Guzewski Posted May 6 Report Posted May 6 Hello, dear forum members! I'm new here and still getting acquainted with the interface, but I haven't yet found a dedicated thread for kiridashi knives. Given their significance as a traditional Japanese knife form and the passionate community surrounding them, I believe they deserve their own space. Please share pictures of your kiridashi; let's showcase these often-overlooked beauties! Quote
Guzewski Posted May 6 Author Report Posted May 6 Let me be the first: my kiridashi forged from tamahagane steel. Its geometry is traditional for the Mino school, seamlessly blending tool and weapon thanks to its versatile grip. It was crafted by the finest blacksmith in my country - a master with extensive experience, having worked with mr Fujiwara Kanefusa 25. He utilizes entirely traditional methods. He's been incredibly busy lately, concentrating on sword making, and his work commands prices far beyond my reach as a student. Nevertheless, I'm profoundly grateful he dedicated his time to creating this exquisite piece for me. 4 Quote
Kanenaga Posted May 7 Report Posted May 7 Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is a kiridashi? Quote
ROKUJURO Posted May 7 Report Posted May 7 Lee, the knife above is a KIRIDASHI. You may call it a bench knife. 3 Quote
Brian Posted May 7 Report Posted May 7 Japanese utility knife/tool, used in woodwork and other crafts. Very traditional, going back hundreds of years. Basic and effective. 1 1 Quote
Guzewski Posted May 7 Author Report Posted May 7 2 hours ago, ROKUJURO said: Lee, the knife above is a KIRIDASHI. You may call it a bench knife. Samegawa on kiridashi looks really nice! 1 Quote
Lewis B Posted May 7 Report Posted May 7 Some Kiridashi can be works of art. This is by one of my favourite gendaito makers. 2nd generation Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Kato Shinpei. His son Kato Kiyoshi is also a certified swordsmith (nihonto name Kanekuni) and still active at 80+ years of age. 1 2 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted May 7 Report Posted May 7 Used to have a beautifully made kiridashi which I gave to my daughter's first boyfriend. Seeing this thread I kind of wish I hadn't ... 3 1 Quote
Guzewski Posted May 7 Author Report Posted May 7 2 hours ago, Lewis B said: Some Kiridashi can be works of art. This is by one of my favourite gendaito makers. 2nd generation Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Kato Shinpei. His son Kato Kiyoshi is also a certified swordsmith (nihonto name Kanekuni) and still active at 80+ years of age. The beauty of this type of knife is that it is beautiful in its simplest form due to its minimalist design and functionality, and in rare versions it is a work of art. The beauty of mine is that it's tamahagane and it's surprisingly handy. The master told me that it can be used as a shuriken (not a throwing one) and that blacksmiths and their apprentices have used kiridashi with this shape as a defense weapon since the Muromachi period. Quote
Lewis B Posted May 7 Report Posted May 7 This is another by the same 2nd gen maker, but in Tamahagane steel. Being primarily swordsmiths they had access to some old material accumulated during the late 19th century by the founder. 2 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.