Onagadori

Product Description for Onagadori

Maker: Rick Eaton (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 83945
Blade length: 3.37 in.
Total length: 7.75 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.76 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.15 in.
Item weight: 5.20 oz.
Blade: Mosaic Damascus steel forged by Rick from 15N20 and 1084 carbon steels
Handle: Matching Damascus with gold, platinum and abalone inlays
Style: Side lock folder
Description: Rick Eaton's knives are without comparison. The complex mosaic Damascus forms a mosaic backdrop for his engraving and inlay.
During a war between China and Japan (1655 -- during the Edo period), the Chinese temples were raided by Japanese soldiers, who then brought the rare phoenix rooster (shokoku phoenix) back with them to Japan as exotic gifts to the gods for victory in battle. They were then raised in the sacred temples of ancient Japan. The chickens soon developed the fantastic tails known in today's fowls (the tails can grow 15 - 20 feet long!), and they were revered as holy birds that belonged to the gods, the emperor, and the royal family. They are generally kept in special boxes called tombaku.
In feudal Japan, long tail feathers were given to the victorious samurais as powerful symbols of fighting prowess, luck, and long life as granted by the spirits and the gods. The long, beautiful flowing black tail feathers often adorned the spears and sword hilts of the very best warriors.
The "bolsters" (which are integral to the rest of the handle) depict a bamboo grove inlaid in 24k gold. Gold and platinum inlays and engraving combine into a Samarai holding a shokoku phoenix in a tombaku. His robes are exceptionally well engraves and appear to flow. 24k gold accents on the robe, sash, katana, and rooster add to the sense of life in Rick's work. The tombaku is held protectively as the samarai draws his katana. Wind lines are engraved into the Damascus -- adding to the sense of movement. At the rear 'bolster' (also integral), Rick has inlaid and engraved a shokoku phoenix. On the left side, the onagadori (honored fowl) is shown in fighting posture -- with wings outstretched. On the right side, the same bird is shown head down, pecking for seed. The right side depicts a geisha. Her sash and robe are accented with 24k gold. Her face is detailed in platinum. Her expression is tremendously life-like and shows Rick's tremendous skill. This is the first knife of this profile that Rick has made.
Exceptional work throughout.


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