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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Would anyone want a kizer kwaiken?
- Thread starter stonproject
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Kwaikens (kaikens) had fairly long blades, up to 10" typically. The knife kizer linked, the overall shape is similar to kwaikens I've seen in museums.
Traditional kaikens and tanto profiles look very similar a lot of the time IMO
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A kwaiken is just a tanto, usually describing one that is smaller (10' overall, not 10' blade) with a smooth unornamented mounting. Generally they are classified as having no tsuba (guard) and no handle wrap. Often they have a smooth wooden laquered mounting.
Kwaiken is a modern word. These swords were not historically called kwaiken. Kwaiken is actually a modern term used to describe these smaller tantos in this style. Kwaiken actually translates to "pocket" knife, kaichu (pocket) ken. (knife or sword)
I was more talking about what kwaiken has meant in the modern knife world. I was noting that the modern kwaikens have retained a more traditional Japanese "tanto" grind. When we say tanto referring to a modern knife we usually mean an "american"'tanto.
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Looks great! I'd be on board for one! Thanks Kizer for a chance to give feedback!
A few ideas for a Kwaiken style knife:
Keep the flipper tab low profile, more of a push button than light switch, with some moderate gimping on the forward face of the flipper.
Since it is a push button flipper, you can add some moderate gimping to the rear blade spine/scale area.
Keep it on washers.
No lanyard hole or tube. Build it with standoffs, no solid backspacer.
Keep the bladestock thin with a full or high, flat grind. No fullers or grooves, just a simple stonewashed flat blade that's thin behind the edge. This will keep blade costs down and let you...
Radius the handle scales and do something to give the handles a little texture. Kwaikens are notoriously slippery with little handle real-estate.
Design the handles to take an inlay. Sell inlays aftermarket so folks can personalize their knife.
Skeletonize, keep it lightweight.
Used a milled clip but round the outer corners to minimize hot spots. Offset the clip to keep it off the frame lock. The standard, current Kizer milled clip is great, just soften the corners a bit.
Use basic materials: S35VN, titanium and CF. This knife will be expensive enough with design features. I'm thinking in the $200 selling price.
That's all I can think of for now. If I can help out with any other feedback, give me a shout!
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Comeuppance
Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
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Comeuppance
Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
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Kizer: Please do not listen to this man. He is clearly drunk. Multi-row ceramic bearings are vastly superior to washers in every way. Lanyard holes are excellent and functional. High flat grinds are boring, and you guys are not Spyderco.
I do like the notion of CF inlays and standoff (no backspacer) construction, though.
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I like both. This may be unrealistic, but any chance of incorporating a thumb stud or disc (ducking for cover). Flippers are ok, but the world has gone flipper crazy and they are not always the best means of opening a blade. Winter gloves, tight spaces, ...
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
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The blade would sit almost 100% in the handles there wouldn't be anywhere to put a thumbstud
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Could make a cutout in the scale. Boker's kwaiken used to have a thumb disk too.
Only if designed that way
Like I said, different strokes and all... I'm sure my opening method preference is in the minority here, but if a designer wanted to design in an alternative to flipper, it can obviously be done!
Thank Dogrunner, Under your advice. I made two disc vision insted of the flipper with the Kwaiken. I made some renderings pics. Have fun.
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If it came to the thumb disc OR flipper tab, do the flipper all the way, but I'm not a fan of the discs/thumb studs
Comeuppance
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Agreed. Thumbstuds 1) lead to leaving finger oil on the blades and 2) get in the way of material passing over the blade. I see them as awkward, and an inferior opening mechanism when compared to flippers.
Flippers have the additional benefit of providing a finger guard when opened, and an excellent safety feature when closing the knife - I have a Stedemon Shy with a thumb plate and bearing pivot, and I have to be very aware of what angle I am holding the knife at when I disengage the lock... because the blade can just fall shut on my thumb. A flipper tab would resolve this issue.
Why not do both ? I'm sure there are more flipper fanatics than others, but just because you don't like thumb plates (or other non-flipper openers) does not mean you need to make up lame reasons why they are "bad" . Different strokes for different situations! Flippers fail if you don't have clear space to operate in, or with insulated gloves, both situations requiring positive blade control all the way from closed to locked open. Choices are good.
. Different strokes for different situations! Flippers fail if you don't have clear space to operate in, or with insulated gloves, both situations requiring positive blade control all the way from closed to locked open. Choices are good.
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