Kotori
"Kotori" Custom Knife
- Size: Length overall: 12.8" (32.5 cm), Blade
Length: 8.25" (20.9 cm), Thickness: .172" (4.4 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 12.5 oz. (354 grams)
Sheath: 8.0 oz. (227 grams)
- Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic
Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to 59HRC
- Bolsters, Fittings: Hand-engraved 304 Austenitic Stainless
Steel
- Handle: Carnival Crazy Lace Agate Gemstone
- Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed leather shoulder
- Knife: Named for the Hopi Native American
screech owl spirit, Kotori is a unique and unusual custom knife made
for a special client. Light, strong and well-balanced, the Kotori is based on my Midnight and Treatymaker LT patterns, but is larger and more robust, with meatier
curves and lines. This is a great evolution of these knife styles
and I'm glad my client allowed me the opportunity to make this
stunning piece. The knife blade is double edged, actually a
differential grind; the main grind is done with an 8" diameter wheel
and the spine grind is made with a 3" diameter wheel for a
distinctive delineation of the grind geometry that leaves a stout
spine running down the center of the blade, but two extremely sharp
cutting edges with high longevity. The steel is painstakingly mirror
polished ATS-34 high molybdenum martensitic stainless steel, for
high toughness and resistance to breakage in the thin edge and point
areas. The knife is fully fileworked from choil to choil, throughout
the fully tapered tang. The knife is bolstered with beautiful 304
high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel, the same
steel used to make tough and corrosion resistant nuts, bolts, and
fasteners, seldom used by most other makers because of its tough
nature. But it is the best, and that's why I use it here.
Additionally, I hand-engraved a deep, overlapping leaf pattern on
the bolsters to bring out the character of the piece, and contoured
and mirror polished the bolsters for a comfortable, long-lasting
finish. The bolsters are dovetailed and bed an incredible pair of
handle scales. These are hard agate, specifically a version of Crazy
Lace Agate that I call Carnival Lace, due to the wide range of
colors and intricate patterns in the gem. There are bands of reds,
brown, tan, yellow, and white, with areas of clear crystal and dark
inclusions. There is so much to see in this stone that magnifying it
only makes it better. Take a close look at the photos below to see
what I mean. The agate is very hard, uniformly and highly polished
and will absolutely outlast the knife! The handle is smooth and
comfortable, and the balance point of the knife is at the forefinger
placement in forward grip style.
- Sheath: I had to make something very special
for the sheath, an excellent work in leather that brings the sheath
and knife together with a unified theme. It took a considerable
investment of meticulous hand-carving, tooling, and hand-dying to
bring this out of the 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, and it was worth
it. The sheath is long and protective, carved and tooled with the
same overlapping and intertwined leaves as the engraved bolsters,
and the gentle transitions of dying from earthy gold to fall red
contrasts well with the medium brown background. The sheath is
carved, tooled, and dyed front and back, including the belt loop for
a complete and beautiful presentation, hand-stitched with black
nylon, lacquered and sealed.
- I love this knife, and am glad I had the chance to input my own
creativity into action!
Thanks, S. W.!
Hi Jay.
Received the knife today and to say that it is magnificent is an understatement. Everywhere I
look there are examples of craftsmanship from the fine filework to the dovetailing of the bolsters.
The hollow grinds are perfect and the balance and weight of the knife is also perfect.
I am pleased that that I stepped back from the detail so that you could add your magic to the package.
I am looking at the knife as I type and admiring how the sheath follows the engraving detail on the bolsters...
--S.W.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos