Notable experiences that I have been very grateful for

In my experience with Japanese knives there are two events that have happened to me that will stay with me forever. The first is being involved in a collaborative project between Japanese Chefs Knife.com and a committee of knife forum members for the purpose of designing and implementing a brand new line of high-end chef’s knives that would ultimately be produced by Mr. Ichiro Hattori. The project started in 2005 and took almost two years to come to fruition and the first set of knives coming available for sale. I served as main liaison and mediator between JCK and the committee. The whole experience was incredible and I learned a lot about what it takes to get a line of knives designed and produced. You can see these knives for sale at JCK's Hattori FH page.

The second and most influential event that happened to me was in 2008 when I attended Master Blade smith Murray Carter's 3 day knife forging course in which I forged and completed my own International Pro Chef's Knife. In this course I learned how to forge my own knife using traditional Japanese techniques as well as more recent techniques. Below are a few pics from the weekend as well as the final result of my work with Murray.

The finished knife was made from White #1 carbon steel core clad with SUS40 stainless steel. Handle material is Desert Ironwood with brass bolster. HRC64-65


Beginning of forging my bar of steel to thickness



After desired thickness was obtained, I cut down the thinned bar to remove excess and get closer to my desired knife pattern.



Where I started and where it ended up.



Tested the hardness of the steel after quenching



The handle is glued and clamped on the knife for drying



Murray and myself with the finished blade



Some pictures I took of the knife when I got home