K20 | Picture Gallery

[bluemax_1]

Being back in the US for a few days for the first time in a number of months, I've been comparing the K20 with the Swamp Rat Free Rein, both of which were waiting for me. It's really night and day. The K20 is properly balanced for a wakizashi. The Free Rein is still too blade heavy, despite the improvements on the earlier TNT-15. The K20 is precisely machined with a consistent edge. The Free Rein has the fit and finish of a Mora, and the edge thickens considerably towards the tip. The K20 handle is very well thought out - deceptively simple. The Free Rein handle is too narrow and slick, although there's a ready, ugly solution to that by wrapping with grip tape.

Granted, the Free Rein was only half the price of the K20, but it's still not a cheap blade. It should be a fun bush sword for messing around with outdoors, and TBH I'm far more likely to actually use it, but it's not in the same league as the K20.

If CPK ever makes a K30 katana with full guard (perhaps removable, screwing into the front of the handle), it would be a very expensive toy, but difficult to pass up.

I remember back when Howard Clark first began making his L6 Bainite katana, and the huge hullabaloo over it (the “indestructible katana”. There used to be videos of one being used to chop cinder blocks etc. with folks rightly pointing out that traditionally forged katana wouldn’t withstand that kind of abuse. Don’t know what happened but I haven’t seen those videos in years).

The thing was that folks who acquired one and tested them, commented that while their chief advantage over more traditional katana, was the toughness, and resistance to taking a bend/set from a poor cut, their edge holding was beaten by many other decently made katana using other steels with conventional heat treats.

IIRC, HC’s L6 Bainite katanas had an edge hardness around 57-58hRc.

D3V is 60.5hRc. It still blows me away, to see the K18 flex test video. Until seeing that, I had no idea D3V was capable of that.

You generally always hear about the tradeoff between hardness vs brittleness. Toughness vs edge holding. Evil genius, indeed.

A K30 with a machined tsuba to match Nathan’s machined pommels…

 

[yoko]

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Has it been annealed or otherwise heat treated?

Yes. I performed a sub critical stress relief on the raw material because I was having a problem with uncontrolled material distortion during machining. I bought it cold rolled and work hardened and it had built up stress in the skin.

 

[carnifex knifeworks]

Yes. I performed a sub critical stress relief on the raw material because I was having a problem with uncontrolled material distortion during machining. I bought it cold rolled and work hardened and it had built up stress in the skin.

Thanks very much for your reply. I appreciate the information.

 

[Soulrack223]

The acid etched "hamon" and black linen look amazing.

 

[madcap_magician]

I HAVE REACHED PEAK CPK.

Until there's a satin pig sword or an integral dagger.

 

[gunslinger387]

I HAVE REACHED PEAK CPK.

Until there's a satin pig sword or an integral dagger.

Beautiful scales!

 

[yoko]

I HAVE REACHED PEAK CPK.

Until there's a satin pig sword or an integral dagger.

WOW

congrats on the beautiful sword!!!!!!

 

[yoko]

And congrats to you also Soulrack223 awesome!!!!!

 

[ironwagon]

Ninja sword

View attachment 2511460View attachment 2511461

 

[SpyderPhreak]

I HAVE REACHED PEAK CPK.

Until there's a satin pig sword or an integral dagger.

Yes, yes you have reached the pinnacle. Congratulations. That thing is amazing!!!

 

[carnifex knifeworks]

I HAVE REACHED PEAK CPK.

Until there's a satin pig sword or an integral dagger.

I don't know that either of those would top what you've got. Really nice! Heirloom quality for sure

 

[Mike157]

I HAVE REACHED PEAK CPK.

Until there's a satin pig sword or an integral dagger.

Takes it up a notch. That’s for sure. The ironwood gives the sword a whole different look and feel. Beautiful. Congratulations! Mike

 

[Wood5045]

I HAVE REACHED PEAK CPK.

Until there's a satin pig sword or an integral dagger.

OMFG that is effing awesome!! Congrats!
[/QUOTE]

 

[Burke]

That big block of ironwood looks unbelievable. Nice!

 

[Pàdruig]

I HAVE REACHED PEAK CPK.

Until there's a satin pig sword or an integral dagger.

Yeah, to echo everyone else - absolutely stunning! That piece is a candidate for Coop's photography, for sure.

 

[Casinostocks]

 

[Mike157]

View attachment 2513021

Frikken gorgeous! The contrast between the ironwood and the acid etch is amazing! Mike

 

[Casinostocks]

Frikken gorgeous! The contrast between the ironwood and the acid etch is amazing! Mike

The fact that a fortunate baboon like me can acquire a sword like this for 2K is really criminal! I feel that I’ve stolen $ from Nathan. When I flip it for 10 Mill, I’m taking Nathan, his family and crew to the Bahamas all expenses paid for!

 

[cpirtle]

I never knew Ironwood grew that big!