The Kandō! ( Japanese and inspired designs)

Williams Blade Design - "Shobo Zukuri Tanto"

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Williams Blade Design - "Shobu Zukuri Mini Kaiken"

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Williams Blade Design - "Osoraku Zukuri Kaiken"

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norcalAF said:
Those bottom two 🤤
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The first was made by Flavio Ikoma, a Brazilian maker of Japanese descent. I bought it from him at the Blade Show. (He used to be an active member here, so I sought him out.)

The second was made by Wally Hayes, M.S. for me, years ago. It was my first knife from a Master Smith. I thought I was buying a simple stock removal knife at a very nice price...but Wally called me and asked if I'd mind him substituting a forged blade of his damascus.

Who was I to argue? (I was overjoyed.)

The Ikoma piece and the centuries old tanto were gifted by me to maker Jerry Halfrich for his friendship, (and to honor his Japanese ancestry), when he visited my home several years ago.
 
knarfeng said:
Might as well post a resource for y'all. Stacy be Da MAN.

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

Post in thread 'history of the Kiridashi and Kwaiken ?'

The kiridashi ( or kiradashi) is a small angular tip craft knife. It is the equivalent of the X-acto knife of today. It was used to sharpen and shape pen quills, trim paper, and cut string. Scribes used it to shape brush tips and carve wood blocks for printing signatures. Carpenters used a slightly larger version for marking wood and trimming mortise/tennon joints. In Japan, all children carried one to school in their "pencil box" ( anyone remember those :) ). It was part of any scholar's writing desk set. Our small Western "pen knife" ( penknife) had the same use and history.
Pen knives...
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The name means "Bosom knife" . According to Stacy .

So I vote for just forgetting the difficult to pronounce "Kwaiken " and just go with the more evocative "Bosom Knife " ! :p
 
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