The Mystique of the Hamon

[parfums95]

I know a lot of knives SAM, it is sublime.
......................................................
la mort ou tché tché

 

[Ben Seward]

Here are some attempts at hamon from my shop. My latest Leatherwoods Bowie in W2.

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The first Leatherwoods Bowie in 1075 and Ironwood

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Then a very early attempt from a couple years ago...1075 w/california buckeye, sorry for the poor pic quality

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[Salem Straub]

man, is that a sick knife!

Thanks, Lorien! It was one of my favorite bowies I've made yet... W2 steel quenched in Parks 50.

 

[canineforge]

Here is a Matt Lamey 1095 camp/kitchen with hamon. My wife decided it was all kitchen. One of her favorites.

- Joe

 

[RMLamey]

heres one still in the polishing stage-

 

[Salem Straub]

Looking good Mr. Lamey! Very vivid habuchi in that piece.

 

[r connally]

I love me some hamon, especially from Hanson, but that's no secret. All of these have been posted at one time or another but I had to jump in on this thread.

 

[Doug Timbs]

Those are beautiful, that folder is stunning.
I'm going to have to learn how to do this.


Doug

 

[Bladeplay74]

Those are three of my favorite Hansons, but I didn't know they all resided with ONE lucky guy. My word.

The ivory on that large tac is downright alien, and spectacular. Hanson speaks to fossilized ivory, I swear it.

Seth

 

[JParanee]

Rob I love all three of those knives

 

[BIGGORILLAINK]

I just luv this thread it's amazing the joy a good knife can bring to a working man with a family. I'm relatively new to knifes but I have learned so much in a short period of time. These are a few of my favorites from my small growing collection.
My Cas has a much darker Hamon than my Hoover but its subtly is what I luv the most.

 

[Salem Straub]

Another beautiful knife from CAS, but an example not of a hamon blade- rather a laminated ss/carbon blade. I do love that look though.

 

[Chefget]

Couple more...by Dave Kelly (some of my favorites!)

And a Shigefusa

-Michael

 

[stereo.pete]

Michael,

Are you 100% sure that on the Shigefusa, what you are describing as a hamon isn't actually a lamination line? I have a Shigefusa, and I am a huge fan of of his work and from what I know, he does absolutely 0 differential heat treatments with his blades, which would results in a Hamon. That picture looks like a Shigefusa that has been thinned, which would create the aggressive lamination line. Either way, props to you for posting a Shigefusa, as Iwasaki is one of my favorite Japanese smiths.

 

[Chefget]

Michael,

Are you 100% sure that on the Shigefusa, what you are describing as a hamon isn't actually a lamination line? I have a Shigefusa, and I am a huge fan of of his work and from what I know, he does absolutely 0 differential heat treatments with his blades, which would results in a Hamon. That picture looks like a Shigefusa that has been thinned, which would create the aggressive lamination line. Either way, props to you for posting a Shigefusa, as Iwasaki is one of my favorite Japanese smiths.

Hmmm, I believe you're right on that one...though I haven't thinned it (got it new, after a two year wait!) it appears that the line is the lamination, not a hamon...... funny too, on my Shig nakiri the lamination line is relatively straight...

And BTW, ain't it fun actually *using* a fine knife!

-Michael

 

[stereo.pete]

Hmmm, I believe you're right on that one...though I haven't thinned it (got it new, after a two year wait!) it appears that the line is the lamination, not a hamon...... funny too, on my Shig nakiri the lamination line is relatively straight...

And BTW, ain't it fun actually *using* a fine knife!

-Michael

My Shig is my favorite of my Japanese made gyuto's, no contest at all.

 

[quint]

Here is one I am working on. A forged W2 bowie of sorts. I did clay with parks 50. I am still learning my polishing technique and trying out new things as I go along. This guy needs some work still (only have one side close to being done) and the knife itself needs alot of work to compete with the ones on this side of the forum.

Still its one of my better hamons so far. Pretty close to what I was shooting for. Its about a 7" blade.

 

[Doug Timbs]

Your hamon looks great. There is some nice detail showing. Really nice job, I like it.


Doug

 

[olpappy]

I saved these pictures from a sword web site, it is a blade by Ono Yoshimitsu, a modern smith born in 1948 who has won many awards in Japan.





Closeups of a wakizashi by Bizen Hisamitsu, from another sword site.

 

[Kohai999]

The top one is more hitatsura, but the bottom photos are a textbook illustration of what Western makers SHOULD be attempting to emulate. Thanks!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson