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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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Forging Adventure
One of the current projects at the Parksville Museum forge involves hand crafting knives from series Land Rover leaf springs––a tool for adventure made from a vehicle for adventure! Series spring steel has not changed spec since the first run in 1948 and even today replacements are made with the same composition. The projects shown…
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Japan Countryside
A curated collection of views from the countryside of Japan in early spring. The mist can be heavy in the mornings and the days are still cool but the sun is beginning to warm the earth. There are a few spring greens but most of the winter colours remain. Plum blossoms are out, sakura have…
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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…
Traditionally crafted knives for people who wish
they could take things home from museums.
Crossed Heart Forge
Historical Techniques
Hand forged with handmade charcoal, constructed and finished with historical methods and natural materials.
see the process
Traditional Tools
Human powered hand tools are used from the time the steel is first put in the fire through to the final assembly.
tour the forge
Reclaimed Materials
Steel, iron, copper, and brass are sourced from salvage and scrap wood for charcoal comes from local sources.
watch a tanto being made