Dragon Horimono on a Kiridashi

K

knifecarver

Joined
Feb 17, 2011
Messages
29
I just finished engraving this Kiridashi for James Bieler (Bubba-San Forge). This is my second time engraving metal. This Kiridashi is made from 1,000,000 layers of Tamahagane steel. Because of the high carbon content, there is some rust starting. Next time I'll know to keep some oil on the blade. James will polish this out and etch the blade to bring out the "wave" pattern in the steel. I did this with a Foredom Micro-motor. To see a WIP on this, go to http://www.knifecarver.wordpress.com. Comments Please!
I'm always looking for knives to work on & knifemakers to work with.

Cathy
EngravedKiridashi_zps4fb4c5e2.jpg

DetailofDragon_zps630010f7.jpg
 
Updated Photo - Just got this picture of the Kiridashi. Bubba-san (James Bieler) sent me this picture of the Tamahagane Kiridashi. He still wants to polish out some marks made by the polishing stones & place my initials in small Kanji beneath dragon. James made the lanyard from Japanese ito cord, even the red string is from Japan. He is very traditional! Then the Kiridashi needs a traditional Japanese presentation box, the kind that is signed and usually made from empress wood. They are dovetailed with very small cuts and lined with bright silk.
japanesekiridashiwithhorimono.jpg
[/IMG]

Dragon Horimono on a Japanese Kiridashi
Knifemaker – James Bieler (Bubba-san Forge)
Engraver – Catherine DeFelice (Knifecarver)

Knives like this are sometimes given as wedding gifts to the bride, or any family event they want to commemorate. Knives were given to Japanese ladies for self defense, and for taking ones life. Usually a kaiken or Tanto was used for this purpose. Receiving one with a Dragon horimono was for good luck . A birth would be a typical event, but there are many. It would be similar to getting a pair of bronzed baby shoes at baby shower, or something along those lines.
 
Very nice work!! Love to hear that tidbit of Japanese tradition and culture, and can't wait to see the presentation box.

Keep up the good work,
Connor
 
Thank you, Conner & Johnny M. for the nice comments! I'll keep after James to send more photos.
Thank you, too Richard! I've engraved 440 steel, which is around 57 rc. If you have a scrap piece you could send me, about the size of a quarter, I would be able to give you an answer. My contact info is in my profile.

Thanks for looking!
Cathy
 
i could send you a scrap piece of the steel i make my knives out of but i'm afraid it might mess up your tooling. it has an rc of 56 but its some tough stuff. i use carbide rotary files to do some pre heat treat shaping and the steel eats them up. i take the rc up to 63-65 when i do the heat treat and that would really eat up your tooling.
 
I'll tell you Richard, this Kiridashi was a softer steel and it still dulled out my tools. I find that milling tools work best with my Foredom when working with steel. Thank you, anyway.
 
I have a 1/8" collet that can accept a 3/32" tool also. I have diamond tip tools, they wear too fast. I have a large collection of tools. I find that end mills and carbide tools work best on metal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top