Mirabile Laminated Tanto (Awesome)

[JParanee]

I got this little video this morning from my dear friend David Mirabile

http://youtu.be/fpyRLsrpbVM


For those of you that do not know David he is a very talented Smith that hales from Alaska.

He's a rugged son of a bitch that lives on a sailboat all year long. As he matures he is starting to resemble a Mad Mel Gibson.

David is best known for his rugged forged pieces. He specializes in Damascus and laminated steels and mixes them with fantastic artifacts and cutting edge materials to make a blend of ancient and modern that many including myself find captivating.

His blades exhibit an organic raw feel that transcend time. Just ask the judges at this years Blade Show that awarded him with Best Fighter, for a beautiful piece that featured a Damascus blade with a long Sheffield clip and for a handle David paired it with a gorgeous piece of mammoth ivory and some carbon fiber cord wrap.

It was a striking piece and the award was well deserved.

David has always exhibited an Asian influence in his work and maybe that is what drew me to it.

In Vegas this year David had a fantastic Tanto that was not quite finished. The piece is finished now and regretfully it is not mine.

Here are the specs

Overall 12 1/4

Blade 7 1/2 inches of laminated 321 stainless & W 2

The Tsuka (handle) and Saya (scabbard) are Carbon Fiber over Alaskan Yellow Cedar

The Ito (handle wrap) is also made of carbon fiber

The Habaki and Seppa are Sterling & Nickel Silver Mokume from Matt Diskin

The Kashira is ancient Walrus Ivory

The Sageo is also Carbon Fiber

As you can see that is a fine mix of ancient and Hi Tech that comes in at under 6.5 ounces.

If you where looking for a Hi Speed Japanese influenced carry piece I can't imagine a better example

It also holds its own as an incredible piece of art.

I love it and can only hope that David does more of these Japanese influenced marvels.

I have it on good authority that he will

Imagine a Daisho

 

[Calhoon]

Joe there is a whole lot to like about that knife! Great design and materials! Sweet!:thumbup:

 

[Kohai999]

Usually when the posts disappear from the first page without much comment, it is because the piece is not very good.

That is not the case here.....imo, it is because people don't know what they are looking at and don't know what to say.

It is very, very good work David, and it rises above the usual "kiridashi" chisel ground doo-doo like an eagle flying into the sky.

The choice of materials, most interestingly the yellow cedar. A native material to Alaska, not unlike honoki wood in Japan, and David chose the very best quality....something you simply will not see, a hidden core of superior material, lovingly crafted into the handle and sheath. The carbon fiber and silver/nickel silver mokume gane, provided by his good friend Matt Diskin, not something commercially available(the carbon fiber is, but not in raw form and the mokume is not). The kashira of fossil walrus ivory, a well selected piece that almost glows with it's own light

The craftsmanship....a true habaki....the "spine" of a japanese piece, all other elements are built around it, and it's relationship to the "heart"....the blade. The braiding and hand laying of the carbon fiber over the handle core and sheath core. The laminating of the blade and the core material runs straight down the spine, always a challenge....even the tying of the sageo.

You many posters allow makers to romanticize very basic creations and give major props to those who basically grind out a piece of steel, tie some cord around it and call it a "kwaiken" or a "tanto" wouldn't know the true realization of the piece if it stabbed you in the ass. I'm sorry if this is harsh, but it is also true....as evidenced by the lack of other poster's participation in this thread.....thanks Joe for posting it, and Calhoon, Nick and Dan for seeing what it is.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[JParanee]

Bravo Steven

 

[NickWheeler]

Love it!!!

David is a great guy and a fantastic bladesmith. He marches to the beat of his own style, and I love the stuff he's making. :thumbup:

 

[drf1]

there it is !
saw it in Vegas too in its unfinished state before it was available for sale,
U spot on Joe in describing Daves work and him.
love the piece and thanks for posting the pic
dan

 

[JParanee]

Thanks Dan

It really is a stand out piece and I can't wait to see where David takes his work in this genre.

 

[D.Mirabile]

Joe, thanks for posting this... As you and STeven both know, this almost didn't get finished. But after after barely cheating death one more time, a little healing time was necessary when i got back to Juneau. Then it was back to work...

Like joe said, there has always been an Asian influence in my work. And we'll, I guess that it is time for me to wade a little deeper into the pool.

I basically made this piece as a study of the tanto. But I wanted to create it in my 'style' and use of non conventional materials, and make them work in this very structured genre.

There will be more in this style, and they will get larger.


Calhoon, Nick, and Dan, thanks for taking time to comment.
STeven, thanks for all of your help, this knife looks good, the next will be better.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Nice piece. Anytime you post anything up, Joe, I make it a point to click. I like your tastes in blades.

 

[Dawkind]

Fantastic work.....thanks for posting the pictures, Joe, and thanks for an awesome knife, David.

 

[JParanee]

Joe, thanks for posting this... As you and STeven both know, this almost didn't get finished. But after after barely cheating death one more time, a little healing time was necessary when i got back to Juneau. Then it was back to work...

Like joe said, there has always been an Asian influence in my work. And we'll, I guess that it is time for me to wade a little deeper into the pool.

I basically made this piece as a study of the tanto. But I wanted to create it in my 'style' and use of non conventional materials, and make them work in this very structured genre.

There will be more in this style, and they will get larger.


Calhoon, Nick, and Dan, thanks for taking time to comment.
STeven, thanks for all of your help, this knife looks good, the next will be better.

You never have to thank me brother

I love what you do

Stay warm Gilligan

 

[JParanee]

Big fatty T & Dudley thx guys

 

[David Sharp]

IIRC I have seen 3 of Dave's knives in person (this one included). All beautiful and well crafted; makes me want to pump out more knives so that I can add one of his to my collection.

 

[Doug C]

Back when I didn't know a menuki from a mekugi, STeven sent me some jpz blade links to get me started.
I love my bowies, fighters and hunters but have recently started picking up some Asian influenced stuff.
Really like the blending of modern and ancient/traditional, the laminate looks fantastic.
Great work, David.
Thanks for posting, Joe.

Doug

 

[JParanee]

Thx Doug

The set up is light and fast

I can't imagine a lighter carry piece in this genre

 

[Lycosa]

Gorgeous.
I'd love one in shira-saya.

 

[JParanee]

Gorgeous.
I'd love one in shira-saya.

The Tsuka's done but at least this gives you an idea what it would look like.

The finished pic with stand ready for delivery

The stand carries over aheme from where David hales from

 

[Presa canary]

Sick piece...

 

[DesRosiers]

Way cool Dave!
You know there really is a deep connection between Asia and Alaska, from the heritage of the people, to the pacific ring of fire that connects us in a more primal way...
Glad to hear the healing has allowed you back to the forge.
We're on the road for awhile, but will drop in when we get home.

Adam & Haley.

 

[SharpByCoop]

This is an older post, but the knife DID make it to my table at the NYCKS in Nov.

Reunited. Lots of deserving props.

Coop