Are you a wabi sabi knife nut ?

19-3ben said:
If one has a well worn Kabar Swabi, could he be a wabi-sabi-swabbie knife knut?
Click to expand...

You can even be a wasabi knife nut ! I was sort of expecting some old leather handled knives, Kabar or maybe a Scagel, one can dream !
 
Last edited:
Planterz said:
Hard to beat an Opinel Carbone for classic, simple, working mans' utility.
Click to expand...

Spot on ! And if it has been dragged around for years at campfires, worksites and so on, it shows a lot of sabi ! The fact is, this light knife with a very thin blade ages way better than one could think. I had one in my toolbox for years which was a mere ruin of a knife but it did perfectly what I needed it to do : strip wires and scrape gaskets... (I know, I know... wouldn't do it today).
 
herisson said:
Spot on ! And if it has been dragged around for years at campfires, worksites and so on, it shows a lot of sabi ! The fact is, this light knife with a very thin blade ages way better than one could think. I had one in my toolbox for years which was a mere ruin of a knife but it did perfectly what I needed it to do : strip wires and scrape gaskets... (I know, I know... wouldn't do it today).
Click to expand...

Mine definitely sees more actual use than most any other knife that I own (exception: Spyderco Tasman Salt PE). I've got a spare, and if I ever need more than that, it's only like $12 for a new one. Yet, despite the disposable nature and very low cost of the knife, I'd hate to lose or ruin this one. Because this one is mine. In more ways than simple ownership.
 
Here is one that combines nicely every aspect of wabi-sabi. It's a shepherd knife, of very simple (but astute) construction. No backspring, no liners, no lock, not even a lever : the tang forces itself under a small rolled pin which acts as a stop pin and a tang "lock" (the blade is strongly held open). The channel is milled directly in one flat piece of ram horn. So much for the wabi. The unpolished blackish carbon steel blade and the raw ramhorn handle (actually very smooth) make for the sabi. Truth is it looks old but it is a recent build by a Corsican cutler. Very light and very sharp. One of my favorite folders.
ETVTwjQ.jpg
 
abcdef said:
How about this kimo sabi?
Click to expand...

Oh, lots of sabi, no doubt ! I guess the blade has seen more than one ungodly task (like opening cans). But the overall construction seems quite well preserved.

[/QUOTE]
 
This knife has been developing wabi sabi since 1943 when it was made by hand on his farm in the blacksmith shop. To me, it's a thing of incredible beauty because a good friend spent from 1943 to the mid 1980's earring suing this knife every day as his pocket knife. The stag handles have shrunk back from the liners, the blade has lost about 1/3 it's width from sharpening over the years. But it still cuts well and has a character that no new store bought knife can have.

Since it was given to me by a friend now passed, it has even more meaning.


The meerschaum pipe has been almost 50 years building wabi sari character.
 
Last edited:
herisson said:
For those not familiar with this japanese esthetical concept, I can resume it briefly thusly : "wabi" is the beauty of simplicity, sobriety, humility ; "sabi" is the beauty of wear, aging, withering. Clearly, in the knife world "sabi" can be related to patina, wear, oxydation... "wabi" could apply to any sober, "down to the bone" design. I find my taste does often match with the wabi or the sabi, or both... If you have a liking for one of these, or better both, your pictures are welcome. Let's show them ! Here is one which looks quite "wabi sabi" to me. The design is simple as it gets, it has 30 years under its belt (showing) and the older it gets the more I like it.

yrpbTFm.jpg

yrpbTFm



a>

yrpbTFm
Click to expand...

I would say absolutely yes based on your description.
 
Wabi-Sabi.... Nope. I prefer my knives to look brand new regardless of how old they are or how much use they have received.
 
jackknife said:
This knife has been developing wabi sari since 1943 when it was made by hand on his farm in the blacksmith shop. To me, it's a thing of incredible beauty because a good friend spent from 1943 to the mid 1980's earring suing this knife every day as his pocket knife. The stag handles have shrunk back from the liners, the blade has lost about 1/3 it's width from sharpening over the years. But it still cuts well and has a character that no new store bought knife can have.

Since it was given to me by a friend now passed, it has even more meaning.


The meerschaum pipe has been almost 50 years building wabi sari character.
Click to expand...

True wabi-sabi there, no doubt. Beautiful knife and beautiful pipe.
 
22-rimfire said:
Wabi-Sabi.... Nope. I prefer my knives to look brand new regardless of how old they are or how much use they have received.
Click to expand...

Then, you live in a golden age : high performance stainless, titanium, G10, etc. Today's knives if stored properly will look brand new in several decades.
 
I don't mind some honest wear, patina or whatever. I just don't seek it out and look at it as a "badge of honor". Most of my knives are carbon steel of one sort or another.
 
herisson said:
Some nice knives here ! Traditionals and classics with miles under their belt. The blue patina is forced or did it build up over years ?
Click to expand...

The patina is from cutting chicken cutting potatoes, or just being old.

Btw the patina isn't all 100% blue as it looks in the picture .
 
Hickory n steel said:
The patina is from cutting chicken cutting potatoes, or just being old.

Btw the patina isn't all 100% blue as it looks in the picture .
Click to expand...

I had a feeling it could be a light effect. Would be difficult to achieve a natural patina of the same hue on so many different knives. What is the one on the upper right with the round wooden handle (and black rings) ? Interesting.
 
herisson said:
I had a feeling it could be a light effect. Would be difficult to achieve a natural patina of the same hue on so many different knives. What is the one on the upper right with the round wooden handle (and black rings) ? Interesting.
Click to expand...

That's a Mora I replaced the handle on.
The handle and ferrule are off an old awl that came from my grandfather.
 
Hickory n steel said:
That's a Mora I replaced the handle on.
The handle and ferrule are off an old awl that came from my grandfather.
Click to expand...

Very nice ! It definitely has a flavour of its own !
Here is my Mora Classic Original N°1, the Opinel of fixed blades. I love how the birch handle takes a golden colour with time, sweat and oil. I oiled it a lot to prevent the hidden tang from rusting. While it's almost a consumable knife (like the Opinel), I like this one very much and I'd hate to see it damaged or rusted (and they are discontinued...).
6capgN2.jpg
 
ourgon said:
ANdEHya.jpg


BRmBwlD.jpg


NOfnjmC.jpg


hSm1M27.jpg


ycrf2j5.jpg


NoGbBR2.jpg
Click to expand...
You like patina for sure ! It looks great on the Vendetta. I didn't think possible to get oxydation on VG10 like you have on your Street Beat. This one must have some life in it ! Hey, hey... and you customized the pommel of the medium Douk-Douk. Looks actually good. I would have classified the Douk-Douk as flat out perfect (non betterable...) but your mod has definitely a certain something to it. Might try it... Fred Perrin makes custom versions of his industrial knives in 1075. Is your Micarta handled Street Beat one of these ?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top