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Charcoal forged classical tanto & fusion style takedown knives crafted by hand from reclaimed steel and natural materials using traditional techniques.

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Author Archives: davej

Island Forge: An Inside Look at Earthen Walls

An interesting opportunity to study the internal workings of tsuchikabe wall construction as the island kajiba series of photo essays comes to a conclusion, documenting the preparation, construction, and set up of a simple swordsmith style kajiba (鍛冶場, forge building) from the… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/30 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Island Forge: Kajiba Clean Up

Some views of the building in its tidiest state ever as the island kajiba series of photo essays comes to a conclusion, documenting the preparation, construction, and set up of a simple swordsmith style kajiba (鍛冶場, forge building) from the ground up.… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/14 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Final Forging Day

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the final forging session. In this installment of the series, using the mukozuchi hammer to perform wakashinobe in preparation for forging sunobe. Photographed and edited by… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Forge Visit

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document a visit by Tim of Reforged Ironworks during the time he was helping clean up the forge. In this installment of the series, views of the… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Forging a Knife

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, forging a small outdoor knife from an antique carriage spring. Photographed… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: In the Forge

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, scenes of working at the charcoal forge and anvil. Photographed and… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Teaching & Instruction

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to listen, learn, and document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, candid shots of teaching and instruction along with… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Views of the Kajiba

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, several views of the forge, tools, and building. Photographed and edited… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Photo Essay: Views of the Shiageba

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, several views of the shiageba at rest. Photographed and edited by… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/10 by davej Posted in Blacksmith Shop.

Kominka Forest Kotanto

The core of this project is a charcoal-forged blade, water quenched with clay and sharpened with waterstones, an outdoor knife that has the foundation of the Japanese sword but is finished in the simple and humble style of farming and foresting tools… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/07/07 by davej Posted in Featured Work, Handcrafted Knives.

Kominka Field Kotanto

The core of this project is a charcoal-forged blade, water quenched with clay and sharpened with waterstones, an outdoor knife that has the foundation of the Japanese sword but is finished in the simple and humble style of farming and foresting tools… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/06/07 by davej Posted in Handcrafted Knives.

Kominka Stream Kotanto

The core of this project is a charcoal-forged blade, water quenched with clay and sharpened with waterstones, an outdoor knife that has the foundation of the Japanese sword but is finished in the simple and humble style of farming and foresting tools… Continue reading →

Posted on 2020/05/10 by davej Posted in Handcrafted Knives.
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Island Blacksmith Quarterly..

Island Blacksmith Quarterly


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How A Tanto is Made

Follow the stages of forging and mounting a hand forged blade using traditional materials and methods.

Follow the stages of mounting a hand forged blade using traditional materials and methods.

Follow the stages of mounting a hand forged blade using traditional materials and methods.

Follow the stages of hand forging and mounting a chisagatana tanto using reclaimed materials and traditional methods. (More)

A Tour de Forge

Traditional Japanese & Fusion Inspired Art Knives, hand forged from reclaimed farm equipment.

Traditional Japanese & Fusion Inspired Art Knives, hand forged from reclaimed farm equipment.

Traditional Japanese & Fusion Inspired Knives, hand forged from reclaimed farm equipment.

"Dave’s work is something I have both followed and collected since I first discovered him. They are works of deep meaning, exhibiting elegant functionality with all of the core classical elements of feudal Japan. As a collector of high-value antique arms & armour, and also as a 3-decade student of Japanese martial arts (including the katana and tanto), I first encountered Dave’s work while..." (read more)

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