Service expertise backed by almost 30 years of experience makes Fred Lohman a landmark with Japanese swords here in the United States. Often working on already-made unpolished blades, Fred provides an incredible collection of sword parts and services towards the completion of a sword. Fred does not forge blades himself, but often when you provide him with a Japanese blade - antique or modern-made - he will use traditional fixtures to fashion it into a complete piece. Fred works with real swords. (Please do not approach him, however, for parts for a $50 replica sword!)

For example, a sword from a smith arrives unpolished. Fred works with the customer in selecting a theme for the fixtures - be they cranes, dragons, tigers, Samurai, etc. Fred works in conjunction with a polisher who works upon the blade with traditional Japanese polishing stones.

The resultant sword has a scabbard custom fitted to the unique curvature of each katana blade. The handles are made from imported traditional ho wood, into which halves Fred carves the relief pattern of the sword's tang. Fred wraps the handle with a contiguous strip of ray skin (a kind of fish whose skin features a bubbly texture, ideal for friction). Traditional Japanese silks are used in either a traditional Japanese diamond wrap, or a battle wrap (the former may be more attractive and just as versatile than the latter). A resultant sword a smith and completed by Fred Lohman often comes to $1,400 to $1,700 or upwards, depending on complexity.

Fred has many sets of fittings themes. For example, a theme would comprise the guard (tsuba pronounced "soo-bah") , the "caps" for either end of the sword handle (fuchi-kashira or "foo-chee-kah-she-rah") , and the small decorative "pins" on either side of the handle (menuki or "meh-noo-kee"). And finally, the scabbard (saya or "sah-yah") made of traditional wood, lacqurerd beautifully, carved especially for the unique curvature of the blade.

A personable gentleman who is always ready to talk to you whether you're a professional or an absolute beginner, Lohman tailors the conversation to the customer. So if you're not comfortable talking in abstract Japanese terminology, he won't be either. This allows the aspiring beginning sword collector to not only communicate in plain English but embark upon learning from Fred's almost-30 years of experience. Fred Lohman's devotion to tradition shows forth in his conversations. He will immediately indicate what's true-to-history and what's unnecessary show. When I ordered my sword, I went from my conception of a highly decorated showy sword to something the Samurai would have settled for: beauty in simplicity. And functionality.

Because of the custom-tailored nature of sword customization, allow upwards of six months for completion of your sword project. Much of the time is due to the waiting list for sword polishing. There are two levels of polishing that Fred contracts out. One is considered more a "working polish" which reveals the finish and temper line beautifully, but is just enough just in case you decide to use your blade in martial arts. The second level is more for exacting collectors, which is used only for antique swords or modern-made forged pattern-welded blades. For swords made of stock steel, this degree of polishing is unnecessary, as there are no nuances, no patterns that can be derived by such a meticulous polish.

Click here to see Fred Lohman's web site.

Fred Lohman Co.
3405 N.E. Broadway,
Portland, OR 97232 U.S.A
503-282-4567
fax 503-287-2678