ornaments for kwaikens?

N

night man

Joined
Aug 27, 2010
Messages
199
Where do you guys get your flat ornaments to put in the handle wraps on Japanese style blades? I see scorpions, crosses, arrowheads and many other items in said knives. Where can I get them?
 
Menuki. Look it up :)

And many are cheap silvery shiny metals.. try to get something nice... original even.. or hand make one out of copper or silver.
 
sloth357 said:
Menuki. Look it up :)

And many are cheap silvery shiny metals.. try to get something nice... original even.. or hand make one out of copper or silver.
Click to expand...

This. I can't stand the cheap ones that makers throw on their knives. Nothing kills my buzz like a nice $300 "kwaiken" with a fifty cent menuki on it.

Ben Tendick makes simple menuki from various materials for his knives, he may be able to advise if you choose to go that route.
 
I am always on the lookout for things to use as menuki. I use a lot of cabochons when I can find them in the right size. I like fiberoptic, white lipped pearl, malachite, and Chinese turquoise the best. One of my favorite was a little trilobite fossil that my mother had purchased at a rock swap. For one commission I did, I had an artist I know do some cuttle bone casting in shapes that the customer wanted. Lots of things can be used for menuki if you are creative and keep your eye out. Scraps of metal, bone, wood, and whatever else can be repurposed to this end.

Chris
 
As said, look for odds and ends in junk bins and at flea markets. I see all sorts of little things that will work. old jewelry is a great source of small and neat stuff.

You can make them out of a small piece of copper, gold, or silver. Hammer it flat and to the approx. shape and then shape with needle files. Snakes and such can be made from a piece of wire.
Casting wax can be carved and cast in gold or silver alloys. Square or flat wire can be soldered together to make Japanese/Chinese letters.

Ideas:
old coins, medallions, necklaces, bracelet links, etc.
metal labels and plates from old things and equipment
decorative elements salvaged from old items
gemstone and mineral specimens
hand drawn or written things on a piece of parchment or velum
metal letters or initials ( they can be soldered together to make a name, word, etc.)
 
Thanks alot guys. That is really helpful stuff. I recently made a kwaiken and I made a menuki with some scrap Ti that I had. I gave it a hammered finish and anodized it. I will keep my eye out for items I can use for Menuki.

Thanks again.
 
night man said:
Thanks alot guys. That is really helpful stuff. I recently made a kwaiken and I made a menuki with some scrap Ti that I had. I gave it a hammered finish and anodized it. I will keep my eye out for items I can use for Menuki.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

'Atta boy! Glad you decided to make one, keep at it!

Remember, they don't need to be pretty. I'm sure I'm the exception but personally, I would prefer a less visually stimulating piece that's actually made by the maker as opposed to a shiny, mass produced "menuki".
 
evanPGH said:
'Atta boy! Glad you decided to make one, keep at it!

Remember, they don't need to be pretty. I'm sure I'm the exception but personally, I would prefer a less visually stimulating piece that's actually made by the maker as opposed to a shiny, mass produced "menuki".
Click to expand...

Thanks. Here is a picture of the kwaiken with my Menuki. The other kwaiken has rattlesnake underlay and I didn't want to cover it with a menuki, so it went without.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top