Other assorted tableware (no spoons)
 

Some of us forge/grind/collect/use assorted tableware besides the PPOT standard, the spoon. Here are some items of note (photos by me).

Bowie by my friend Raymond Richard. Some sort of saw blade steel (differentially heat treated, as you can see), iron fittings from a few wagon wheels, and walrus ivory for a handle. Ray hand forges everything and uses a variety of tools for his finish work. Won the "Best Bowie" award at this year's OKCA show:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273214426.jpg

An "integral" forged knife by my friend and mentor, Tai Goo. This one he hand forged from a round bar of W2 steel. Final shaping with files and sandpaper. Another differentially heat treated piece (I seem to come into contact with a lot of that). African Blackwood handle. I actually had a dream about this knife before it found its way to me. Tai (wisely) told me it was fate:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273214539.jpg

And finally, a special piece that Tai and I worked on together. I'd say we split the forging duties 70/30 (him/me). Most of the time he was fixing my mistakes. :eek: 1065 steel, differentially heat treated, and finished in walnut, copper, and mild steel. No power tools on this one either!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273214822.jpg

Show 'em if ya got 'em....

Beautiful stuff. Thanks for sharing. :D

Nice knives, i love the hand forged rustic tool look.

I have lots of cutlery on my hobby site Japanese Swords Arms & Armor Home :)

Very nice

There something so...elemental about a fine blade. Simplicity and complexity coexisting harmoniously. And even more impressive are the results obtained by the folks who still do everything by hand (sadly there are darned few of 'em).

Of course Alf will win the nihonto contest with both hands and one leg tied behind his back. And blindfolded. :D Nevertheless I'm rather fond of my dojo sword. Forged, polished, and fitted (aka sole authorship) by another friend:

http://www.fototime.com/8B0595C043C124C/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/4BFA9A6CAC8C5B0/orig.jpg

Clearly time to have the tsukamaki redone. Something I've been holding off doing as I can't really bear to send her out.

This is a stunning piece of craftsmanship!!
Truely a work of art!!
Me likey
Got more pics of this one?

Love all of them, especially the Bowie.

Beautiful work!

Man, you have some taste in knives. Unbelievable quality.
Troy

Drop me an email if you want some full-res photos. :) The 2nd photo below has been "sharpened" slightly but otherwise hasn't been retouched. What that did was bring out some of the detail in the finish that Tai produces. If you like this one you should check out some of his other stuff at Tai Goo Knives - custom hand forged knives -neo-tribal blades. The man is a true artist.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273246640.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273246654.jpg

This shot's for Joe--a little less "artistic" so you can get an overall feel of the whole knife.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273247035.jpg

This is me working in Tai's shop on our second project (still in progress--I'm very slow). The only power tools Tai has are a bandsaw for cutting out handle blanks and a bench grinder for REALLY rough adjustments during the forging process. Making an entire knife with nothing but a hammer and some files is a humbling experience for me.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273247139.jpg

Some of you may prefer a more "machined" finish--nothing wrong with that! This Loveless-style boot knife from Alain Desaulniers (of Quebec) may satisfy. The blade is ATS-34 steel and maroon Micarta handle scales. "Deso" gets an obscenely nice full polished finish on his work and he's one of the more affordable makers producing Loveless-style blades.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273247498.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1273247540.jpg

Wow, just wow!!

That is some very impressive work!

itch itch, need to scractch....