Uploaded June 2016 | Updated September 2026, 20 hours ago

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**WARNING: This is the longer process version intended for serious students of the forge. Watch the TimeWarp edit here: youtu.be/0m9rRukEBV4

Hand filing a classical tanto style blade forged from half of a reclaimed horse carriage leaf spring.

Arashiage is the rough shaping stage that comes after hizukuri (fire shaping) and before yaki-ire (hardening). The order of operations that I generally use is:

in the leg vise...

1. Spine of the Blade
remove the scale using a rasp
shape using sen (scraper) 0:08
shape using fine rasp 0:52
shape using coarse files 1:44
drawfile to smooth 4:04

2. Spine of the Tang
remove the scale using a rasp
set the mune machi notch using a file 5:37
profile using coarse files 6:15
shape using coarse files
drawfile to straighten
rockfile to round and smooth 6:20

3. Edge of the Blade
remove the scale using a rasp
profile using coarse files 6:31

4. Edge of the Tang
remove the scale using a rasp
set the ha machi notch using a file
profile using coarse files
drawfile to straighten 7:10

in the sen-dai...

5. Blade Bevels
remove the scale using a rasp or sen 7:55
shape using sen
level using coarse files or fine rasp 8:45
drawfile to smooth 10:07

6. Tang Bevels
remove the scale using a rasp or sen
shape using sen
shape using coarse files
level using coarse files 11:17
smooth using fine file 11:39

7. Refining Blade Bevels (before yakiire)
extra coarse stone/extra coarse diamond stone 11:49

Learn more about the historical knifemaking process: islandblacksmith.ca/process

Design your own custom knife or tanto to order: islandblacksmith.ca