"Nishi"
"Nishi" Fine Handmade Knife
- Size: Length overall: 8.25" (21 cm), Blade Length: 4.5" (11.4 cm), Thickness: .174" (4.4 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 7.0 oz. (198 grams) Sheath: 4.2 oz. (119 grams)
- Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered with Cryogenic Process to Rockwell HRC 60.5, Mirror Polished
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished, Deep Relief Hand-engraved
- Handle: Sonoran Flame Agate Gemstone (Mexico)
- Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed Leather Shoulder
- Knife: The "Nishi" is a small tanto design,
named for the Japanese word for west. This is a palm-handled
knife; the short, rounded contoured handle fits in the palm of
the hand, which makes the knife compact and tough. Even though the blade is just
over 4" in length, it's deeply hollow ground creating a thin, keen cutting
edge with high durability while having the support of a very strong spine. The spine incorporates
a substantial thumb rise for applying force and control of the tough
blade. I added a punchy, offset, full filework throughout, and the tang is
fully tapered for balance.
- The steel I chose for this dagger is 440C, my most asked-for
steel for a reason. It's very tough, highly wear resistant and
excels in corrosion resistance, for the lowest care needed of
just about any knife steel. I used a special
cryogenic process in heat treating this blade; the
result of this is an extremely wear-resistant blade that has
very high carbide
development, fine grain, and high toughness with reduced
asperity (surface roughness). This results in a very tough,
highly wear-resistant, corrosion resistant blade that will
simply last for generations of use.
- I bolstered the knife with zero-care 304 high chromium, high
nickel stainless steel bolsters, which are contoured, rounded and
finished for a comfortable feel. The bolsters are secured with
zero-clearance peened pins and dovetailed to bed the
handle scales. It's very difficult to engrave 304, since
it's 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel, the same
steel that is used to make stainless nuts, bolts, and heavy
fasteners.
I fully hand-engraved the bolsters in deep relief to
match the flame design in the Agate gemstone handle scales
(next).
- The handle scales are absolutely
striking; this is one of the most beautiful gemstones I've
encountered. It was acquired from old stock mined over two
decades ago, now unavailable in any sizes large enough for a
knife handle. What you may find in Sonoran Agate is called
"fire" agate, but doesn't come close to the striking
patterns of this rock. It's formed by fine sediments being
carried into a narrow seam in periods that allow the
formation of quartz, a cryptocrystalline gemstone that has
distinctive "flame" banding in a wide range of colors.
Ranging from tans, oranges, and reds to whites, translucents
with hints of purple, this is an absolutely stunning piece
of gem. The gems had crystalline pockets, and I've carefully
stabilized and filled them with jeweler's quality methods to
make them permanently sealed and solid throughout. This rare
material is something to behold; I only wish I had much,
much more of it! Take a close look at the magnifications
below, and you'll see what I mean. The agate is very hard,
tough, and strong and will literally outlast the knife. The
scales are bedded, accurately fit, and rounded, contoured,
and polished to a vitreous finish.
- The balance point of the knife is at the forefinger
placement, and the handle seems to meld into the palm. It's a
compact, yet seriously durable knife.
- Sheath: Making a complimentary sheath for this
knife was a design natural, I only had to replicate the pattern of
the gemstone and the bolster engravings into the leather. I
hand-carved the opposing flames with a deep background in
9-10 oz. leather shoulder. I used many steps of graduated and
mixed dyes to display the gradations of the flames set against a
coffee-brown receding background. The sheath is fully carved and
dyed, front and back an in the belt loop with the design. I stitched
it together with heavy nylon thread, and it's sealed
throughout with lacquer for permanence.
- A wonderful, intensely striking gemstone-handled small tanto
knife with bold fiery character.
Thanks J. N.!
Hi Jay!
Nishi has arrived! What a great knife! The Sonoran Flame Agate is a beautiful gemstone
and really makes for a very distinctive appearance. The engraving is awesome and complements
the gemstone beautifully. I cannot say enough about the excellence of the engraving. I like
the way you have done the filework, from the spine of the blade all the way around the tang and
back. The blade itself is very impressive and really sharp! The overall feel in my hand is
really great and feels like a really solid knife. The sheath is a work of art in itself, very
nice! I cannot wait to show friends.
All in all Jay, I feel this is not only a very functional knife but a work of art in steel and stone.
Thank you for this beautiful knife.
--J.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos