Izanami
Izanami
- Size: Length overall: 8.25" (21.0 cm),
Blade Length: 4.0" (10.2 cm),
Thickness: .1875" (4.8 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 7.0 oz. Sheath: 4.6 oz.
- Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic
Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, mirror
finished
- Bolsters, Fittings: Hand-engraved 304
Austenitic High Nickel, High Chromium Stainless Steel
- Handle: Polished Nickel Magnesite/Chrysoprase Gemstone
- Sheath: Ray Skin Inlaid in Hand-carved
Leather
- Knife: Named for the Japanese mythological
goddess of creation (and death) Izanami has a distinctly
oriental form. The knife blade is a trailing point tanto, with a
thin, beautiful mirror finished hollow grind. The deep grind is
terminated with matched, sweeping curves, and supports a
razor-keen single bevel cutting edge. I left plenty of thickness
in the point for strength, and a good section of spine to
support the blade. The blade is fully fileworked, in a lotus
flower style of design, around the tapered tang and to the
shaped choil. The bolsters are hand-engraved 304 high chromium,
high nickel stainless steel for longevity, beauty, and radiance,
and are mirror polished. The pattern I designed for the
engraving is leaves laying and intertwined, to match the
creative style of the theme. This is an elegant design, lightly
shaded, with a great layout and execution. The bolsters are
permanently mounted to the tang with zero-clearance peened pins.
The front bolster face is sculpted inward to accent the grind
terminations. The bolsters are dovetailed, and bed a pair of
striking brightly polished Nickel Magnesite with Chrysoprase gemstone scales.
Nickel Magnesite is a form of magnesium carbonate, and is
fairly soft, but the Chrysoprase that comprises the largest
portions of this stone is extremely hard. Nickel Magnesite
is found with Chrysoprase; occurring only in
thin veins, so to get enough large pieces to create a knife
handle was a great find. This is a very hard, tough gemstone, a
7.5 on the Mohs scale, so it is extremely durable and long
lasting. The color is hard to represent in a photograph, because
it is a bit different in varying lighting situations. Sometimes,
it appears florescent, and you might expect it to glow in the
dark, but it does not. In low light, it appears distinctly light
green with some darker green veins, and in bright light, more
yellow. The polish is smooth and the handle is comfortable in
the hand, with a light, three-fingered grip.
- Sheath: The sheath is a stunner, too. I
used some radical curves to lay out a complimentary design that
matches the curves of the blade and handle. The knife nests well
in the sheath with thick welts protecting the blade cutting edge
and point, while the handle and engraved bolsters are displayed
in a marquee-like window at the sheath top. I inlaid eleven
pieces of light brown Rayskin in hand-carved 9 -10 oz. leather
shoulder with carved accents. The brown sheath is hand-stitched
in polyester sinew, lacquered and sealed.
- A striking tanto, with graceful curves, stunning gemstone
handle, and magnificent sheath
Thanks, J.P.!
Hey Jay,
I love the gracefully curved lines of the blade, handle, filework, and engravings of this knife.
But the sharp edge and point leave no doubt its intended purpose. Truly the Yin and Yang. Smooth
and graceful, yet sharp and bold, all in balance. Jay, you did good!
--J.
Please click on thumbnail photos