Description
A clay tempered blade hand forged in a charcoal fire, water quenched with clay, sharpened with waterstones, and finished simply and humbly in the age-old style of farming and foresting tools traditionally used in managing satoyama lands.
Satoyama are the managed forest areas that border the cultivated fields and the mountain wilds in Japan. Historically they provided soil nutrients, firewood, edible plants, mushrooms, fish, and game, and supported local industries such as farming, timber construction, and charcoal making. The interaction of forest, arable land, wetlands, and streams are an important component of the satoyama landscape.
The blade profile of the forest style kotanto is based on a classical yoroidoshi tanto and has a takenoko shape with slight drop point.
The temper of this high carbon steel blade has been left relatively hard in order to hold a keen edge for tasks such as wood carving and hand work. This particular combination of steel and heat treatment is well suited to users who require a good edge and are willing to take care of it.
The tang is constructed in a similar manner to a Japanese sword requiring only a single hardwood peg to hold the knife assembly together. In addition to the sense of beautiful simplicity, this design allows the knife to be taken apart for cleaning, polishing, detailed cutting tasks, or major resharpening work.
The handle and scabbard are carved from local Nootka Cypress and finished with traditional fukiurushi style lacquer to highlight the facets of the wood. A forged copper seppa/guard with cord wrapped ferrule accents the handle and the removable peg is carved from Wenge.
The blade is just over 4.75″ long with an overall length of about 9.25″. The spine at the munemachi is about 6mm thick.
Specifications
Nagasa (blade length): 124mm
Motokasane (blade thickness): 6mm
Motohaba (blade width): 25mm
Sori (curve): uchizori/takenoko
Nakago (tang): 100mm
Tsuka (handle): 112mm
Koshirae (overall): 252mm
Katachi (geometry): hira-zukuri, iori-mune
Hamon (edge pattern): suguha
Boshi (tip pattern): maru
Nakago (tang): futsu, kuri-jiri, one mekugi-ana, signed near the tip
Mei (signature): hot stamped katabami-ken kamon
Koshirae (mounting): satoyama kaiken style, issaku
Materials: reclaimed file steel, copper electrical washer, Nootka Cypress, cotton cord, natural urushi lacquer, Wenge
This knife is in a private collection in New York.
Process
