The first release of a collaborative effort between two of today's bladesmithing icons, Robert Trimarchi and Satoshi Nakagawa. Both individuals run successful workshops independently, and have combined their expertise to craft this extraordinary piece.
The pattern welded damascus was made in NSW, Australia at Robert Trimarchi's workshop. Robert forge welded a high layer count billet by arduously restacking and folding Hitachi Blue 2 and 15n20 multiple times. The billet was dimensioned and annealed before it made its way to Nakagawa-san's workshop in Sakai, Japan. Nakagawa-san forged the billet to shape, keeping the flow of the pattern consistent with the double bevel sakimaru profile. After which, the blade underwent his water quench heat treatment protocol.
Post heat treatment grinding was also done in Sakai by an undisclosed sharpener. Finished with a simple and clean etch by yours truly.
The result is a stiff and weighty slicer with convex ground sides and a gradual edge curvature. The dense random pattern is further enhanced by the forged and ground blade geometry. The etch is not too heavy, so that there will be no friction in use and should still take a pleasant patina.
Hopefully the beginning of more cross border collaborations and information sharing within this often reticent industry.
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Steel |
Aogami 2 & 15n20 Damascus |
|
Edge Length |
350mm |
|
Heel Height |
41mm |
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Spine thickness at the Heel |
4.3mm |
|
Spine Thickness 10mm from the Tip |
0.9mm |
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Weight |
342g |
|
Handle |
Ebony |