The inspiration for this knife is a blend of styles; the blade and simple guard evoke the aesthetic of the Japanese tanto, while the sculpted handle and the decoration on the habaki draw on designs from the Middle East and India. Crossover designs such as this are seen frequently throughout history, as trade between different regions inspired smiths to try different combinations of elements.

The blade is my own wootz, in this case with a chemistry that follows the alloying that was common in historical Indian blades. This allows for a “normal” heat treat, meaning that the hardness and durability are comparable to blades made from modern steels. The guard and butt-cap are both made from my own FeCu (iron-copper) mokume, while the pseudo-habaki is made from commercial bronze and has been laser-engraved in my own, hand-drawn design. The handle is stabilized amboyna burl and includes a thin leather spacer for vibration damping.

This is the second item made from a kilic blade that cracked during the quench several months ago. Due to cracking in only one location, I was able to make two blades from the one: this “tanto” and a short saber that is listed separately. I inspected both blades very carefully to ensure there were no other defects present.

As with the short saber this is a “take down” knife, meaning that it can be disassembled if desired. This also means that the handle assembly can easily be tightened if it loosens through use or changes in humidity.

Due to the presence of superficial decarb spots on the blade, which mask some areas of the pattern and auto-hamon, I am offering this knife at a roughly 30% discount; without the decarb spots a knife such as this would be much more expensive.

Overall Length: 395mm

Blade Length: 255mm (10”) to the top of the guard

Width at Base: 37mm

Spine Thickness at Base: 4.5mm

Pricing includes shipping within the USA. International shipping will be extra and will be assessed on a case by case basis. It is the responsibility of the buyer to comply with all local laws and regulations.