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2016-2025: Tools for Satoyama Portfolio Book
A lovely large-format visual exploration of fields, forests, architecture, views, and textures curated during time spent in rural Japan over the past decade, interspersed with workshop process photos and finished knives from the Tools for Satoyama project by Crossed Heart Forge on Vancouver Island. This book project is the result of many weeks of editing…
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Rover Stream Kotanto
A rover kotanto with a charcoal-forged 1965 Series 2a Land Rover leaf spring steel blade, water quenched with clay and sharpened with waterstones, a small knife that has the foundation of the Japanese sword, a simple wooden mounting accented with a vintage sword part. The subtle and rustic appearance of hammer marks on the blade…
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Rover Field Kotanto
The first completed rover kotanto of 2025, a charcoal-forged 1965 Series 2a Land Rover leaf spring steel 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 of centuries ago. Satoyama…
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The Beaded Buffalo Knife
This knife was a collaboration with Coastal Carvings artists Jeremy Humpherville (concept, design, assembly), Bert Tallman (inlay, silver smithing), and Brenda Dowedoff (beading). This piece is currently on display at Coastal Carvings Gallery for their 20th anniversary event from May 9-11, 2025. The collaboration will also be highlighted in the upcoming Season 2 of the…
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Rover Mountain Tanto
A rover tanto with a charcoal-forged 1965 Series 2a Land Rover leaf spring carbon steel blade, water quenched with clay and sharpened with waterstones, a rustic knife that has the foundation of the Japanese sword, a nihonto inspired mounting accented with parts reclaimed from antique swords. The subtle and rustic appearance of hammer marks on…
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A Tale of Two Kotanto
An interesting opportunity to study the details and differences with two very similar kotanto in the same place at one time. The materials and construction are almost identical other than the blade steel and profile and a slight colour variation. The lighter coloured one was made from file steel and the darker one from 1965…
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Rover Mountain Kotanto
The first completed Rover kotanto, a charcoal-forged 1965 Series 2a Land Rover leaf spring steel 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 of centuries ago. Satoyama are the…
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Rover Mountain Survival
The core of this project is a charcoal-forged 1965 Series 2a Land Rover leaf spring steel blade, water quenched with clay and sharpened with waterstones, a historical western style outdoor knife that has the foundation of the Japanese sword but is finished in the simple and humble aspect of farming and foresting tools of centuries…
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Rover Mountain Skinner
The core of this project is a charcoal-forged 1965 Series 2a Land Rover leaf spring steel blade, water quenched with clay and sharpened with waterstones, a historical western style outdoor knife that has the foundation of the Japanese sword but is finished in the simple and humble aspect of farming and foresting tools of centuries…
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Rover Ken Nata
The inaugural-forged rover blade, charcoal-forged by hand from 1965 Series 2a Land Rover leaf spring steel, 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 aspect of farming and foresting tools of centuries ago. Satoyama are the…
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Testing Land Rover Steel
A project initiated many years ago which has finally come to fruition. A part of the Islandrovers Adventure Co. project, this is the first kotanto forged from rover steel, 1965 Series 2a Land Rover leaf spring steel, to be specific. This blade was crafted as a test of the forging and hardening properties of the…
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Tsukimizu Tanto
Tsukimizu (月水, “tsu-key-me-zoo”) literally translates “moon-water” and carries the idea of the reflection of the moonlight in the ripples of a pond or stream. The name is drawn from the layered steel ripples along the edge of the hamon and also ties into the motifs of the fittings. This is a unique combination of a…
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Asagiri Tanto
Asagiri (朝霧, pronounced “ah-sah-gi-ri”, gi and ri rhyme with key) translates literally as “morning mist”. Spoken it could also be a word play on “morning cut”, slicing the dawn, or perhaps “shallow morning”. The idea is related to the interesting “rolling mist” artifact resulting from interaction between the hamon and the hada on the blade…
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Tombo Mountain Kotanto
The core of this project is a high carbon blade, charcoal-forged from reclaimed steel, 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 of centuries ago. Satoyama are the managed forest…
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Ashinoho Tanto
Ashinoho (ashi-no-ho, 葦の穂 pronounced “ah-shi-no-ho”) refers to the water reed, specifically the top of the plant curving over as it is loaded with seeds. The idea is associated with the fullness of season nearing and the realization of potential in the right time, but also carries with it the concept of humility and restraint in…