Dress Tanto
Best New Knifemaker, BACKA 1984

Product Description for Dress Tanto
Best New Knifemaker, BACKA 1984

Maker: Judy Beaver (retired 2000) (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 94619
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 5.75 in.
Total length: 10.25 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.80 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.11 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.11 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.09 in.
Item weight: 7.80 oz.
Shipment weight: 12.6 oz.
Blade: Satin finished ATS-34 stainless steel
Bolster: Sterling silver fittings created with lost wax technique
Handle: Maple with red lacquer finish
Sheath: Maple with red lacquer finish
Description: It is very rare to find sole authorship knives by Judy Beaver (in fact, this is the only one I have ever seen!). Most of her work was as an engraver (for a variety of makers) and the remainder were collaborations between herself and Butch Beaver. Both Judy and Butch have been retired for quite some time. This knife was made in 1984 and has been meticulously cared for. By all appearances, it could have been made yesterday. It is in new condition.
At the BACKA show in 1983 Butch Beaver won the Best Knifemaker award for a knife that he and Judy made together. There were some complaints from other makers (since it was a collaborative knife that won Best Knifemaker. As a result of that, Butch and Judy decided that Judy would make a few knives by herself and would have her own table at the 1984 show. She made this Dress Tanto, entered it in the Best New Knifemaker category, and won. The same year, Butch made a wakizashi and won Best Knifemaker again. She and Butch deservedly felt vindicated!
The flat ground blade is ATS-34 stainless steel. It is meticulously hand satin finished. The right side of the tang is marked J. Beaver (in Japanese Kanji), 84.
The handle and sheath are both formed from maple. They are finished with red lacquer. The fittings throughout, including the habaki, are formed from sterling silver. Judy made the forms using the lost wax technique and had them cast in Scottsdale, AZ.
The knife is accompanied by a presentation stand made from cocobolo.


Availability: Not currently available