Turner x Taira Random Mosaic Gyuto 265mm

A collaboration between two accomplished all rounders of the knife making craft. Brook Turner from Sydney and Yasuaki Taira from Fukuoka. Both are highly proficient in all aspects, from forge welding, forging, heat treating and grinding. 

Here we have a large gyuto with a Hitachi Blue #2 core, clad in a pattern welded mosaic. The pattern welded cladding was prepared by Brook, using 52100, 1084, 15n20, Nickel foil and wrought iron. The material was cut and forge welded together several times creating more layers and distortion. Brook then laminated a billet of Blue 2 in between.

Taira san took the reigns from there, stretching the bar out to maximum dimensions and forging it to shape. Following that with his famed Blue #2 heat treatment, and then giving the blade an acute full convex grind. Whisper thin at the edge, and a very subtle right handed bias.

The fully ground blade returned to Brook for a handle and sheath made with African Blackwood, using a heavy and gorgeous piece with a subtle grain structure. The dense timber brings the weight of the fully fitted knife to over 550g.

Blade finish was done by yours truly. Took this one in a slightly different aesthetic direction. Combining synthetic and natural abrasives with etchants, and embracing some of the oxidised tones of the different materials in the cladding - pairing nicely with the brass touches on the fittings. The resulting visual style is luxurious on the exterior, and wild on the interior. 

A big but well balanced knife with a thin convex grind and the top end of Blue 2 heat treatment.

We may see some more collaborations from this duo in the future, but they will likely be much less complex pieces.