Cutlass with Wild Olive Burl - Best Fighting Knife, KGSA Show

Product Description for Cutlass with Wild Olive Burl - Best Fighting Knife, KGSA Show

Maker: Jack Connan (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 98944
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 15.00 in.
Cutting edge length: 14.25 in.
Total length: 21.75 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.92 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.24 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.22 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.10 in.
Item weight: 28.00 oz.
Shipment weight: 103 oz.
Blade: 5160 carbon steel
Bolster: Engraved case brass and Bertie Rietveld Nebula damascus
Handle: 100+ year old wild olive burl
Sheath: Presentation box hand built by Brian Coetzee from White River, South Africa
Description: Jack Connan is a South African knifemaker that has grabbed my attention. His love for knives started at a very young age since he grew up on a game farm in the South African bush. Using a knife for whittling, fixing and making things, or skinning an animal was a daily occurrence. In his early teens, Connan started spending time with Ben Musgrave (a South African legend and gunsmith) learning how to work on and make firearms. Musgrave instilled in Jack the notion of doing things properly. At 19, Connan started studying to become a goldsmith, a job he would continue for 15 years before discovering the art of knife making. In 2009. Jack made his first knife and by 2011, he was accepted into the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa, an honor to any South knifemaker.
This exceptional cutlass was handmade by Jack. It is an exquisite piece and won Best Fighting Knife at the 2017 Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa Show.
The long, upswept blade is formed from high performing 5160 carbon steel. This steel combines a long lasting, high performing edge with strength and durability -- it is a great choice for a chopping, impact piece. The blade is beautifully ground. The primary bevel is hollow ground, for an easy to maintain edge. A long, swooping fuller travels along the flats on each side of the blade. It is expertly hand satin in the grinds and flats, and polished in the fuller.
The handle is formed from wild olive burl. Wild olive wood grows in South Africa. It is well known for its hard, heavy strong, and fine grained timber. It is slow growing and very dense. The wood Connan used for this handle is a section of burl and has a tremendous grain pattern. The fittings throughout are formed from case brass and was meticulously engraved by Connan in a fine floral scroll. The damascus guard was forged from carbon steels by renowned South African bladesmith Bertie Rietveld.
This cutlass is accompanied by and hand built presentation box by Brian Coetzee. The case is formed from Rhodesian teak with wild olive inlay.


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