E-interview with Noesantara

E-Interview with Noesantara:

(Noesantara is the previous name of INDONESIA. The word INDONESIA was founded in 1928, before that we call our country as Noesantara. Noesantara also literally known as Archipelago. Zola Octanoviar)

After several months of exchanging emails with Zola Octanoviar, looking at the methods their friends use to create knives, and the incredible diversity of weapons, I had a hundred questions running through my mind. I proceeded to send "Noviar" a list of some of those questions and I am going to share the collective responses from Noesantara with you. I have taken the liberty of editing both the questions and answers to save space. Photo from left to right: Zola Octanoviar, Kang Rhaman (knifemaker), Lucky Prianata.
Q: Are Indonesian knife makers held in any special regard, like Japanese swordmakers, or are they treated the same as any local craftsmen?
A: Some knife makers, especially those who make Keris are considered to be a "Noble / Respectable / Holy Man / Special Man." Some were even said to bring wealth and prosperity to the kingdom because of their special skills.
Q: Historically many swordmakers in Japan were at least marginal Shinto Priests. Is there any similar religious connotation associated with Indonesian Knife makers?
A: Keris making has a strong connection to ancient Javanese belief called "Kejawen." This belief crosses religious boundaries between Hindu, Muslim and Christian, and establishes much of the ritual associated with keris making. The keris maker was held to be a Holy Man.
Q: Do most modern knifemakers in Indonesia use new steel from blanks or from other sources?
A: Some makers use European steel brought by the Dutch for bridges, etc. Some makers still make their blades from smelting iron ore but this is no longer common. The preferred steel is from the leaf springs of Jeeps, BMW, and Mercedes Benz. Older springs are more desirable than new ones.
Q: What is the usual quenching/tempering process and medium?
A: Most makers judge by the color of the steel when to quench and temper. They do not use a magnet to test for temperature. Water and oil are both used, depending upon the maker’s preference or experience. The colors are observed in a darkly lit workshop.
Q: How do the makers achieve such a smooth polish on the wooden and horn surfaces?
A: A form of pumice like material is used to smoothen the surfaces after which the wooden ones are finished with furniture grade varnish.
Q: Do knife makers apprentice, and if so for about how long.
A: Yes they apprentice, usually with a family elder. The apprenticeship can last for 10-15 years.
Q: Is the art of knife making growing or fading, and do most people buy local knives or modern production knives?
A: It is definitely fading! For example, most young people buy Japanese sword instead of Golok or traditional pieces. Daily cutlery purchases are mostly cheap Chinese imports of poor quality. If nothing is done then knife making the traditional way may die out within the next 50 years.
Q: Is there much demand for traditional swords? Are they used mostly for ceremonial events or martial arts training?
A: Some swords are still used for daily activities, such as hunting. The sword is also used in ritual ceremonies and dances, but the quality of the swords has declined until the balance, strength, and sharpness is very poor. (This is one of the reasons that Noesantara is attempting to reverse this trend. My note) In some remote areas extraordinary people still exist who make wonderful, sharp, balanced, pieces.
Q: And finally, do many people today practice the traditional martial arts, and if so are these normally taught in formal schools or in a home dojo?
A: Almost every village has a silat school that teaches young people. Some silat is taught in the home while other is taught in public school. In the cities the silat is fading as students turn to Japanese arts. The younger generation finds silat boring because the teacher insists on learning the basics by repetition before moving on to advanced studies. While this type of training is good for the student most of today’s generation is impatient.
My thanks to Octanoviar and Noesantara for the in-depth replies and insights into the direction that Indonesian arts and crafts are headed. I hope that through their efforts things can be turned around and that their arts will flourish once again. The plague of cheap Chinese products is like a scourge on the world right now and even smaller countries like Indonesia are feeling its negative impact on their culture and way of life. Noviar, Lucky and I are working together to design an "MIK" Modern Indonesian Knife for martial artists and those interested in a knife for daily-carry self defense. If you are interested in buying a high quality "MIK" or a traditional knife from Noesantara please contact me.

Dull knives and Dim-Witted People

Dull Knives and Dim-witted People:

“I don’t sharpen them because too many people pick them up at shows and bleed all over my knives.” Have you ever heard such a dumb response? That’s the answer I got from the maker of a custom Bowie knife I recently bought. So lets get this right, I paid $225 for a really nice, but dull knife. Folks a dull knife is nothing more than an expensive and ineffective prybar. I’ve heard this sort of thing too many times before. Ebay sellers say, “If you want it really sharp we can do that before we ship it.” Why do you have to make a special request that your knife be delivered sharp? How many times have you heard that, “the back edge could be easily sharpened.” Then sharpen it! You Mr. Knifemaker have the equipment. Don’t expect your customer, with nothing more than the knife sharpener on the back of his electric can opener, to do it.

Let’s go back to one of my earliest premises about buying and using a fighting knife. A knife, of any kind, is designed for only two purposes, to puncture or to cut. If it won't’ cut we’re reduced to one function, stabbing. If I wanted that I’d buy a Fairbairn Sykes or an ice pick and get something that really excels at stabbing, not a partially sharpened Bowie or a dull “Tactical” knife. If it will not do either, then it is not a knife, and if I wanted a prybar I’d go to Home Depot.

Does this knife maker have a valid excuse for not sharpening his knives? In days long past I used to demonstrate Muzzle-loading rifle building at historical events and gun shows. Inevitably some idiot (always a man) would walk up, and without asking, pick up my razor sharp carving tools and run his finger across the edge. Occasionally they would get bitten. Is this a problem? Only in this day and age of frivolous litigation and frivolous men (including judges) who lack common sense or a sense of etiquette would it be a problem. Let me give you another good example. As a member of our Japanese Sister City I was dressed in traditional Japanese clothing (including my sword) waiting to walk in a parade. The head instructor of a local karate club came over to introduce himself to me. He commented on my katana and as a courtesy I handed it to him so he could take a closer look. At this point he twirled it around like a baton and commented, “It has good balance.” I was speechless! It was beyond my comprehension that a teacher of martial arts could be so ignorant of proper etiquette when handling another persons sword. Here was a full-grown man supposedly responsible for teaching children respect and courtesy. Acting this way in Japan would have probably resulted in him being knocked on his fat butt. Had this been a shinken (or live blade) he might have gotten cut. If he had dropped it it could have been badly damaged, which was my real concern.

So, back to the dull knives and dim-wits. Fighting knives should be made and kept as sharp as the steel will permit. If you get cut, you did something stupid! Training knives and swords ought to be dulled for safety. The fact that they are dull is no excuse for treating them indifferently or casually. Training weapons should be treated with the same respect as their sharpened counterparts. In Japan it is a huge breech of courtesy to step over another persons wooden training sword. Twirling their sword would be absolutely unthinkable! Grabbing a knife or sword by the blade is an inconceivable act of disrespect to the weapon and its owner. If you are the owner or a martial arts instructor you ought to be sent back to weapons basics and white belt status. If you think that weapon etiquette is all foolish romantic hogwash maybe you should stick to manipulating your blackberry’s, X-boxes, and I-pods and leave men’s things to men.

Indonesian Knives

Indonesian Knives:

The introduction of a different culture to the martial arts mix will often influence both weapons design and fighting techniques. The bladed arts of the Philippines and Indonesia have been very influential in modern knife design. For example, the handle of my Cobra is shaped similar to a Keris or Lawi Ayam from Indonesia. Perhaps no other culture has invented and utilized a greater variety of exotic edged weapons than the peoples of the Philippines and Indonesian Archipelago.

Before you go running off and buy a Golock, Barong, Badik, etc. I should warn you that there is one caveat to this wonderful bounty of sharp things, it is that these culture-specific knives are often very narrowly focused in application. This does not necessarily mean they are not fully functional weapons, but they may not be good all-around weapons. Another problem with exotic weapons is finding a qualified teacher who can instruct you in their proper use. Unless you find a legitimate teacher you may never extract the knife’s full potential. There are also certain edged weapons whose function is more closely associated with religious or mystical ritual rather than combat. That is a topic for another time and currently beyond my scope. Having said this, I would recommend that you spend the time to find a teacher and invest the money in one or more of these knives. Their unique shapes will force you to learn new movements and techniques, therefore increasing your skills, but only if you seriously apply yourself to learning them correctly. A good reference book on Indonesian combat styles is Donn Draeger's, "The Weapons and Fighting Arts of Indonesia." You can still find copies of this through Alibris.

Blade shapes from this region of the world are extremely diverse! They range in style from recognizable Bowie-looking knives to looking like something evil from "Lord of the Rings." They come in all sizes and shapes. Many of these weapons have an organic sort of look to them that is not found in the West. It is difficult to learn about these weapons because many of the books about them are written in Dutch. Go figure. For you younger readers it was Dutch Indonesia for many years. Many of these reference books are out of print and quite expensive. On Noviar’s recommendation I finally found and bought a copy of "TRADITIONAL WEAPONS OF THE INDONESIAN ARCHIPELAGO" by A. G. Van Zonneveld. This 160 page encyclopedic book provides brief descriptions and 650 photos of the weapons from this region. The photos are sometimes small, and while it is not cheap it is in English and an invaluable reference.

It was by chance that I became acquainted withZola Octanoviar. He is a young man who is working diligently to raise awareness of Indonesian edged weapons and to "improve our pieces to reach global accepted quality." During many subsequent emails back and forth we have discussed topics as far ranging as Scottish dirks and how to polish buffalo horn. Noviar is assisted in his efforts by his best friend Luck Prianata. Lucky is also a fervid Silat practitioner. Together they have marketed the local knife craftsmen’s wares on Ebay, organized a booth at a craft/trade fair, and personally donated monies and materials to assist struggling artisans in their local area.

From the numerous photos and videos they have shared with me, the knives they are selling seem to be of exceptional quality and artistry. Before too long I hope to review them in person and provide you with a critique of how well they perform and the fit and finish. To help them replace some of the books they lost in the tsunami a couple years back I have agreed to exchange books for knives. As part of our relationship they have asked for my input on American tastes in knives and how to size the handles to fit larger western hands. Lucky and Noviar are passionate about their traditional edged weapons and weapons arts and want to offer only serious knives, not tourist trash. I will keep you posted as this project evolves. I cannot wait to handle the Badik and other knives they made especially for this review. If you seeone of their knives on Ebay you might want to add it to your collection and find someone qualified to teach you how to use it.

Dark Ages

Dark Ages

We are living in an ever increasingly violent world. In the first quarter of 2007 there were nearly 200 homicides in the city of Philadelphia alone! The bulk of them were committed with handguns. Despite this, and despite being a student and instructor of martial arts, I do not believe that enrolling yourself and your children in a martial arts school is the complete answer. I do not believe that the solution to violence is always more violence, or that total surrender or slumping into pathetic compliance will work either. I wish I had THE answer.

What terrible cancerous malaise has fallen upon us? I am reminded of the dark times before the coming of King Arthur when it was said that the men were less and less and the beasts became more and more. Today, in this darkest of ages, our men have themselves become the beasts, transformed into predators, muggers, murderers, and rapists. Individual’s lives have become worthless, other persons’ property has become fair game, free for the taking, and the vilest and nastiest element of our race have begun to replace men of honor, integrity, and dignity.

This disease is not limited to the lower social classes, but then it never was. Privilege has often bred pestilence, abusive use of power and wealth. Violence and crime are not solely the mark of the poor or homeless, for these people are also the victims. Violence has become the sport of many of the privileged people, the rich and educated. Business executives and Sports and Movie icons are paid ludicrous salaries, which they spend on drugs and illicit sexual encounters. Accepting bribes and callously doing whatever it takes to win a game or sign a business deal has become commonplace. Corporations sack employees to please shareholders and increase profitability. Politicians take bribes, pander to special interest groups, and rapaciously sacrifice America’s soil, jobs, and sons to foreign investors in support of corrupt foreign governments. Judges operate beyond the pale of common sense and it is the victims whom too often become the accused and persecuted. In the olden days a person who suffered perpetually from bad luck or ill temperament was said to have been born under a dark star, or during the ebb tide. How can we make excuses for the tens of thousands of men without any moral accountability who are locked away in prisons or waiting trial? Were they all born under dark stars, even the privileged nouveau riche?

I had one writer post a lengthy comment contradicting my blog article, "To Rule the Night." That is his right. The writer offered a counter view to my position wherein I stated that a defense against physical assault is only possible if you are armed at least as well as the indigent criminal population. The writer said that rather than arm himself he would prefer to live in a disarmed society like Great Britain. That is his choice to make, although it is a wonderfully naïve Polly Anna approach. It has always been the hue and cry of liberals that to disarm crime you must also disarm the law-abiding citizenry. Criminals will always find a way to obtain weapons. That’s why they are criminals. Using weapons and hurting people is a part of their job description. Taking away the guns, knives, bows and arrows of the population will leave everyone resorting to baseball bats, right? No, I don’t think so. The criminal will still find a way to buy or steal a gun. He wants to have an "edge" before he risks his sorry life robbing you.
Given a choice I would rather try to defend myself with a legally owned (or otherwise if necessary) knife or gun than to allow myself to be beaten to death with a blunt object. I hope that you have not forgotten the televised attack with baseball bats on a homeless person. He was nearly beaten to death by several bored uptown youths? I suppose it was great fun until they realized they had been caught on a security camera. What if he had died? Would his have been a noble death because he did not use a weapon to defend himself? We all die. There is no escaping from this fact. As I see it we may die in one of four ways:

• Natural causes
• Wracked by disease
• An accident
• Or by murder.
  

The only one of these four that we have any control over is the last one. Dying of old age is natural, and while doctors may offer some hope for relief from disease, life remains terminal. Accidents may be avoidable, and I stand by my contention that death by murder is also avoidable. The laws of the land cannot protect you from criminals, the police cannot protect you from criminals either. All that they can do is investigate how and why you were murdered and file a detailed report with glossy 8x10 photos of the crime scene. While my outlook might seem pessimistic or morbid, I prefer to consider it simply a realistic appraisal.

Its OK if you don’t like my suggestions for defending yourself. There is nothing preventing you from turning in your guns and knives to the local constabulary. You could even place a sign in your window advertising "Easy Target." That would permit us armed citizenry to live unmolested for a bit more time. Once all of you easy targets are mugged or murdered I suppose that us barbarians will have to resort to fighting violence with violence again. With any luck, some day like in days of old when knights were bold, men will once again become more and more, and the two-legged beasts will be rendered extinct. Until then you can drink your latte’ and wine coolers and talk about non-aggression, but in the meantime, keep your stinking hands off my knives and guns.

"Never mistake an act of kindness for weakness" anonymous

State of the Art: Kiku Matsuda

Kiku Matsuda
State of the Art:

From the sands of Kittyhawk to the skies over Baghdad, aeronautic technology has undergone incredible changes in what we often refer to as the State of the Art. The march of knife technology, from flint shard to super stainless steels, has been less world shattering, maybe. The Japanese ashigaru trudging back with broken swords on their waists after battling the Mongols might disagree with me. The first Greeks to bang bronze blades against iron ones would also have something pithy to say about the evolution of edged weapons technology.

More than eight hundred years after the Mongol invaders were repulsed, men are still making katana in the same basic style that emerged from the knowledge gained in those battles. Some of these are made of tamahagane, smelted the old way. Other katana are made using "State of the Art" powdered Swedish steels and modern metallurgy. The evolutionary process of blade design may have slowed, as wars are waged remotely using laser guided missiles and satellite guided drones, but blade evolution has not stopped completely. Maybe the question is whether it is evolution, or intelligent design, that feeds the creativity of today’s generation of knife makers?

In my new book, When Two Tigers Fight, I will be discussing the tantoesque-Bowies, Bowie-fied tanto, and Indo-Euro-Asian hybrids. These exciting new trends in knifemaking are obvious examples of cross-cultural pollination, the fruits of our world growing smaller and smaller. But, how often do we see true evolution, or innovation, within an already timeless design? The "Full Contact" Fighting knife is only one example of Kiku Matsuda’s evolution of the timeless. There are many more examples of his work to be found at http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/ .

After only a few moments spent looking over his knives on the Japan Knife Direct website I bought what he calls his back-up knife. One of the reasons I bought this small knife was because most of the other sizes were already sold! At 7.25 inches overall, this is a perfect sized back-up every-day-carry knife. The 3.25 inch blade was delivered razor sharp! The quality of the grinding and the overall knife fit and finish is excellent! It came fitted with a compact, perfectly fit kydex sheath. Although most people like them, I am not a fan of the Techlok™ system on a small knife sheath because it makes it unnecessarily bulky. In my opinion the mini Full Contact is a superb knife capable of providing you with a sure defense. Kiku san uses a unique lanyard arrangement on his knives that at first glance seemed awkward. I soon discovered that if you slid your fingers between the grip and the lanyard you could actually let go of the knife without dropping it, freeing your hand for other tasks. Close your fingers and the knife comes right back to where it should be, ready to be used again. This is a far better system than having a single lanyard placed at the butt.

Anyway, within five days of placing my order I had my new Kiku Mini "Full-Contact" fighting knife in my hand and a day later I placed an order for a full-sized version as soon as one might come available. Jemmy Iwahara quickly contacted a knife store and procured one of these rare knives for me and within a week it too arrived at my door. The hand ground nine inch blade on my full sized "Full Contact" has the blade shaped in the traditional hamaguri-ba (apple seed) profile, known for its strength and fearsome cutting ability. The length of the tip is somewhere between an O-kissaki and a chu-kissaki in size and it is gracefully curved like the tip of a katana. Moving further back along the blade, where the yokote would normally be, we find instead a distinct transition line that delineates between the slightly reinforced tip and the beginning of the primary edgei. The primary edge, like the tip, is hair shaving sharp. A six inch long beveled false edge mimics the Ihori style mune, but unlike its feudal predecessor, it is sharpened adding to the blade’s overall functionality. Replacing the traditional frosty hamon is a unique pattern created by a special acid etch. This etch is said to increase rust resistance while eliminating surface reflections. Resembling a Jackson Pollock canvas, the etched blade surface adds an interesting artistic touch. In place of the clay hardened blade of old is one manufactured from a modern steel, along with its attendant special heat treatment to ensure edge retention and improve cutting.

If you are a Strider-oholic or stuck on Mercworx, the Iwaharas and Kiku san have a cure, but it is not a cheap one. Kiku san’s knives are extraordinary pieces of art and edged weaponry and they are priced accordingly. Those who know quality won’t balk at the price and those with deep pockets who love beautiful knives can fulfill their desires at Japan Knife Direct. There are at least four other Kiku knives I would like to own. If you see one you like, buy it right then, because Kiku san’s knives do not hang around very long. Jemmy and Koki Iwahara will give you world-class service, with great communications, and some of the quickest shipping on the planet. Invest in the State of the Art, buy a Kiku Matsuda masterpiece, and tell them I sent you.

PS: Kiku san's knives will be among those featured in our second book, "When Two Tigers Fight."

The Wotan Project

The Wotan Project

Background:

"The Gebruder Weyersberg (Weyersberg Brothers) was founded in Solingen, Germany in 1787 and represented a tradition of forgers and sword makers dating back to the 1600’s. Operating in Brazil since 1932, under the name INDÚSTRIA e COMÉRCIO CORNETA S. A. the company had established a business making pocketknives using forged blades. Knives and scissors of many kinds of domestic cutlery were added to the line as the company grew. Increasing demand from the automotive industries led to Corneta focusing its production on forged auto parts almost exclusively.
Having been away from the cutlery industry for over twenty years, CORNETA made the wise decision to contract a custom knife maker to head up the project. Peter Hammer was chosen and brought to the project a deeply professional commitment to quality and functionality." Background History provided by Mr. Helio Barretos.

My Review:

Brazilian knifemaker Peter Hammer certainly did his homework before designing the new series of tactical knives for the Wotan Project. The knife I received for review has a seven and three quarter inch clip point saber ground blade. It is a very rugged knife, being approximately six millimeters thick. My sample blade has an unsharpened false edge and its overall shape somewhat resembles the popular Cold Steel™ SRK. While a clip point, saber ground knife is nothing out of the usual, this one is drop forged with an integral guard. Corneta’s trademark, a coronet, is stamped into the precisely formed ricasso. The low gloss black finish applied to the blade is similar to that found on many modern tactical knives. This Wotan knife was sharp enough to shave hair from my arm, but not razor sharp. Since this is a combat oriented knife, and not intended for slicing tomatoes or filleting fish, it is certainly sharp enough. The stout blade tip lies on center, which is something I advocate when buying a fighting knife.
The integral double guard is very well formed and smoothly radiused into the ricasso. This is one of one thousand knives in the series and the guard is stamped 00080. Accompanying the knife was a certificate of authenticity and quality signed by Peter Hammer. Although my Portuguese language skills are nonexistent, there are detailed instructions on how to maintain and re-sharpen the knife when it becomes necessary. I am sure that with importation of the knives into the USA the instructions will be printed in English.
The roughly four and one half inch long handle is molded in Kraton with crisp checkering and a lanyard tube. A well placed palm swell provides a comfortable and secure grip. The only negative I could find with this knife is that it was awkward to use a fencer’s grip on the handle. Resting my thumb against the guard forced my hand too far back and off the end of the handle. While a five inch handle might have been better, when held in a hammer grip the fit was excellent.
The quality of the sheath is far better than most of today’s competition. It is made from a heavy nylon web belting material folded and stitched up the sides, ending in a reasonably sized belt loop. It has an above average nylon strap and snap for retention. A metal extension on the snap allows one to easily unsnap the retainer, unlike those sheaths with only a floppy nylon tab to pull on. A right or left-hand arrangement of the strap can be accomplished by merely rotating the strap on its rivet from left to right. There is also a provision at the bottom of the sheath for a leg tie down if you desire to use one.
If I were going off to serve my country, or on an extended camping trip, this knife would readily handle most of the day to day chores and more than adequately fulfill a self-defense role as well. Other knives in the Wotan lineup include a shorter six inch blade and a choice of a saber or flat grind. Prices for these knives were not available at the time of the writing. The sample sent to me will be comparably priced to knives of similar quality and retail just under $200 according to Mr. Neto. Please contact me for further information.

Disrespected Vets

Disrespected Vets
I am not overly fond of the new American language, or the men of this generation, but I felt that in this case the word disrespected was descriptive.
After forty years I only vaguely remember the time I spent in Vietnam, much it is like a dream. I look at the fading photos of the skinny, smiling kid with blonde hair and his ribs sticking out, and I feel somehow related to him, distantly perhaps. Occasionally I see these same youthful faces on today’s soldiers but there is one major difference. Nothing else can be seen but their faces, sometimes only their eyes. Their bodies are encased in armored chest protectors, with hands, knees, and elbows covered in hockey-like gear. Sometimes even the faces are erased, hidden by goggles, face shields, or night vision apparatus. They look more like machines, Star Wars Storm Troopers, than they do men. I often wonder if they have the same fears, hopes, and dreams that my generation of warriors did.
But these young men and women are not the veterans I refer to in this blog. The disrespected Iraqi veterans are four fighting knives now in my collection. Lying in one drawer are two Ek knives and in another drawer two custom knives. Although they are not abused, they are the victims of a moral neglect. I bought these knives on Ebay, and the question that disturbs me is what sort of warrior would willingly part with his closest friend and weapon? There wasn’t a night in Vietnam that I didn’t sleep without a knife (and/or a pistol) under my pillow, and I was one of the lucky ones to have a pillow. I never put on my pants without putting on my knife. To neglect wearing my knife would have been unthinkably careless, plain stupid. One of my Vietnam knives was stolen, and one was lost during one of my mother’s moves. Although they were not expensive knives I missed them. To me it would have been a sacrilege to sell them.
Let me introduce you to these disrespected vets. The top one is a beautiful custom combat knife by Mike Irie. It came from a young man who could hardly wait to divest himself of it. He wanted the money so he could go on a cruise with his parents. I could not help but wonder if it was the same parents who might have bought him the very expensive knife. This is a knife I would have loved to carry to Vietnam with me.
The second Iraqi veteran is a very sleek fighting knife by W.C. Davis. It too lies slumbering in that drawer, dotingly cared for by me, and not its original owner. You know, I vividly remember throwing away all of my dyed green BVDs when I got back from Vietnam, but my knives, never. In fact, I searched for years until I found a replacement for the German dagger that my mother lost.
A spare hand grenade ring dangles from the lanyard of the W-3 Ek, the third knife down in the photo. This knife had the cheap wooden handles sanded down to fit the owner’s hand, and yet this knife too has now parted company with its owner. This knife has seen more use than the others, and it has the odor of war, sand, and sweat about it. This Ek is not an extravagant knife, like the Irie or the Davis, but it is an honest, tired vet. I am pleased that it found its way to me.
The last knife is another Ek, an M-6 double-edged Bowie. The owner said he wanted to get rid of everything that reminded him of being over there. I wondered if I should have kept his address so that a few years from now he could reclaim his knife and his memories. This Ek has also been used. It is not some foot locker prima donna. At some point the owner removed the original paracord wrap and replaced it with black Ek micarta scales. That makes it a nicer knife to handle. The M-6 Ek is a solid fighting knife worthy of any warrior.
Only the two Eks show any signs of use and sharpening. I know that the Irie was carried too because the sheath shows wear and has sand embedded in the nylon weave. Only the owners of these knives know why they were discarded, and now you know one of the reasons why I am not enthused with today’s generation of warriors. I suppose that war has become too complicated for knives or that I have become too old for the way of today’s world, and yes, despite my grumbling, I think that we have some of the finest men and women in uniform that the world has seen. It is too bad that they are seen in so many places.

Kiku Matsuda Knife Maker

Kiku Matsuda[1]:

“Kiku Matsuda, the new knifemaker who has a magic hand in grinding and polishing the blades in any angles and directions. Unlike normal grinders, he uses a side flat area of the power wheel, that is his canvas to create any 3D grindings, concave, hollow, flat, Hamaguri (convex), twist, double and triple grindings in a free hand. He says his fingers move automatically from his imagination. This is amazing!
His father has been running a small workshop in Seki for blade grinding work for Seki production knife makers. Kiku has joined at the age of 15 and learned the grinding technique from his father. He is now 56, and his 40 years experiences and techniques have proved to be a best grinder in the world. His fine work was admitted by William Henry Knives some years ago, and all of their custom grade blades are being hand ground and polished by him.
After his son, Masayuki (3rd generation) has joined, he has started making his own knives (handmade custom knives). At the local knife shows, his unique Tactical knives have quickly received great reputations for it’s unique blade style and extreme durability and sharpness. His first preference in blade steel is the new OU-31. ( user/OU-31 Steel.pdfuser/OU-31 Steel.pdf see details of this newly developed specialty steel here), but he also uses D2, ATS-34 and VG-10.
The blade durability, edge sharpness, and longer edge retention of his knives are not only for the steel character, but also for his special Hamaguri-Ba (Japanese Convex edge famous for Katana) grinding. After polished the blade, he will use a special art etching process on the blade for non-glare finish, corrosion resistance and blade surface protection. He prefers to use G-10 for the handles, hand contoured and shaped to fit with hand with a unique parachute cord guard. Each knife comes with hand fitted Kydex sheath with Tek-Lok carrying device.
You will be amazed with the outstanding blade grinding and cutting performance of Kiku Knives, when you actually use one. We would like you to experience and prove it to yourself. However, his custom knife production is very limited right now, as he still devotes most of his work for the blade grinding for several knife makers. So far, he only made some knives for the shows. Kiku is my long time friend, and I have been helping him traveling and conducting international shows in last 4 years.” Jemme Iwahara

I will post a review of the two knives I bought later in the week. For now, Suffice it to say that if I did not like the first knife I would not have bought a second one. Pictured here is the mini Full Contact Back-up knife by Kiku san.

[1] Quoted, unedited, with the permission of Jemme Iwahara, Japan Knife Direct