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Making a handle for a small pick
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Japan Countryside
A brief glimpse into a day in the life of modern day rural Japan. Selective management of a Hinoki Cypress forest on a mountainside. I had the rare opportunity to assist grandpa in the management of his acre or so of mountainside Hinoki Cypress forest. From time to time he selectively thins the trees and…
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Japan Photo Essay: Mountain Forest & Bamboo
Some of the flora and fauna encountered in a mountain forest in the Japanese countryside.
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Japan Photo Essay: Traditional Architecture
Photographic inspiration from traditional Japanese construction. Additional views here. This is by no means a comprehensive introduction and there is much more to say on the subject, but here are a few interesting images of the creative use of clay, straw, wood, and stone to create beautiful and lasting structures. The first several images are…
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Japan Photo Essay: Garden
Photographic exploration of a private garden in rural Japan. A few views that caught my eye in a small traditional garden in the countryside of Kansai, Japan.
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Japanese Traditional Craft Exhibition
An exhibition of traditional Japanese arts and crafts held in Osaka Umeda, May 2013.
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You Need A Japanese Swordsmith’s Hammer
Three reasons why *you* need a Japanese swordsmith’s hammer for forging knives. Size – the small face is better suited for working on a narrow target, keeping the hammer from hitting the anvil as the bevel gets thinner Weight – though the face is small, the long body carries the weight of a much larger…
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Eyes On BC Magazine
An interesting and informative article by David Morrison, published in the April issue of Eyes On BC magazine. Crossed Heart Forge: Let Hammer on Anvil Ring! By David Morrison for Eyes On BC Magazine April 2013, Vol.2 Issue 03 Article on page 6, continued on page 10. View Full Size
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PechaKucha Nishinomiya #16
Davej will be a guest presenter at PechaKucha Nishinomiya #16 on April 19, 2013.
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Arbutus Camp Knife
This hefty camp knife is crafted in a traditional manner, hand forged from a Model T leaf spring, clay tempered, and finished with hand filing. The integral guard with finger grip allows the hand to shift forwards for more delicate work, or remain back for more aggressive cutting tasks. The convex edge can handle tough…
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Icho Hime Kotanto
Hand forged harrow tooth steel, copper habaki, Nootka Cypress and Ebony tsuka with ray skin wrap, Purpleheart saya, brush-finished silver fuchi by Nina of Paprika Jewellery. This long, sleek piece is a collaboration and is named for the ginko leaf design on the custom silver fuchi made by Nina. The ginko leaf opening was cut…
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Charcoal Kiln V.3.0
We always seem to return to the roots eventually, don’t we? After a year of forging with charcoal made in Charcoal Retort V.2, it was time to address the issues with the system. The main one was that, though much improved from Charcoal Retort V.1, the high operating temperature took its toll on critical components…
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Letter Opener Collab
Scrap steel barstock shaped into a unique blade and accented with an embossed copper handle.
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Mikazuki Kotanto
This piece is named for the silvery crescent moon in the drifting clouds of spalted pear tree on the saya. The moon was formed from a piece of forged nickel silver from a silver plated spoon. The handle wrap is attached with kusune (薬練, くすね, natural pine resin glue made from matsuyani). The process of…
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ToraSaya – Tigerwood Kotanto
This is the result of a collaborative project with James Oliver. James did all the woodwork on this piece and created the matching stand and Nootka Cypress storage box. The clay tempered blade was hand forged from a cultivator tine that was chisel cut into strips as part of a demo at the French Creek…