The White Shadow Dojo is a Martial Arts school run by Gwynne and David in western New York. This blog features information on our book "The Rhythm of One", our class offerings, a calendar of events, an edged weapons forum, articles on knife design, and a community space for the research and dissemination of Martial Arts. "Sometimes irreverant, often opinionated, always brutally honest."

Friday, April 09, 2010

Dale Larson Knives:


If I keep saying this it is going to lose its impact, but “this is the sharpest knife I ever held.” If you remember the small Matt Lamey Bowie held this title only a few months ago (A New Definition of Sharp.) Now along comes this knife by Dale Larson and it at least equals, if not surpasses, the Lamey knife. I previously bought one other of Dale’s knives off Ebay and was impressed with its simplicity and the quality too. When I saw this one I decided to put in a bid on it. Most of the Larson knives I had seen before were smaller 5-6 inch hunters. Just to look at this knife you would think it was much bigger than a seven inch blade. I tend to consider any knife with a blade anything under 9 inches not quite a full-fledged Bowie. This sweetly upswept, heavily recurved blade is forged from 5160 steel and is about ¼ inch thick through the tang. The long false edge is partially sharpened. The finish on the blade is hand-polished to what looks like a 600 grit and it is one of the best finishes I have ever seen on a knife blade.

Dale also has a superb sense of handle ergonomics that many knife makers could take lessons from. This knife is no exception! The smallish handle fits my hand perfectly giving excellent retention and just encouraging me to swing the knife in broad slashing moves. Yes I know it will not be any good in reverse grip. So what?

So anyways, getting back to sharp. A good sharp blade will perform a clean draw-cut on the edge of a piece of copier paper. This one will cleanly cut off a slice just by virtue of its own weight and the force of gravity! What I am saying is that holding a piece of paper on end and holding the knife lightly by thumb and forefinger, the blade actually slid downwards, through the paper. This is phenomenal cutting power! Pool noodle targets offered no resistance either. Will it cut through ¼ inch steel bolts or stab through the hood of a 1936 Desoto? I don’t know and I don’t care. This knife has all the appearances of a Spanish/Mexican Bowie with one very big difference. Unlike most of those poorly tempered tourist pieces this knife will really cut. Watch for Dale Larson’s work on Ebay or contact him direct. You won’t get a lot of flash for your money but you will get a superbly shaped and finished knife that just happens to have the sharpest edge you’ll probably ever hold. Outstanding work Dale!

Sunday, April 04, 2010


Wishing you a Holy and Happy Easter.
Pray for our nation and our future, and a return to our core beliefs and mores.

Saturday, April 03, 2010

"Go For It"


OK I know I said I would forget about politics but I am offended by a president who continues to campaign instead of lead. How long before he realizes he is not cheerleading a basketball game. When he says "go for it", who is using inflammatory rhetoric? Who is he challenging and why?

On the bright side I finally found something I could agree with Mr. and Mrs. Obama about. I am ashamed of our country, especially the way things are being done today. I am disgusted with politicians who openly admit they don’t give a damn about the US Constitution and raise the politics of corruption to a new high.
I am ashamed of an executive and legislative branches who say that if things don’t go their way they will just bypass the constitution and do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals, even against the expressed desires of the majority of the American people. I am ashamed of a president who apologizes for Americans and chums around with Chavez and other Socialist dictators while insulting our old allies. There is an abundance of regulations, mandates, and oversights in this power grabbing administration, but what really bugs me is their arrogance, contempt, and outright deception. I am insulted by a president who looks on the average American as an opponent and ridicules them saying.

"After I signed the bill, I looked around to see if there were any asteroids falling, some cracks opening up in the earth," Obama said, adding it turned out to be a nice day and "birds were chirping, folks were strolling down the mall."
Obama on Health Care reform


When this nation was founded the new Americans revelled in their new found freedom and wanted to do whatever it took to make them and their new nation stronger. Their descendants enjoyed the fruits of this hard-earned liberty and asked, “What can we do to make ourselves and our country better?” Then came a generation of self-centered spoiled brats that asked, “What can I do to make myself happier?” And now we have degenerated to a Socialist society who asks Mr. Big Government, “What can you do to make me feel safer? And Mr. Big Government looks around and asks how can I make us more like socialist europe?

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