new knife building in progress

fujita yuji · Mar 23, 2014

https://picasaweb.google.com/100590047900759209960/WorkInProgress?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Hi, buddies. Haven't seen you for a long time, sorry about that.
I'm building new knives, this time two blades at once.
The steel is cpm-m4, back from hardening process yesterday.

I'll add new shots to the photo bucket listed above with progress.

wish you love them.

thanks for reading and watching.

p.s. the forum is splitted into two some time ago, looks like one for equipments and other for the skills, practice and execution for me. so that I posted this thread to here. if there's something wrong, please forgive me.

Rockywolf · Mar 23, 2014

Looks good. I've always wanted one of your knives. When are you going to start selling? They are great!

KYenglish · Mar 23, 2014

I enjoy seeing the pictures of things being made, thanks for sharing them, they look good

fujita yuji · Mar 24, 2014

thanks guys for your kind words.
Rockywolf, I dont't think they are that great as you say but if you are really interested in my blades, I'll send you the one now I'm using after I've finished these.
I mean this one.

kvaughn · Mar 25, 2014

Your design and work have a unique look. Very recognizable and esthetically appealing. I look forward to seeing more.--KV

fujita yuji · Mar 26, 2014

http://fjt.tumblr.com/post/80759376579/todays-progress-glued-note-the-four-hidden
Thanks, kvaughn.
Here's today's progress. handle scales been glued together.
Now they're heated to make the epoxy reaction faster and to be securely glued.

baldtaco-II · Mar 26, 2014

I recall your last build well. What's the motivation behind this one, just because you can or because it will do something different?

I see you have gone for a maroon colour micarta. I think that's the nicest of all the micarta. Why the brass this time? Is it because it is easier to work, or because it looks more earthy with the micarta, or something else?

fujita yuji · Mar 26, 2014

Thanks, baldtaco-II, you know everything quite well.
The motivation behind this work is, to be honest, an order from a friend of mine, whose boss retires from a job and he (my friend) wanted to congratulate it with some nice gift. I don't know the boss in person but I've heard he's a practioner of Iai-do and a Japanese sword collector.

Bolster material change comes from exactly what you said, partly from the easiness of work, partly because it looks better with maroon colour.

But above all, the largest change is the steel, I think. I was always using M2 HSS from Japanese manufacture for my blades but this time I moved to CPM-M4, which looks quite nice so far. it doesn't suffer rust as easily as M2. Also, this is the first time I use American steel. Really nice and no problem so far. Although I've cut nothing, but the steel can be felt while I'm working with it.

CapitalizedLiving · Mar 26, 2014

Beautiful! I want one. Actually I want your original knife you made, I love that design! Please email me if you are interested in selling any of your work.

Rockywolf · Mar 28, 2014

fujita yuji said:
thanks guys for your kind words.
Rockywolf, I dont't think they are that great as you say but if you are really interested in my blades, I'll send you the one now I'm using after I've finished these.
I mean this one.

I'm humbled by that. I accept. Did you make the sheath too?

fujita yuji · Mar 28, 2014

Rockywolf, pm (or email? not sure, sorry.) sent .

fujita yuji · Mar 28, 2014

Today I've shaped the handles. It's a hard long job. Knife making is a job way too hard for me. handle shaping not finished yet.

As you can see, the handle is shaped with multiple "facets".
When I come to this idea, I thought "wow this looks great! looks like a sculpture but at the same time also useful!!".
Then I realized how much complicated this shape is.

fujita yuji · Mar 28, 2014

Thanks CapitalizedLiving.
I really appreciate your words but as an anonymous novice maker I can not price my work to meet the cost.
I'll tell you if things have changed. Thanks again.

Shotgun · Mar 28, 2014

Glad you're sticking with the same general design. I'm a fan too.

Nice, clean and functional. Good work.

Rockywolf · Mar 29, 2014

Looks great!

fujita yuji · Mar 30, 2014

Thanks, Shotgun. glad to hear you like my works.

Today's progress.

roughly finished both blades now.
The wooden handle one goes to my client.
Tomorrow I will make their sheaths.

fujita yuji · Mar 31, 2014

http://fjt.tumblr.com/post/81286661260/the-thong-hole-at-the-end-of-the-handle-has-got

I have a bad news. The thong hole at the end of the handle has broken when I dropped the blade onto a rock. Obviously a build defect. I've shaped it too thin and the hardness was too high. I've drilled holes at the end of the handle and hammered in a 2mm stainless pin with glue.

Today I've built a sheath, in Nordic style.

Rockywolf · Apr 1, 2014

That's too bad. Still a nice looking knife and sheath too. I sent you a visitor message.

fujita yuji · Apr 1, 2014

[video=youtube;IynW4Y-jxeM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IynW4Y-jxeM[/video]
its done now. the one for my personal use.

lightleak · Apr 3, 2014

I agree with the others: Your knife design is very unique, elegant and just by looking at it I can see how useful they will be.