Seeking Perfection

Greetings Everybody,

Well, I thought I would title this Post in this way because of the time and experience it takes to get Exactly what one is after in the realms of the Differential Heat Treatment.

As many of you who have been following my work know, it is quite common to see knives with blades that have different tonal changes on them, some in patterns, some straight, some in between. This is generally termed as being differentially heat treated. Other names used are, Hamon
(meaning "Blade Pattern" in Japanese) and there are many many styles of Hamon.

What most people do not know, is that shooting for a perfectly defined hamon, or even getting a beautifully defined straight quench right where you would like it, with the exact look you are after, can be quite challenging. This is why you mostly see lots of satin finished knives (especially chef knives) with no etched surfaces.....it's just easier to harden the whole blade. AND is easier to finish too. nothing to really develop, polish, reveal, or fuss-over.

I recently finished a knife that I am very proud of and wanted to share it with you All.
This is a seemingly simple knife but it really has character.
Character you might ask, what's so special?

For-One: The position and depth of the quench line is very nice on this particular blade.
Of course it could be deeper (higher to the spine) resulting on more hard-zone, but in terms of aesthetics, I like how the quench-line lays half way between the machi and the heel, and flows so gracefully right where the kissaki make it's transition to the spine.
Also: The definition is very crisp, and the little bit of secondary plunge as the second ticked during the hardening stage, resulted in a bit of what my Mentor Tai Goo calls "Rainbow Quench".
Resulting in what In think is one of the most beautiful blades I have made to date.

This particular model is based on my Personal Chef Model, in a stick-tang configuration and with a rustic forged finish, with polished bevels and details for a striking contrast.

The Steel is 1095. The blade is 7.25" of cutting edge and the OAL is 13" The handle is African Blackwood with Antique Ivory Micarta inlay and mosaic pin.

I also attached a few process images of another knife I am extremely proud of that illustrates the Hamon Process in just a few images.
#1 the final part of the clay application.
#2 the initial trial etch.
#3 the finished knife.
Trust me, it's not as simple as 1,2,3 either!
For more information on the knife you see directly above: VISIT THIS POST

I was very happy with in terms of getting the definition of the Hamon just as I wished.
It seems as though I got about 90% of what I was after in terms of how I applied the clay on this one!

It's just not one of those things that happens in a perfectionistic way, but it is driven by perfectionism and fueled by some degree of program, related to how the clay is applied.
And then there is a ton of practice, experience and trial and error that fuel the passion for getting things just-so....
.......because the next step is all about time and temperature.
Every blade is different, every clay application slightly different,
every moment in time is different etc...

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed seeing these two knives that illustrate two styles of differential Heat treatments.

Blessings of Goodness and Health to you All

-DON:)

Some Beauties Fresh Out of the Studio: Personal Chef Model and New Paring/Utility

I have truly been enjoying this amazing Handle Material Combination.
...So much-so that I would love to place it on every knife I make !!.....but then it would not be that special anymore, PLUS, this Old Westinghouse Blue Ivorite Paper Micarta is VERY VERY Rare!

Matched with some nice Antique Ivory Norplex Paper Micarta, It's PURE-CLASS !!!

SO

Instead of using the Blue as full handle material, I am opting to use it for inlay and for full handles only on certain knives. It is a limited material and none will ever be made again! It has the quality and color saturation of fine old lapis lazuli, and I love the materials for it's beauty and toughness.

Here are some of my latest knives featuring these materials on the handle.
A Beautiful Full-Size Chef Knife, a Model I call the "Personal Chef" It was patterened after a knfie I made myself some years ago, and it is a great performer. Here, created out of 13c26 stainless steel with a RC-value of 60-61, it features an 8" blade and is ready for work!
This knife will soon be available at EatingTools.Com
Along with two of the New Utility/Paring Model I have been creating.
These little beauties are out of 1095 carbon steel with fine gunome hamon on them.

I hope you enjoy seeing the images of these knives.

-DON:)

Next are these really wonderful New Utility/Paring Model Creations in the same handle materials.

Introducing > The Bug-Out Camp Knife

I have been thinking of some ideas for hybrid camp-chef knives lately.

Since I have been playing with some Micarta as of late, I thought I would re-tool this stick tang camper that I made originally about 2-years ago.
I re-worked the blade-style a bit and am happy with the results.
__________________

These knives have a camp-knife geometry, convex and yet quite fine at the edge, perfect for splitting wood for kindling with aid of a baton on the spine, and also weighty enough to do some chopping.
Sharp as a razor and totally capable to prep foods with no problem. Basically looking very much like a chef knife, but with a bit more handle drop, and yet,
still quite capable as that knife that you would want along if you were heading out & needing to have one knife that would take care of business.

These are forged out of 1095, featuring a mild distal taper,
hammer-textured surfaces high on the bevels, and a nice swedge to the tip.
These will all have Micarta Handles on them.

The top knife is more indicative of the size I will be producing these in as time goes on.
With a 6.50" blade that is about 2" wide it's a nice compact camp knife.
....Being a special order,
the request was for African Blackwood and Antique Micarta Inlay and mosaic pin.
THIS ONE > heat treated out with an amazingly sweet clay-less Hamon! Truly beautiful!
I wish I could make that happen more than once in a blue-moon!

The bottom one is sort of an XL-version, one-of-a-kind, that I do not plan on producing more of unless requested.
This one is about 7.50"
and is featuring what will be the norm on these,
straight quench, some nice Canvass Micarta, with a single mosaic pin.

Keep en eye out as I will be spinning a few of these out throughout 2015.
Feel free to Email me is you want more information.

I hope you enjoy seeing these that have been created so far.

-DON

 A Fancy Bug-Out Camp For Tim !

One of his images of the knife too:)

 And One below with a Polished Blade...I like how this looks!

 

Five For February!

OK...So This post is coming in a little late, but due to the wonderful world of computers I can time-stamp it in last months cue as I type today on March 4th;)

OK I just wanted to share some shots of recent work finished.

Currently Available From California Custom Knives are the bottom two knives and the Middle bug-Put Camp Knife, the top two Small French Knives are headed to Brooklyn's EatingTools.Com

I hope you enjoy seeing some of these images!

Top of the first Image are two sweet Small French Knives. There will be many more of these coming out of the CCK Studio throughout 2015. Simply, a wonderful size knife for every day meal prep, and perfect for those who shy-away from larger chef knives, prefer smaller knives, or have smaller hands...though they fit my hand very well with plenty of knuckle-clearance over the cutting board and I am 6'6"-Tall:)

In the middle is the Bug-Out Camp Knife. Please visit THIS POST to read more about it.

And finally are these two sweet Classic French Utility Models in two amazing handle materials for your consideration. Both are available right now on California Custom Knives. Each are amazingly sweet, light and strong. Perfect for daily meal prep and detail cutting tasks or picnic-outings!

I hope you enjoy the images!

-DON:)

A Fancy Shallot Knife !!!

Certain knives just take a really long time to finish....this was one of those knives.

Why do some knives take long than others?
...I am not totally sure;
>>>but the ones that do often turn out amazing.

And....while this may not be the finest knife I have ever made, it's right there at the top,
and, it is certainly the Sweetest Shallot Knife I have made to date.

This one being a "Jumbo Shallot" since it was forged out of 3/16" thick 1095lm,
the regular shallot is forged out of 1/8"-thick material.

Plenty of "Firsts" on this on too:

First Shallot with a Hamon
First Shallot with Round Inlay & blind-pin
First Shallot with Mosiac pin
First time Laminating Ironwood to Micarta.
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OAL is 10.75"
Cutting edge is 6"
Handle is laminated Antique Micarta & Desert Ironwood w/ matching inlay & detail carving.
Nice Hamon on this Low Manganese 1095

I hope you enjoy the images of this beauty.

-DON:)

Tribal Utility Knife with two-tone "tribal wrap"

Fast Becoming one of my most popular models,
is this exceptionally-fine example of the "Tribal Utility Knife"

This one has a beautiful blade that is a stock-reduction creation with Hamon out of 1095 carbon steel, and features:
African Blackwood Handle with Purpleheart inlay and rosin impregnated  
(so no moisture or food-stuffs can be absorbed)
1mm woven natural and purple line that is rosin-impregnated and registered over a blind pin.

This is a robust and tough knife for a little knife....that is really not all that little at:
11.5" OAL with a 5.5" blade.

With room for knuckles over the cutting board on this one,
This wonderful might become your favorite knife in the kitchen.
Super-handy for daily meal-prep and very comfortable too.

I hope you enjoy seeing these images:)

-DON:)