Need a knife

[Jeff Martinez]

Anything by Kershaw is awesome. My left hand has some fabulous body modification courtesy of a Kershaw. Lets just say that I was skinning a deer that my half-drunk friend had hung, and it wasn't hung well. The 250 lb deer falling on me managed to run the knife across my left hand. Have you ever seen the inside of your own thumb??? It's an interesting experience to have that digit hanging by a single tendon and a small flap of skin (I'll post pics of the scar if anyone is interested). And, I didn't feel a thing. That's how sharp the knife was. I still carry a Kershaw with me every day.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

The metal of the blade is beautiful. I always wanted a wazikashi with a katana-length quilted maple hilt made with a blade like that. Still do. But now I've accepted that I'll never be able to afford it.

Is that a real damascus or one of the patterns that just looks like damascus? I can't tell by looking, obviously.

It's real damascus made by Todd Fischer, a local bladesmith here in Florida. It's a low layer count with pure nickel layers. I have a 1000+ layer Katana blade that he made for me, ready to finish in my shop right now. It's for a special customer. The blade blank and damascus Tsuba material added up to almost $1000 before I even start with it. The wraping chord will be another $65 and the Menuki will be made by goldsmith, probably another $500. I'm hoping to do one serious sword per year as break from the day to day projects. I need to get moving on it, this year is almost up!!

If I was going to buy a Katana for myself, I would get regular steel competition sword. They are priced in every range, are tough, made well and can handle a learning curve. I have horrible form and I tend to make bad swings Damascus is just as tough but I would save it until my cutting improved!!

 

[Vorago]

That Bali flipper looks ****ing beautiful and scary at the same time!

 

[Bard2dbone]

I had a cheap, probably Pakistani-made wazikashi with a katana length hilt back in the day. Mine was not high quality. But it was basically an article of costuming.

Once I got a chance to actually handle it as a real tool, I discovered that A) it's a perfect size for me, and B) the blade on mine was crap.

Years (several) later I read a book where the main character graduates from the equivalent of boot camp in some extraplanetary military service(Hey it was science fiction. What do you want?) and was allowed to pick whatever blade she wanted to be the sort-of equivalent to an officers' saber.

She got a damascus wazikashi with a maple hilt.

Suddenly I remember my old wazikashi with the oversized hilt and started thinking "Yeah. I miss that old thing. But how about an actually good quality one?"

Ever since then I've wanted one like I described. Basically my old blade, but cool.

Unfortunately I'm pretty sure I'd have to sell a kidney to have one.

 

[high mileage]

Hey, I was just poking around CRKT's website and I happened across this knife, which in my opinion, looks great. Anyone have any experience with the "autolawks" feature? I am interested in how it compares to the Axis lock or just a good frame/liner lock?

No experience with that, but I do have [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] for kayaking - blunt tip version. I use it as a rescue knife meaning that I hope I never need it. Works pretty good for cutting salami on a lunch stop though. It's pretty well made for the price and is solid in the sheath which is very important.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I had a cheap, probably Pakistani-made wazikashi with a katana length hilt back in the day. Mine was not high quality. But it was basically an article of costuming.

Once I got a chance to actually handle it as a real tool, I discovered that A) it's a perfect size for me, and B) the blade on mine was crap.

Years (several) later I read a book where the main character graduates from the equivalent of boot camp in some extraplanetary military service(Hey it was science fiction. What do you want?) and was allowed to pick whatever blade she wanted to be the sort-of equivalent to an officers' saber.

She got a damascus wazikashi with a maple hilt.

Suddenly I remember my old wazikashi with the oversized hilt and started thinking "Yeah. I miss that old thing. But how about an actually good quality one?"

Ever since then I've wanted one like I described. Basically my old blade, but cool.

Unfortunately I'm pretty sure I'd have to sell a kidney to have one.

There's plenty of info and makers on the Sword Forum:

Link Removed

You could probably end up with a good quality Katana as you described for under $1000. I don't follow the forum so I can't really suggest sources.

I need to take some pics of my Tinker Pierce saber. It's got that "live" feel to it and really flexes and cuts well.

 

[Kosko]

It's real damascus made by Todd Fischer, a local bladesmith here in Florida. It's a low layer count with pure nickel layers. I have a 1000+ layer Katana blade that he made for me, ready to finish in my shop right now. It's for a special customer. The blade blank and damascus Tsuba material added up to almost $1000 before I even start with it. The wraping chord will be another $65 and the Menuki will be made by goldsmith, probably another $500. I'm hoping to do one serious sword per year as break from the day to day projects. I need to get moving on it, this year is almost up!!

Dude, that sounds soooo freaking cool!

Seriously, your work is great. Rock on.