Vintage RJ Martin Bat Wing KWAIKEN (VIDEO)

Almost 10 years ago I did a complete photo essay of a W.I.P. following RJ around his shop creating a scary sharp knife.

It was the noted Kwaiken. I'll find the album and post later. VERY informative look into the work, his shop, and his methods.
I'm flummoxed. I didn't save those images on my HD and I'd need to see if I saved them on a CD. This may not happen. Sorry!

Coop
 
No excuses, Coop. You'll just have to do it over again, and this time I get to keep the knife he finishes. :D

I consider RJ a good friend, and I've tried everything I can to shame him into making me one of these. Left handed, of course, as all of us SuperGenius types are southpaws...:)


Good stuff on th vid, bud. Thanks, Joey.


Rolf, I think these things are only just barely Japanese. The wrap (sort of) and the use of rayskin and menuki is about it, otherwise they're really not that Japanese. Chisel grinds, or even full flat grinds? Modern tool steels? Turks heads? Resin soaking? Only in the loosest sense, I would think. I think these are perfect bastardizations of a heap of different influences, and maybe that's why I like them as much as I do.:)
 
awesome review!

i love mine :)

large.jpg
 
Rolf, I think these things are only just barely Japanese. The wrap (sort of) and the use of rayskin and menuki is about it, otherwise they're really not that Japanese. Chisel grinds, or even full flat grinds? Modern tool steels? Turks heads? Resin soaking? Only in the loosest sense, I would think. I think these are perfect bastardizations of a heap of different influences, and maybe that's why I like them as much as I do.:)

Interpretations of Phill Hartsfield's interpretation of Japanese blades.
 
In 2005 RJ called me to chronicle part of a build of his Kwaiken and another popular model small fixed blade. I believe it was for a book, but I forget who. (I don't recall it being DDD but I may be wrong).

I spent a day at his shop and took about 240 images. I sent them off to the editor, and they were used to fulfill the need.

Here's a quick selection of the images. No editing other than resizing down, so they aren't great.

I recall it being a great day, and we get along famously. As does most everyone with the affable RJ. (BTW: I call him Randy. Always have. He calls me Jim)

Note: there are two different knives being ground. They don't get further than finished grinds in my work.

orig.jpg


orig.jpg


orig.jpg


orig.jpg


orig.jpg


orig.jpg


Cont...
 
As a kid I drooled over Phill's catalog

The Eagle Menuki Katana on the cover was a dream :)

At the time they where like 5 K

Kwaiken was like 400

I'll always cherish my first Hartsfield Kwaiken

Think I'll do a video on it :)
 
Jim

You never let me down

No matter how I try I can't capture one of Phills Swords on camera properly

Are you coming to NY I will bring one in
 
IIRC those shots for RJ Martin is an instruction download I got from Blade Magazine.
 
(BTW: I call him Randy. Always have. He calls me Jim)

I call him Landy, he calls me Stevie....roomed with me at SHOT this year, we walked the floor together the last day of the show, and had a lot of fun...

At one point, had five of his knives, but now have three....one of them is a CPM3V double ground Wasabi with red stingray, soaked black silk cord and double menuki with his carbon fiber wrapped sheath......and...NO, Rolf, you cannot have it, buy it or steal it.
15n2flz.jpg

R.J. is a very good friend, he's funny as heck, and I always enjoy spending some time with him when he is available....fantastic maker as well.

A lot of people go with black on black wrap(a look that is quite elegant, and under other circumstances would be my preference as well), Western style or Japanese style....but....one of the great things about the classic Japanese style is the diamonds that result in the negative space of the wrap, and you cannot see them very well with a black same'......that's why this one is red, and most of my Japanese style pieces have white same'.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Last edited:
Back
Top