- Joined
- Oct 29, 2006
- Messages
- 2,912
I've done a few of the "fusion" style knives where I try to infuse a bit of the Japanese aesthetic into a western knife. Until now that had taken place in trying to put a western handle on an essentially Japanese style blade.
I received a commission for such a knife but I was asked for a more western blade and referenced one that John White did as an example.
That kind of threw me off a little but this is what I came up with. In many ways, I think the "fusion" of aesthetics is deeper and more balanced than any of my other approaches.
It began with me deciding that as a cornerstone of the piece was this antique fuchi (collar). All measurements and styling flows from this central piece. It was not an easy beginning due to the width but provided a source for a lot of inspiration.
The result is a piece I am calling "Arashi no Umi" for what I hope is the proper translation of "stormy seas".
For the wood I used "waterfall" bubinga to keep in the water theme. For the tsuba or guard I forged it so that the laminations would show in the width to try to emulate the look of a rolling sea.
The blade is W2 and I used a hybrid geometry of a naginata style of blade but with a dropped top sharpened clip (hence the fighter designation)
I went for a stormy seas look in the hamon. My 6 1/2 year old son came down while was working on it and said "it looks beautiful Dad,... it looks like the ocean" so I take that as mission accomplished.:d
The habaki was shaped to look like the crest of a wave.
True to Japanese pieces, this is a take down in the Japanese fashion and held together by a smoked bamboo mekugi, or peg.
A better one of the knife
For the sheath design, I took the idea of the theme of the fuchi and the piece “stormy seas” and the first idea that came to mind is this iconic Japanese painting. I inlaid copper “dots” in a similar pattern to what’s on the fuchi and adapted the waves for something that would work in leather.
And I came up with this:
There will be a final photo once I get a proper display stand made but I'm still thinking about that one.
I received a commission for such a knife but I was asked for a more western blade and referenced one that John White did as an example.
That kind of threw me off a little but this is what I came up with. In many ways, I think the "fusion" of aesthetics is deeper and more balanced than any of my other approaches.
It began with me deciding that as a cornerstone of the piece was this antique fuchi (collar). All measurements and styling flows from this central piece. It was not an easy beginning due to the width but provided a source for a lot of inspiration.
The result is a piece I am calling "Arashi no Umi" for what I hope is the proper translation of "stormy seas".
For the wood I used "waterfall" bubinga to keep in the water theme. For the tsuba or guard I forged it so that the laminations would show in the width to try to emulate the look of a rolling sea.
The blade is W2 and I used a hybrid geometry of a naginata style of blade but with a dropped top sharpened clip (hence the fighter designation)
I went for a stormy seas look in the hamon. My 6 1/2 year old son came down while was working on it and said "it looks beautiful Dad,... it looks like the ocean" so I take that as mission accomplished.:d
The habaki was shaped to look like the crest of a wave.
True to Japanese pieces, this is a take down in the Japanese fashion and held together by a smoked bamboo mekugi, or peg.
A better one of the knife
For the sheath design, I took the idea of the theme of the fuchi and the piece “stormy seas” and the first idea that came to mind is this iconic Japanese painting. I inlaid copper “dots” in a similar pattern to what’s on the fuchi and adapted the waves for something that would work in leather.
And I came up with this:
There will be a final photo once I get a proper display stand made but I'm still thinking about that one.
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