Who makes a good knife in the traditional Japanese way. By traditional [and you experts could go off on a rant here], I mean only softer steel core, hand forged, clay tempered with nice hamon, good polishing and nice fittings. Who are your favourites and why? Don Fogg? Wally Hayes? Yoshindo Yoshihara? And do they always cost as much as a small car? Are they worth the price?
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Traditional Japanese knife - who makes 'em?
- Thread starter HJK
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- May 9, 2000
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I like a lot of different makers of traditional Japanese knives, but I think my favorite is David Goldberg. I love the look of his knives. I also like Scott Slobodian's work.
I think that the cost of these knives is reasonable for the workmanship and materials that are used. Expensive maybe, but not quite as much as a small car.
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Keith
AKTI Member #A001338
I think that the cost of these knives is reasonable for the workmanship and materials that are used. Expensive maybe, but not quite as much as a small car.
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Keith
AKTI Member #A001338
- Joined
- May 9, 2000
- Messages
- 29,205
Sorry,
www.goldmountainforge.com
www.slobodianswords.com
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Keith
AKTI Member #A001338
www.goldmountainforge.com
www.slobodianswords.com
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Keith
AKTI Member #A001338
Howard Clark is an ABS Mastersmith who specializes in Japanese Style blades.
Check Out www.mvforge.com
Mr. Clark only makes blades (and occasionally fittings) but he offers a variety of steel options and is truly an artist. For the fittings (koshirae), you may have the blade sent to a variety of artisans. My katana was mounted by Fred Lohman's company, which I feel is one of the most economical sources of sword work, especially if you on a budget.
Along with David Goldberg, Francis Boyd and Michael Bell perform every aspect of sword-making, from the blade to the fittings to the scabbard.
In Canada, there is in addition to Wally Hayes, Randall Graham.
I have found that Japanese style blades, as far as price, can greatly vary. Of course if you want better fittings, a longer blade, and better workmanship, you are probably going to pay more.
Check Out www.mvforge.com
Mr. Clark only makes blades (and occasionally fittings) but he offers a variety of steel options and is truly an artist. For the fittings (koshirae), you may have the blade sent to a variety of artisans. My katana was mounted by Fred Lohman's company, which I feel is one of the most economical sources of sword work, especially if you on a budget.
Along with David Goldberg, Francis Boyd and Michael Bell perform every aspect of sword-making, from the blade to the fittings to the scabbard.
In Canada, there is in addition to Wally Hayes, Randall Graham.
I have found that Japanese style blades, as far as price, can greatly vary. Of course if you want better fittings, a longer blade, and better workmanship, you are probably going to pay more.
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2000
- Messages
- 941
Most of the makers listed thus far in this thread do good Japanese-style, but they will probably not do the whole traditional route for you. If you are still adamant about the full 9 yards (and are willing to scrounge up the dough for it)...
Your best bets would be to talk to Francis Boyd, Michael Bell, or some of the Japanese smiths (you mentioned Yoshihara Yoshihito, who is Mukansa and therefore obviously a good choice if you can afford). These people are the most qualified to help you with that.
Feel free to ask further questions on the Sword Discussion Forum.
Shinryû.
Your best bets would be to talk to Francis Boyd, Michael Bell, or some of the Japanese smiths (you mentioned Yoshihara Yoshihito, who is Mukansa and therefore obviously a good choice if you can afford). These people are the most qualified to help you with that.
Feel free to ask further questions on the Sword Discussion Forum.
Shinryû.
HJK,
Most Japanese blades we refer to are swords, not knives. Tanto, wakizashi and katana are carried by samurai and the sole purpose of them are weapon, they won't do other cutting things with these blades besides killing (either the enemies or themselves).
But on the other hand there are knives, traditionally made as tools, that has roughly all the craft and sweat into it as the swords. They are all hand-forged, they will have core-steel and jacket steel just as their sword brothers.
They can be divided into several categories:
1. kitchen knife..... a good hand-forged kitchen knife may not be cheaper than a katana
2. wood-working knives
3. survival knives...... yep Japanese WILL NOT use a wakizashi to clear the brush, they use knives that looks like a long bowie with wooden handle. I personally like the look of these knives very much.
I don't have images of these knives at hand at the moment. Most of them are custom and can be quite expensive.
Joe
[This message has been edited by JoeL (edited 05-10-2001).]
Most Japanese blades we refer to are swords, not knives. Tanto, wakizashi and katana are carried by samurai and the sole purpose of them are weapon, they won't do other cutting things with these blades besides killing (either the enemies or themselves).
But on the other hand there are knives, traditionally made as tools, that has roughly all the craft and sweat into it as the swords. They are all hand-forged, they will have core-steel and jacket steel just as their sword brothers.
They can be divided into several categories:
1. kitchen knife..... a good hand-forged kitchen knife may not be cheaper than a katana
2. wood-working knives
3. survival knives...... yep Japanese WILL NOT use a wakizashi to clear the brush, they use knives that looks like a long bowie with wooden handle. I personally like the look of these knives very much.
I don't have images of these knives at hand at the moment. Most of them are custom and can be quite expensive.
Joe
[This message has been edited by JoeL (edited 05-10-2001).]
- Joined
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THANK YOU JOE!
It's about time someone other than me brought it up
Shinryû.
It's about time someone other than me brought it up
Shinryû.
- Joined
- Nov 6, 1999
- Messages
- 2,639
Another Japanese 'style' knife maker whose work is worth consideration is Steve Corkum. He does not normally make san mai (layered) blades, but uses simple carbon steels like 1050 and does a clay temper which produces a nice hamon. His wraps are Japanese 'style', but are not exactly traditional in the Marotzian nomenclature. But his knives are a good value, are super strong, and make great using knives. Check them out: Steve Corkum Knives at KnifeArt
I am also a big fan of Don Fogg's work, Don Fogg's web site. When you start to appreciate the enormous amount of time that goes into the making of a 'traditional' Japanese sword blade, they do not seem quite so ridiculously expensive anymore. As HJK points out, a traditional Japanese Knife is much harder to define than the features of Japanese swords (tanto, wakizashi, katana).
HJK, PLEASE come over to the sword forum from time to time. It does host some great discussions, but could use more folks interested in real knives and swords, as opposed to cheapo replicas. And Robert is right, he is usually to only defender of what is true Japanese 'style'.
Paracelsus
[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 05-10-2001).]
I am also a big fan of Don Fogg's work, Don Fogg's web site. When you start to appreciate the enormous amount of time that goes into the making of a 'traditional' Japanese sword blade, they do not seem quite so ridiculously expensive anymore. As HJK points out, a traditional Japanese Knife is much harder to define than the features of Japanese swords (tanto, wakizashi, katana).
HJK, PLEASE come over to the sword forum from time to time. It does host some great discussions, but could use more folks interested in real knives and swords, as opposed to cheapo replicas. And Robert is right, he is usually to only defender of what is true Japanese 'style'.
Paracelsus
[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 05-10-2001).]
