SBranson Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 I've done a few of the "fusion" style knives where I try to infuse a bit of the Japanese aesthetic into a western knife. Until now that had taken place in trying to put a western handle on an essentially Japanese style blade. I received a commission for such a knife but the client asked for a more western blade and referenced one that the late John White did as an example. That kind of threw me off a little but this is what I came up with. In many ways, I think the "fusion" of aesthetics is much more mixed and balanced than any of my other approaches. It began with me deciding that as a cornerstone of the piece was an antique fuchi (collar) I got on ebay. All measurements and styling flows from this central piece. It was not an easy beginning due to the width but provided a source for a lot of inspiration. The result is a piece I am calling "Arashi no Umi" for what I hope is the proper translation of "stormy seas". For the wood I used "waterfall" bubinga to keep in the water theme. For the tsuba or guard I forged it so that the laminations would show in the width to try to emulate the look of a rolling sea. The blade is W2 and I used a hybrid geometry of a naginata style of blade but with a dropped top sharpened clip (hence the fighter designation) I went for a stormy seas look in the hamon. My 6 1/2 year old son came down while was working on it and said "it looks beautiful Dad,... it looks like the ocean" so I take that as mission accomplished. The habaki was shaped to look like the crest of a wave. True to Japanese pieces, this is a take down in the Japanese fashion and held together by a smoked bamboo mekugi, or peg. A better one of the knife For the sheath design, I took the idea of the theme of the fuchi and the piece “stormy seas” and the first idea that came to mind is this iconic Japanese painting. I inlaid copper “dots” in a similar pattern to what’s on the fuchi and adapted the waves for something that would work in leather. And I came up with this: - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornelius Wiebe Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 This is truly a piece that inspires me to work harder on my own craftsmanship. That knife is amazing!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter-Paul Derks Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 wow,i love fusion style blades and this one is really amazing. i've always loved the super precise style of japanese mounting, but sometimes find the shapes of them a bit boring. however there is no line on this knife that i find anywhere close to boring http://mefecit.nl/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Carter Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Wow. Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Yeigh Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Fantastic knife. Is this a polymer edge quench? I'm very interested in trying that method a the results are so beautiful as your knife obviously indicates. Fine work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLenaghan Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Blown away by how well you've pulled this idea off! This blades gonna stand out above any other knives it's placed next too -Michael Lenaghan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEzell Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 That is a remarkable piece of work.... George Ezell, bladesmith" How much useful knowledge is lost by the scattered forms in which it is ushered to the world! How many solitary students spend half their lives in making discoveries which had been perfected a century before their time, for want of a condensed exhibition of what is known."Buffonview some of my work RelicForge on facebook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdsmith02115 Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 VERY cool! The most original piece I've seen recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard van Dijk Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 That came together amazingly. Richard Richard van Dijk My link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Detrick Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Wow, what a beautiful execution from a kickass idea. That is something else. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." -Albert Camus http://www.krakenforge.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Langston Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 mate that is very very cool it would take my vote as the best blade 2014 on this forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBranson Posted December 28, 2014 Author Share Posted December 28, 2014 Thanks very much for the kind replies. - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Way cool. Everything about it just works together. Doug HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodore An. Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 What a fantastic knife!!!! http://www.facebook.com/groups/205149489611061/ http://www.greekblades.com/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Bostiga Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Incredible. If my work ever reaches this level I'll be very pleased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 yep. this one makes me realize how far I have to go with my knives (weird, I am better at swords than knives... anyway). that is one very fine example of creativity and craft. I will look at it often, I am sure. thanks for sharing some of the process with us. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Hatcher Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Such a stunning and unique piece, Stuart. I've never seen anything like it. Bravo, sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emiliano Carrillo Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 That is absolutely breathtaking! Seriously incredible work. I'm sure designing such a piece was not easy but you make it look like it was! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveEvans Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Yup- what they all said. Sometimes the english language just won't cut it. Like when trying to describe your knife and sheath and all the little details that you thought up in your head and then somehow transformed those ideas into reality with all those different materials. I have never seen a more beautiful knife. You done good, brother! Dave Evans, Maker http://WinDancerKnives.Com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude DUBOIS Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Awesome work give a beautiful wedding orient/occident blade, http://couteauxdubois.free.fr Pour forger,faut être marteau ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Hoffman Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 That is truly beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Yep, you nailed that one! I am very impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igrec Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 This approach is indeed very interesting... Yann Reynal De Saint Michel.www.atelierdeyann.fr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesus Hernandez Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Beautiful interpretation. Enjoy life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Spectacular in the truest sense of the word! The combination of eastern and western is perfectly executed and the overall look couldn't be better. You've certainly earned your salt with this one! When reason fails... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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