Damn that looks beautiful.

Oh, now that's something you don't see everyday. Tsuba art.

That is really quite cool.
Maybe try angling the light source a little next shot :)

Hot damn, I can't wait to see the finished product. =3

We also need to set up a day we can meet up. I wanna give you some hugs. =D

Wow......duuuuude........thats like...amazing!....best damn thing i've seen in a while!

Wow. (I'm gunna comment on all images regarding this project). Thats some incredible work. The etching is very well done, And while I don't know if it's intentional, the marbleized look of the metal is quite astheticly(sp) pleasing as well. There's a big market for this kind of thing, Esp if you can custom craft the parts, which is seems you did a good job of. A piece like that in the right marker could easily sell for upwards of $200.

Anyhoo. Keep up the good work. :) and tell 'mom' I said Hi.

... okay, I'm claiming "ignorant American" on this one... I have no idea what that is, or what it means. Could you explain it a bit, please?

A Tsuba is the cross-guard on a samurai sword. this one is made of Damascus steel, which is a method of hardening the steel during the forging process and it gives the metal that marbling effect which you can see. I had a design etched onto the metal and then gold leafed.
take a look at these and i'm sure it'll become clearer:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1102833/
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1102858/

Oh! Wow, I feel rather stupid now, heh. I thought it was some kind of tribal art piece or something.

I can kinda see the head at the top...

Call me as you want.... but this looks like paperbutton, lol