Phill Hartsfield KWAIKEN - AIKUICHI - KOZUKA (VIDEO) New VIDEO Page 17

Phill never lost his following. His customers loved him and his knives. And, that's all Phill needed to know.
His fan base will continue to grow because knuts will come to know that Phill knew exactly how to build a tool designed to be used.
rolf
 
I agree

Phill had and will always have a lot of fans that admire the man and his body of work

All I can say is I am very pleased to see all the nice comments and respect

I think it is so important of today's makers working in this genre to know we're it is rooted and that is Phill Hartsfield

Also I am so pleased to see guys stepping up and really looking at the sheath part which is 5o % of this package

These when done right carry like no other blade

If you are a fan of the modern Japanese style utility/defense blade (Kwaiken) than please take a look at this carry option

I have to admit when I first walked into Phills shop so very one ago and even thou I was a student of the Japanese blade arts I truly didn't get how well this system worked

As westerners we have become used to belt loops , drop sheaths and God forbid danglers :)

Take it from a culture that was paramount in the developed of the blade arts

I know a lot of great makers doing this style will say but my customers want this type of sheath and that type of sheath and I respect that and I understand the customer is always right .........or at least thinks they are right :)

All I can say is that if someone asked Phill to do a KWAIKEN with a drop sheath or Kydex he would probable say no thanks :)
 
60mph gusts have kept me off the roof, so my knife is almost done. Needs a Turk's head knot, and a sheath.


...a sheath I can actually physically FEEL the pressure of this thread demanding be of metal.


I DESPISE peer pressure.

I also despise making sheaths.:D

I've never so much as seen a Hartsfield knife in person, much less one of his sheaths. Despite the quality of your video, Joe, I don't have the foggiest idea how to go about constructing one of these things...
 
You wanker.^ :D
Aluminum is easy to bend.
Matthew- Po can assist you with a metal sheath.
Yea... it's like this way too long Western knife handles. lol!
rolf
 
60mph gusts have kept me off the roof, so my knife is almost done. Needs a Turk's head knot, and a sheath.


...a sheath I can actually physically FEEL the pressure of this thread demanding be of metal.


I DESPISE peer pressure.

I also despise making sheaths.:D

I've never so much as seen a Hartsfield knife in person, much less one of his sheaths. Despite the quality of your video, Joe, I don't have the foggiest idea how to go about constructing one of these things...

Matt you overly talented Basterd :)

You got this

I think once you get the concept you will crush this

My phone is on :)
 
Okay here is how to make a metal sheath ala Hartsfield.

First off you will not be able to find the material he used. He had a paper lined sheet of aluminum and I nor anyone I know has been able to find it anywhere. The aluminum sheet came lined.

That aside you can just use aluminum sheet.

You can pick some up at Home Depot or Lowes, do not get it to thin nor to thick. It has to be able to be bent but not flimsy. .020" thick 5052 H32 Aluminum sheets work well

Take your aluminum sheet and cut out a rectangle that is longer then the blade, which will be trimmed to length later, and long enough to wrap around the blade 1 and 1/2 to 2+ times. The thicker the stronger.

You will need some adhesive. The contact cement in the red can is what has been used.

Now lay your blade on the aluminum sheet and bend it around the blade, the best you can and with some some coaxing and prodding go around the spine and then around the edge and trim it off even with the edge.

Then it is time to apply the contact cement, follow instructions. Contact cement when apply correctly will remain flexible and have great strength. If you wrap the metal around the glue will go on the flats each time.

Now press it together, I suggest having a piece of metal or the blade in the sheath, and clamp but do not crush and let cure.

From there insert the blade and cut to length leaving enough for lanyard holes at the bottom. Press the end in a vise to flatten

Gently adjust the sheath for tension with it looser at the bottom and a tad of friction at the mouth.

Now you are ready to cover the sheath with whatever you desire and install eyelets

Big shout out to Pohan Leu who taught me to make them a few years ago.

Have fun boys.

P.S. I hate making sheaths :)
 
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Ben and mecha... what are your handle lengths, please?

About 4 3/8", total length is 11".

AVigil, thanks for the aluminum sheath explanation. I don't see any reason not to start making them like that for damn near everything, including large swords.
 
About 4 3/8", total length is 11".

AVigil, thanks for the aluminum sheath explanation. I don't see any reason not to start making them like that for damn near everything, including large swords.

Mecha

My Hartsfield Katanas are all sheathed that way

Really works well :)
 
Thank you Adam and mecha.
It's best not to make the tsuka too long, on these shorter blades.
 
I really like the Hartsfield style

But I must say it was all over the place. Some looked like they were wrapped in a hurry and dragged behind a car, others looked like a lot of care was put into them and really are gems of this style.

So when I come across a Hartsfield fan we bump knuckles and reminisce. When I hear someone say they looked horrible I shrug my shoulders and smile because I get what they are saying.

Phill was so keen on the edge I think sometimes the other stuff was really not that high up on the perfection list at times.

Years ago when I first met Phill at a So Cal Knife show I mentioned the very coarse finish on his knives. He explained to me that his knives are a tool and are meant to be used and me being a smart ass replied "Sure but I have a $30 hammer and it does not have a scratch on it" :) He gave me the stink eye for a second and kinda chuckled after I told him I was just kidding.

Good times ;)
 
If I may, this guy,^ is making me a HLB. A 9" chisel ground Aikuchi.
I really can't wait. Thanks, James.
Adam- Phill finished every one of his knives the same way... on purpose. His "duty finish" just makes sense. Ken Warner had to write an article about it so peeps would understand that this was Phill's finish. I dunt believe Phill overlooked any aspects with his knives. His handle wraps were perfect as were his sheaths. And, dunt you use that $30. hammer of yours? :D
rolf
 
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Joe, this thread is great. I have admired Phills work for 30yrs but never owned one. But after reading this thread and watching the video, I just bought my first one. Waiting anxiously for the mail right now. I bought an Aikuichi from Dave at Nordic. I've got the bug now. I'm sure I'll be on the lookout for the right kwaiken for carry very soon.
Thanks for the great reviews.
Ken
 
Quick teaser before I head back up on the roof:

21981533844_f44de43b5b_b.jpg
 
Rolf,

The finish is easy to maintain due to a 100 grit scratch among 40 grit scratches is really not noticeable and some sand paper and polish will restore the 40 grit finish just fine. It is much easier to maintain then an 800 grit finish :)

I am super picky when it comes to wraps and have a huge data base of Hartsfield work, the wraps did very from perfect to well lets just say not so perfect. When Phil Jr. returned and started making knives with his dad the quality of work returned to days long past.




Adam- Phill finished every one of his knives the same way... on purpose. His "duty finish" just makes sense. Ken Warner had to write an article about it so peeps would understand that this was Phill's finish. I dunt Phill overlooked any aspects with his knives. His handle wraps were perfect as were his sheaths. And, dunt you use that $30. hammer of yours? :D
rolf
 
Looks fantastic, Matt.

Question for the aficionados,
is there sori on CG blades ?

Doug
 
Joe, this thread is great. I have admired Phills work for 30yrs but never owned one. But after reading this thread and watching the video, I just bought my first one. Waiting anxiously for the mail right now. I bought an Aikuichi from Dave at Nordic. I've got the bug now. I'm sure I'll be on the lookout for the right kwaiken for carry very soon.
Thanks for the great reviews.
Ken

Ken that is awesome and congrats

This thread has turned out to be so much more than I ever imagined........ Thank you all for that :)
 
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