East meets West

Meet the Japanese Cowboy! This is a handle concept I've been developing over the last couple years, and I finally think it's ready for the world. I've done a few prototypes, but this one really takes the cake. Essentially the idea is to blend the curves and contours of a western handle with the angular facets of tradition Japanese 'Wa' handle's. This particular piece is Black and White Ebony mounted on a 150mm Honesuki. I still have a little bit of finish work to do, but I think it's going to come out great!!


Would love to see your thoughts!

Best,
Mareko


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Love the handle shape.

 

Thanks Jared, it's been a long time comin.


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How does it feel in the hand? Like the workmanships looks awesome as always. My mind just wonders how it would feel.

 

Cool take on your western. It's got me curious how it feels in hand.

 

That looks awesome! Reminds me of the stock shigefusa western, with a lot more conturing! It works especially well with the 2 tone ebony.

I really like the more angular integral bolster too. I think I need one

 

Very nice to the eye! Curious to the comfort level for long days of work.

 

Mareko..can we see the whole knife?
It looks extraordinary!

 

Absolutely! I'll get a picture when I get into the shop today. Cheers!


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If he makes it, we will come

 

That looks insane ... makes we want to get on your list LOL

 

Here's a look at the whole piece. Still needs some finish grinding work on the blade.





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Congratulations on a great looking knife!
Thanks for posting it up.

 

Thank you Jim, very kind of you to say, especially in its rough form. Once it's finished out, it really should be quite an attractive knife.


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I thing others have also been blending the curves and contours of the traditional western handle with the facets of a traditional "Wa" handle, but in a full tang version.

And, yes, it's a really comfortable in the hand.

 

If be happy to oblige you, sir. You'd be in good company.


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@Alex Armstrong @marc4pt0 To be completely honest, it actually surprised me how comfortable the proof of concept handle felt.
Try a quick exercise. Position you hand like your holding an imaginary knife handle. Freeze your hand in that position accept for your thumb. Straighten your thumb, thumbs-up style and look down at your hand as if you were sighting down the cuttin edge from tip to heel. You'll see that the segments of your fingers don't create a perfectly smooth ovular shape, which the cross section of most well contoured western handle's would look like. Instead you see a more angular shape. Something more like the belly half of a Wa handle.
For my hand, the facets fit that shape quite comfortably. When I passed it to my wife, whom at that point had only seen pictures, I didn't say a thing. She shifted through various grips before handing it back, and the first thing she said was that she only notched the handle was faceted when she was switch grips. While she liked the look of it, she also didn't know how it was gonna feel, needles to say, she loved it!

 

Might have to work out a passaround.

 

@Pennman88 There are, a chap named Vance Evens from Kansas, has been doing a kind of J/W hybrid with D handle influence. Mine features the WA inspired facets on a western profile, as well as the "Coke bottle" handle shape you see on my normal western handle's. While it looks straight forward this is a hell of a shape to grind out, but practice will help with that.

 

Thanks @Mrmnms! I've already have a few customers adjust their orders. :cool1