when the Japanese were fighting the Mongols. The steeper point helped penetrate the thicker leather armor the Mongols used. I could have mounted up the blade in a more historical way but I thought it was time to make something a little more fun. I opted to use an old Japanese mythological creature called the Gashadokuro for inspiration. The Gashadokuro supposedly forms from the bones of angry fallen soldiers. The bones form a skeletal spectre that can be x20 the size of a person. The skeletal theme is everywhere on this blade. The saya has a very obvious crossed bones covering it. The kashira is made to look like a knuckle bone. The koiguchi, kojiri, and kurikata (white parts of the saya) are made to look like bone as well. The kashira, kojiri, kurikata, and koguchi are not made of bone, they are made of a micarta material because bone would be too brittle for use. The tsuba is a skull tsuba that can be made out from the right angles. The ito is wrapped in taupe colored suede that also looks like bone. Also there are skull and cross bone menuki. The menuki are supposed to symbolize the old bones of soldiers on the field like the bones in the myth of the Gashadokuro. The menuki are wrapped in the larger bones symbolized in the ito color, the kshira being a knuckle bone and the skull tsuba. The saya continues the theme with the many bones of of the dead feeding the monster. This is far from a historic sword but it is not so far off that is unbelievable either. I would call this a fantasy sword based on Japanese mythology but with a very practical and realistic approach. It would look good on a wall, at a fest or convention, or in an obi at the dobo. It is also very functional. This blade is built to work if that is the new owners desire. Details: The blade and habaki were made by Rick Barrett some years ago from 1075 monosteel. I believe he also did the polish but it might have been Ted Tenold. The tsuba and fuchi were made by Roman Urban. They are a simple design made from mild steel. The menuki are not custom pieces I think they were made by Fred Lohman but I could be mistaken. The mount was done professionally. It has suede leather ito over a full wrap of black lacquered samegawa. As I mentioned earlier the white pieces on the saya are made of a micarta substance for durability. The habaki and seppa are copper and have been done in a roukusho patina. Everything fits as it should and has not been used for cutting. Handle/Tsuka Length: 11.75” Blade/Nagasa Length: 26.875” Sori: .35” Moto-haba: 1.3” Motokasane: .2” Weight: 2lb 110z POB: 4.5” from Tsuba There is not an easy way to appraise the value of this blade but I can tell you that the sum of the parts is greater than the price I am asking. Rick Barrett has stopped making Japanese style swords but when he did, they were around $2500-$3000 for an unpolished blade. The habaki was another $200-$300. Polishing is usually another $1000-$1500. The tsuba and fuchi from Roman Urban are simple but I think he charges around $500-$600 for a simple tsuba but it could be more. Simple fuchi are around another $200-$250. The mount as in the saya, tsuka, seppa and all of that would cost around $1000-$1500 at most places. So general ballpark is $5400-$7150 if you were to have it made yourself.. Though that does not include the years of waiting, risk of shipping back and forth, and stress associated.. This one is in mostly new condition. The mount is new and the sword has not been used for cutting but the blade has some minor scuffs on it. I would say the polish is in good shape overall but it is not perfect. I don’t think it has been used for cutting but some minor scuffs and such have appeared after being shipped across the country several times Link to the new facebook spot - https://www.facebook.com/MatthewJensenSwordReview/ Link to the new patreon spot - https://www.patreon.com/Krunan Link to someone who deserves your support more than me - https://www.patreon.com/shadiversity Link to my ebay sales page - http://www.ebay.com/usr/krunangree