Product Description for Carved Boxwood Tokage (Lizard)

Maker: Hidetoshi Nakayama (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 84966
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 2.08 in.
Total length: 5.21 in.
Blade width: 0.44 in.
Blade thickness: 0.11 in.
Item weight: 1.60 oz.
Blade: D2 carbon steel with a hand rubbed satin finish
Handle: Sculpted boxwood
Style: Slip joint folder
Description: Knifemaker Hidetoshi Nakayama has been making knives since 1990. I was tremendously impressed when I first saw his work in 2004 and have been very pleased to bring a selection of the best of his knives to the United States each year since. He has been a netsuke artist for over 10 years. Netsuke is a unique form of small sculpture which developed as an art form in Japan over a period of more than three hundred years, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes. Over time netsuke, which started as a toggle used to stop the kimono cord from slipping, began to feature elaborate carving, lacquer work, and inlays of rare and exotic materials including ivory, wood, precious metals, shell, coral, and semiprecious stones. Clearly the attention necessary for carving fine figures in netsuke has transferred to his knife making.
The blade of this folder is D2 carbon steel. This carbon steel has exceptional edge retention and takes on a keen edge, while having a relatively high chromium content. This chromium content makes the blade fairly resistant to rusting and oxidation (though not to the point of true stainless steel). The blade has a unique shape that is very true to Japanese style and effect. Hand satin finished and antiqued blade. The handle has been sculpted from a single piece of boxwood and forms a bamboo shoot with a lifelike lizard crawling up the side. The "bamboo" has been meticulously sculpted for a very realistic appearance -- even to the point of creating faux stress lines in the faux bamboo where he has set the pins. These faux cracks are on the surface only and create an amazing realism to the sculpted boxwood. Even the antiqued D2 backbar has been sculpted to appear like bamboo. Following traditional netsuke techniques, the eyes have been double inlaid with cow horn and buffalo horn, bringing a vibrancy to the carving. Exquisite work from a maker rarely seen in the United States custom knife community!
Availability: Not currently available