Custom Given to me by a great warrior!

[steveracer]

You guys might like this. A friend gave me his custom tanto he carried in Nam. Great man, and a beautiful knife!
Steve

 

[Floppy_D]

Why'd you wipe the blood off?
Awesome tanto. When do you get home?

 

[steveracer]

Yo!

I should be back by the New Year, bro!
Beers, for certain!
Steve

 

[19-3Ben]

beautiful knife.

 

[Blofeld]

Agreed, absolutely gorgeous.

 

[Gordon]

Well he MUST have been pretty "advanced" in martial arts as the Bruce Lee movies were not popular yet (and Japanese martial arts had limited following) and the armor piercing tanto point was pretty much unheard of outside of students of Japanese history and martial arts. I am pretty sure there were no domestic makers makung that style point before the middle 70s-at least. I would have had one if I saw one. Of course he could have had one made to his specs back then.

 

[steveracer]

My friend had this one made in 1966-67 in Seattle, Washington. You're right about the martial arts. The man in question is a kung fu master, and trained in China in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
I'm looking to get some custom leather for this one, as the nylon it came to me in is ill-fitting, and not designed for this knife. (mostly just to keep the blade from cutting things up during shipping)
Steve

 

[CWL]

What's the handle material?

 

[hso]

Stabilized dyed wood. Very popular in the 70's and 80's.

There are ancient Chinese and Korean blades similar to this.

 

[steveracer]

Yes, wood. Looks like dyed hardwood.

Not sure what type. Originally I thought bamboo, but then remembered that dye was a possibility. The guard is pinned with a round brass pin, and also appears to be silver-soldered. This knife is toasty sharp, and although I've only cut paper with it so far, it holds an edge nicely.