- Joined
- May 3, 2001
- Messages
- 1,501
My best friend from boyhood is a man named Walter Ted Kiss. Ted is a Vietnam vet (USMC H-2-9 1965-1966) who is a superb artist. He has been making custom gold jewelry since the early 70s .
In the early 80s he apprenticed under Kuzan Oda the Japanese knife maker. Kuzan taught Ted how to make knives and how to polish swords. They had a falling out over a personal matter. Ted only made two knives while working under Oda.
Until recently, Ted continued to restore and polish fine Japanese blades, usually just to have the experience of working on them. He has never made another knife.
That brings me to the reason for this post.
I have Teds second knife, a superb drop point hunter. I dont know the steel but it is very hard. The blade is deeply hollow ground and is tapered in thickness from the center to the tip and to the butt. The wood to metal fit is perfect as is the polishing and fit of the guard. The only thing I find odd is that Ted crudely numbered this knife 0002 with a vibra peen.
Id like to find Teds first and only other knife, 0001, and return it to him.
Hes having a rough time in life right now due to PTSD and a recent divorce. Hes a true artisan. Im hoping seeing that first knife again will get him back to sword polishing and knife making.
He would have sold 0001 in the early 80s at a knife show in Denver, San Francisco, or Seattle.
I know this is a long shot but I thought Id try.
In the early 80s he apprenticed under Kuzan Oda the Japanese knife maker. Kuzan taught Ted how to make knives and how to polish swords. They had a falling out over a personal matter. Ted only made two knives while working under Oda.
Until recently, Ted continued to restore and polish fine Japanese blades, usually just to have the experience of working on them. He has never made another knife.
That brings me to the reason for this post.
I have Teds second knife, a superb drop point hunter. I dont know the steel but it is very hard. The blade is deeply hollow ground and is tapered in thickness from the center to the tip and to the butt. The wood to metal fit is perfect as is the polishing and fit of the guard. The only thing I find odd is that Ted crudely numbered this knife 0002 with a vibra peen.
Id like to find Teds first and only other knife, 0001, and return it to him.
Hes having a rough time in life right now due to PTSD and a recent divorce. Hes a true artisan. Im hoping seeing that first knife again will get him back to sword polishing and knife making.
He would have sold 0001 in the early 80s at a knife show in Denver, San Francisco, or Seattle.
I know this is a long shot but I thought Id try.
