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Info on Kuzan Oda

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Win Heger

Win Heger

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Folks, I consider myself pretty savvy when it comes to custom knives, but I'm stumped.

Can anyone give me some information on Kuzan Oda. I understand he worked with R.W. Loveless and that is all I know.

Just what I need another maker to collect!!;)

Thanks,
Win
 
Win,

I am sending an email with contact info for my mentor, who is a former student. I am sure he would be happy to fill you in, as I know very little myself.
 
Win,
I would be very grateful if you could share any information you find out about Kuzan Oda, I have a fighter of his in my collection (about 18 years ) which is one of my favorite pieces, yet know very little of him or his career.

thanks
 
Hi guys,

From what I recall, he did in fact work for a fairly long period of time with Loveless, making knives with him that were sold under the mentor's (Loveless') name. They eventually had a falling out and, I presume, are no longer on good terms. The break was precipitated when Loveless began making dual-name watches with his other pupil, SR Johnson, who had been working with Love for less time than Oda.

Oda now lives in JApan (the Knives book is incorrect in listing an Alaska address...), where I understand he continues not only to make custom knives by stock removal, but has obtained (or will soon be obtaining) his license from the Japanese Ministry of Culture as a recognized swordsmith.

His work is very nice, but pricey.
You can see some of work for sale on a Japanese blade retailer's site: www.ohyasuya.co.jp

Hope this helps!
 
Creek, you've pretty much summed it up. I've spoken with someone who knew him and tells me his work is quite good. It is unfotunate that his name never caught on as did some of Mr Loveless'other associates.
A friend told me that the most collectible of his knives are his double edge daggers, I've never seen one.

A friend was looking over a collection the other nite and it included a Kuzan fighter, you could see the Loveless influence but he said the tip is shaped like an American Tanto grind.The picture of the tip didn't come out very well. There was also a utility style knife, not very interesting except for it's maker.

I'm not very good a posting pictures, if you'd like to see the knives please e-mail me at

Win Heger
 
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This is the knife that Wynn mentioned in his posts. It's in the collection of an old-timer I met at a gun show. Health problems have caused him to start selling, and this knife is in the group. I'm not a fighter collector, but the grace and beauty of this knife is something I've never seen before. Unfortunately, photos don't do justice to the sweep of the blade grinds. Thought you'd enjoy just the same.
 
Mr. Oda was also featured in one of the "Gung Ho" knife special mags., he really cuaght my attention then, that was the mid 80's. At the time, his fighter was around $375 or so if i remember correctly. In the article it showed a photo of his fighter in a vice, being shot edgewise by a .38 special lead bullet. The photo showed the bullet splitting evenely, then had a close up of the edge with no damage etc... Maybe a gimmick, but cool none the less:D
 
Originally posted by RMLamey
Mr. Oda was also featured in one of the "Gung Ho" knife special mags., he really cuaght my attention then, that was the mid 80's. At the time, his fighter was around $375 or so if i remember correctly. In the article it showed a photo of his fighter in a vice, being shot edgewise by a .38 special lead bullet. The photo showed the bullet splitting evenely, then had a close up of the edge with no damage etc... Maybe a gimmick, but cool none the less:D
Click to expand...

Yes Sir, Gung Ho issue #6, 1986 on page 32-33. According to the magazine, Oda's knives ranged from $100 to $350. His address at the time was:

Kuzan Oda
P.O. Box 2213
Hailey, Idaho
83333

Oda was 43 years old at the time the article was written.

RL
 
I can't add much of interest except I know Jody Samson had a great respect for Mr. Oda's work as far back as the late 70's..., and of course later Pacific Cutlery (now Benchmade).., made the production versions of some of his knives.

If someone has a vast amount of information about him.., I'd also be interested in it.

"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
Pete, would it help if I photocopy the 2 page article and send/fax it to you?

RL
 
Hi, I'm also a huge fan of him and his works.
He's a licensed sword smith now, producing swords and other cutting tools including differentially heat-treated hunting knives.

[video=youtube;mIDWG9Zn8j8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIDWG9Zn8j8[/video]
Maybe this is the most famous episode of him here in Japan.
 
Thanks for posting this video, it's great to see him still in making edged pieces. Quite a life, working with Loveless to Japanese Sword Smith!
 
At the 2008 BladeShow, John Denton identified my 6" Loveless fighter as having been ground by Kuzan Oda, probably around 1978.



According to the Japanese Sword.com website Kuzan Oda apprenticed with Yoshindo Yoshihara when he returned to Japan in 1993. He completed his apprenticeship and got his swordsmith’s license in September 1998.

http://www.thejapanesesword.com/oda-kuzan
 
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Here is a small higo no kami by Kuzan Oda that I bought 4 years ago from Ohyasuya.
Handle is made out of cooper treated with cooper oxyde and the blade is Tamahagane













 
I believe Mr Oda worked in Riverside in the late 70's ('77-'80?) ... it's unfortunate they had a falling out.

Mr Oda traveled around the US making knives in different states, I think he was Alaska before returning to Japan to become a swordsmith in the 90's?

If anyone has actual dates, it would be very interesting.
 
wonderlab said:
Here is a small higo no kami by Kuzan Oda that I bought 4 years ago from Ohyasuya.
Handle is made out of cooper treated with cooper oxyde and the blade is Tamahagane













Click to expand...

Absolutely fantastic piece. I hope to own a tamahagane blade someday.

Have you used it at all?
 
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