What's on my Bench Today?

Thanks James! I didn't either to be honest. But when the young lady who ordered it asked me so nicely...it was pretty much impossible to refuse . You're in good company though, this knife will be being used on the Home and Family Show on the Hallmark Channel (she's the executive Chef/'Food Stylist' lol, and part of the cast), on Cutthroat Kitchen at the end of this month, and later if things work out, soon on her own TV cooking show.

Yours was the one that started that lol.

Also, I only have one more possibly appropriate piece of wood...and wouldn't even know where to begin looking for more...so yours will most likely eventually be the oldest sibling of three lol. Still pretty exclusive!

 

I really enjoy these WIP threads. They look gorgeous Cris.

 

Thank you Jim!! I actually finished Ferry's tonight. I mean...I still have to buff the handle up a bit...but for all intents and purposes...she's a working knife .


200mm x 54mm tall and 4mm over the heel, with spalted deep compression koa, wrought iron, nickel silver, and W2.


...I think this speaks for itself to an extent...

...but if it doesn't, thats about a 15° inclusive bevel .

I'm taking a shower and going to bed. Thank you again for the kind words my friend!

 

@coexist44's 170mm W2 ko-gyuto . Hair splitting sharp, and ready to go out the door!!

 

Hope these guys take well to the faceted handles. They look good.

 

beautiful work cris. mirror the choils and the spines on the next ones for fun. these look beautiful.

 

Thanks guys! They are mirrored...or close anyhow. The camera just doesn't catch it well in my shop.

Here's a few more from tonight's completed gyuto :


207mm x 50mm x 3mm at the ferrule.


I couldn't angle the blade right to catch the light on the primary bevel...so you got a cool maker's mark/hamon shot instead .


See...this is pretty mirror looking, and the others are the same. It's a bit dirty up near the edge is all, lol.

Anyhow, that's it for these three! The next batch includes Anton's gyuto, that big 270 gyuto-hiki, and my first venture into single bevels!!

Thanks for looking!

 

Looks awesome Cris. Your newish handles look very refined and as if you've been making them forever. A very nice look and I'm guessing a bit of form following function?

 

Thank you my friend! And yes...very much so, particularly with the dial taper .

 

My biggest bladesmithing expense next to handle materials. $175-$200 every couple weeks. I'm always on the look out for better cutting, longer lasting belts! I've been partial to the 3M Cubitron II's in 36 and 80 grit, and the Gator/Trizact structured belts up to 600 grit (30 micron)...but have always heard good things about the Norton belts, so I got the Blaze and Norax structured belts this time around. Hopefully, they prove to be a better value!

 

So...I have some good, good stuff to share tonight .

Some of you may have seen Anton's knife the day I heat treated it:



REALLY serious potential right there, lol. When you see something like that post heat treat...you know you're in for a wicked line.


And...it didn't disappoint . This is only a dirty 600 grit so I can make the handle and saya. From there it gets its final polish...and then we'll see what it really has to give us!!

Oh, and for the record...this is another extra beefy little beast!

 

Been waiting for this. Can't wait for the final polish to see the hamon. It's a real beauty. If you could make a vid on its cutting performance would be awesome.

 

I just dont think you need a video. all of his knives cut insanely thin and easily. they are all impressive online. I speak for myself only, but I need one in hand to know the real deal behind these things. They seem subhuman! Ultimate cutting performance no matter which one it is. And I see all of them as equals if they are not getting better over time.

 

Thank you for the kind words Brad!! Jayson has an order in so he's got something of a vested interest in the performance aspect, lol.

I actually did do some testing with no edge on hard produce last night, and wasn't happy with the performance. A new set of calipers told me I was .2mm thick per side up to the shinogi! The correction was made, and further cutting testing will be done this evening when it preps our dinner .

I'll try to get it filmed Jayson, but no guarantees as we'll be in a huge hurry tonight. Either way though I'll get some more cutting video up here eventually!

 

Anton's knife coming together !



The bog oak still needs a bit of finish work...there's a TON of figure in this piece lol. Most active piece of bog oak I've ever used. Tomorrow I'll complete the saya, then it's final polishing and fitment probably Monday, and off it will go to its new home in St. Petersburg! I think we passed the time where it'll make it before his birthday...but it will be close .

 

op

 

Playing with my camera tonight, lol. Going to try this same shot with the Tamron tomorrow night as well .

 

WOW, extreme knife envy! :cool1:cool1

 

Yours will be coming up soon my friend!!



I finished Anton's saya tonight. Hopefully we'll have a complete knife by tomorrow evening .

 

I managed to finally get the polish done on Anton's little gyuto tonight...so I took a short video:



Really loving the way this one's coming out .