A knife-maker friend of mine, Kazuyuki Sakurai, knows I like kendama and got creative on a knife I picked up last year. He'd said he had wanted to put some artwork on the scales (handles) but hadn't had time before the show so I asked him to put whatever he thought would be interesting on it. This is what he surprised me with and I think it's great. It's hand engraving on one of his custom-made titanium micro knives. He made the titanium bead on the lanyard too. The colors were created by electro anodizing the metal. His day job is working on helicopters so a lot of his knives use materials he uses daily like titanium and carbon fiber. (he took the photos too)
What would you think of a kendama themed/stylized balisong (or butterfly knife)? It would have the function of a knife, but still retain the "skill toy" aspect as there are tricks and techniques to balisong, all while sporting a sick design only visible when you stop twirling it
Wow that's really unique and amazing! I love the overall design and small size, but then you add the kendama art and that's some next level stuff.
Very cool! Does your friend have a CNC mill to make things like this? Its the perfect (well... maybe a bit overkill) string cutting tool! Haha
No CNC, he shapes by hand and some of his regular pieces are pretty amazing. He'll go with a motif and then on the inside of the opposite scale engrave some 500 year old poem that connects to it. He's pretty detailed, if you look at one of the the torx screws he's cut nicks to make it look a bit like a cherry blossom (though they're only 5 petals usually). Yep, it's overkill but it was such a cool surprise. (edit: added pic)
Wow! I don't follow the knife-making world too closely but that is clearly some beautiful work! Very cool stuff. Does he play kendama as well? I remember the name Sakurai... not sure if it's the same guy though
@htimSxelA No he's not a player but I'm trying to convert him. I figure it'd be good for him to break up hours being hunched over the project for so long.