A reclaimed harrow tooth combined with walnut and hand hammered copper to create a small knife with Japanese style mounting.
Designed in collaboration with a Japanese collector, this piece has two features that I am very happy with. One is that it has been forged and shaped from entirely reclaimed materials, down to the smallest part, and the other is that it is mounted in the traditional Japanese manner using only a single bamboo peg to create a clean mechanical connection that holds the whole knife together. It is a very accurate representation of where I am currently in terms of research, understanding, and practice in implementing elements of traditional Japanese design and craftsmanship in my work. Lots to enjoy and plenty to improve upon!
The mounting style is known as aikuchi but has some of the smooth lines and simple finish of a kaiken tanto. I am calling this kotanto because it is slightly smaller than most small tanto. A sheath and handle of walnut wood, red bamboo, and slightly aged copper round out the warm color palette. The wood has been burnished smooth but left with a natural finish for the time being.
The clay tempered blade was hand forged from a reclaimed harrow tooth and shaped mainly by hand using files and shaping stones. Blade construction is muku and the cross section is hira-zukuri. The copper fittings are forged, shaped, and finished by hand rather than cast, and the sheath and handle are carved with knives and chisels to accept the blade and tang. The blade is 4.5″ long and the overall length is about 10.5″. More photos of this piece being created are featured on the How a Knife is Made page.
Material: Reclaimed harrow tooth steel, reclaimed copper, reclaimed walnut, reclaimed red bamboo from Japan
Price: $700
Available: 1 [Shop Online]
