Japanese Swords and Blades

The only items that I currently have standard pricing for are my Japanese style bare blades, my own polishing, habaki, and shira-saya.  Full mounting and other options for Japanese blades will be quoted on an individual basis.

The extra charge involved in some of the hada patterns is due to the increased labor from mechanically creating these patterns and the material lost in that process.

My pricing for my Japanese blades is standard and is measured by nagasa length up to 32" in length:

Monosteel: $55 per inch

Forge-folded steel: $90 per inch (mokume and ayasugi hada, add 10%)

Other complex constructions and blades over 32" in length will be individually quoted.

Forged Copper Habaki: $250 

Alder Shira-Saya: 
                Katana: $375
                Wakizashi: $350
                Tanto: $325

Polishing Services

I am now offering my polishing services for both my own blades, and for blades made by other makers.  My methods are a combination of traditional Japanese materials and techniques, and those that I learned from other North American makers/polishers during my associations over the last several years.

I will most often begin the process using traditional Japanese bought waterstones, because I prefer their working method.  I will however transition over to the use of modern abrasives when and if the specific project requires it, in order to arrive at the best possible results.

My typical finish is a combination of Japanese fingerstones, and modern polishing creams, and nugui when appropriate.  My aim is to create an clean, oxide free finish, with smooth sheen that highlights the activities in the blade.

My stone polish with hybrid final finish: $60 per inch

European and Fantasy Swords/Blades

My pricing on my European and Fantasy swords/blades are individually quoted based on estimates of the work-hours involved.  The starting ranges for my full-sized swords starts at around $1450 and can either be increased or decreased depending on the size and complexity of features for the project.

Features that would alter an estimate would include fullers in the blade, pattern-welding, hollow-grinding, and hilt style.  A 24" seax with a simple wooden hilt and bolsters will be quoted for far less than a pattern-welded viking sword with wire-inlay in the hilt.

Shop Rate and Payments

All of my work is based off of a $45 per hour shop rate.  This is calculated to include not only my actual time forging and working, but also all of my overhead (electricity, shop supplies, tooling, and equiment), as well as time spent answering emails and phone calls.

I normally work in 1/2 payment increments for fully mounted works. 

 

The first half pays out a deposit (50% non-refundable after 30 days) to the artisan's involved, and establishes a point in their respective queu, to gather the necessary supplies (steel, castings, etc.), and to cover shipping charges back and forth to the various artists involved in the project. 

 

The final payment finishes payments to the artistans, and covers any misc. expenses including final shipping with full insurance to the customer. 

 

I do not and will not ship any part or whole of a project anywhere without insuring it.  This adds to the shipping costs, but I feel is necessary when dealing with items that may cost multiple thousands of dollars.

 

My normal shedule of payments for fully mounted work is a:

 

(1) deposit (50% non-refundable after 30 days)

(2) once the finished project is ready to ship to you