A fast & wicked pair of sisters

Matthew Gregory

Matthew Gregory

Chief Executive in charge of Entertainment
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
6,528
Finished these up last weekend. Everyone that's laid hands on them can't believe just how fast and light they are - VERY deceptive in relation to their looks!

6894072649_cb99544802_b.jpg


One's a bit plain, while the other is obviously pretty racy - easy to see the fact that they're siblings, though. Each blade is just a pinch over 7 inches long, with an overall length of 12.5 inches. Both are 3/16" 1095, have tapered tangs and gorgeous wood and ito, and were heat treated with clay - but with very different coating methods.

The first provided all the flash - best hamon I've ever managed (with one upcoming possible exception) and Amboyna scales:

6894077189_a41ba91827_b.jpg


6894073323_592103d8c5_b.jpg


The next two shots give you a decent view of the sori that both have - such great curves!

6894073985_a2dd31e281_b.jpg


6894074565_0c0eb39514_b.jpg


This one's got a simple, straight hamon and curly koa scales under her wrap. I think it's understated, but elegant:

6894076691_a5075fc8d4_b.jpg


6894075085_f029812d1b_b.jpg


6894075527_ea677d2986_b.jpg


6894076097_28341221c0_b.jpg



Comments welcome. I had a lot of fun making these two, and they really seemed to come together all on their own.

Thanks for looking!
 
Excellent work Matt - both came out great! The element that first catches my eye is the elegant curve (sori) of both blades. It really gives them a visual suggestion of speed that I'm sure is backed up by the actual feel. The spine grind helps accentuate the curve. Nice. I'm looking forward to the Amboyna version heading north to join it's younger wicked sister:

standard.jpg


Looking forward to solving the sheath question for both of these as well. Something minimalist that doesn't add much bulk or weight would be ideal.

Great job on the hamon on the Amboyna piece - love the way it ripples right through the ricasso and disappears under the wrap. You should post the vid!

Roger
 
Matthew- your joy is evident in these knives
 
Beautiful!

Usually I'm not a big fan of wrapped handles, but with the wood showing underneath it looks very good! I like the Koa version best.

Kind regards,

Jos
 
Mikey's right - I just can't seem to capture the essence of hamon with a still camera - infuriating!!!!

Here's the video I sent to Roger after completing it:

[video=youtube_share;aJ5KS-ZaGJ4]http://youtu.be/aJ5KS-ZaGJ4[/video]
 
Still doesn't do it justice - perhaps I'll have this knife long enough to get an HD video with my camera when I get it back. Thanks for all the comments, gang!
 
Capturing a hamon with a camera - not easy. I took an otherwise very nice pic of a Japanese-style blade Stuart did for me - everything crisp and sharp - but the photo didn't show the spectacular hamon AT ALL. Maybe I could develop a photographic specialty in making hamons disappear. Might not be a lot of call for that, though.

Anyway - play with it as long as you like - and if you get any great sheath ideas, drop me a line.

Roger
 
Nice work. Love the sori on these and that hamon on the amboyna one is really nice. It suits the blade very well and has the repetitive undulations that make it very traditional. A nice pairing with the modern take on the tanto.

Were these quenched in Parks 50?
 
I'm not that familiar with 1095 but to me that looks like a Parks50 hamon. The hamon is a little different in water, that's why I asked. Other than pig-headedness that's the only reason left I can think of. :p:p

Again, nice work on those.
 
Very Nice Matt, I do like the wood under the wrap, something I don't see a lot of. I do prefer the first hamon though. Your polish looks perfect too.
Paul
 
SBranson said:
I'm not that familiar with 1095 but to me that looks like a Parks50 hamon. The hamon is a little different in water, that's why I asked. Other than pig-headedness that's the only reason left I can think of. :p:p

Again, nice work on those.
Click to expand...


Sorry if my comment came off sounding confrontational, Stuart - couldn't have meant it to be further from that! I agree, there are definitely some differences between the effects of the quenchants. I just can't justify the dangers associated with water for those differences, especially when I can get results like this and have the blade exit the quench with absolutely NO need to straighten.
For the record, I know you already know all this - your skills are FAR beyond my own!!!!!! The piece you did for Roger keeps me awake at night, btw. Truly unreal!
 
I didn't take it as anything. I'm not sure why I keep trying with water myself after losing my last two attempts. It's only because I want something from the hamon that you only get with water. Not better, not worse, just different.
With the discussion of sori, I asked about the water because I wondered if the sori was quench induced when I thought the hamon didn't look like it came from water.
I didn't mean to sidetrack this thread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top