In my early knife making career, when I first began my long obsession with incorporating traditional Japanese elements into a modern knife, the idea struck me. Why do we not make knives today the way swords were made in Feudal Japan?
I don’t mean in the sense of specific construction or purpose. I mean more in the sense of the philosophy behind the blade. For the Samurai, the blade wasn’t merely a utilitarian object, it was a spiritual companion. It was to be cherished, loved, cared for, decorated and beautifully appointed. It was an extension of your character, your style, and your status in the world. It was both a weapon and an object of art. And while it was certainly expensive, this didn’t deter anyone from carrying or using their blade.
During the time of the Samurai, one may have spent the equivalent of a full year’s salary or more just to purchase a bare blade from a master smith.It would then still need polishing and koshirae made for it. It would then require yearly maintenance to keep it looking good. No self respecting Samurai would be caught dead with shabby Ito covering the handle of his blade. There was much pride in knowing your blade was crafted to exceptional standards and furnished in a bespoke manner to suit your personal theme.
This then feeds my curiosity. Why do we not care so much about our knives today?
The Covenant is for me now the ultimate Defensive EDC Knife. It is the culmination of my near decade long experience producing some of the most sought after Defensive Knives in the world. I say this not as a prideful boast, but simply as a fact. I’ve distilled everything I know about this particular niche of EDC knives into this one model. I consider The Covenant to be my swansong int he world of EDC Defensive Knives. This knife does come with certain rules however.
This is not a knife for those of the hustle culture, of instant gratification, and the disposable mindset. This is a knife for the discerning user, the person who wants more than just a piece of sharpened steel. The Covenant is knife for the serious practitioner who wants a Divine Companion by their side for the rest of their life, and perhaps to pass it on someday to the next generation.
The Covenant is made exclusively to order. I never make these for off the shelf sale, and those I have made for display at shows are my personal pieces, made for me and my family. Each of these blades is made to exacting standards, tailored to the client in its dimensions. I craft each blade from the finest quality Japanese Aogami steel, using hand tools to ensure perfect symmetry. The blade is then clayed and quenched to a Rockwell hardness around 64. This is hard Japanese steel that produces a fine cutting edge. The blade is then polished by hand on finger stones to produce a brilliant Hamon, which is either left bright or darkened for a subdued appearance.
The handle is perfectly ergonomic and tailored to fit its user like a glove. It’s important to note that I only produce the Covenant with a tsukamaki handle, and that these knives are made to a theme.
During the order process in discussions with my client, I will uncover various themes that could work for them. My aim here is to tailor the knife to them in some personal way and the theme will ultimately dictates this. I reserve full creative control over how these knives look. The colours and materials used in the handle construction are determined by the theme and my interpretation of it. My goal as an artist is to produce something that resonates, with mature composition, ultimately producing a timeless master work. This is not cut and paste “custom work”.
This is also a knife which flies in the face of modern convention. The Covenant is a knife not only designed to be carried, its meant to be. I’m tired of the notion that utility has to be austere, hard wearing and bland. Yes, polished surfaces will marr and tarnish, eventually beautiful pieces lose their lustre, but if antique swords teach us anything, its that time often enhances the beauty of well made objects. Use produces patina which tells the story of its life. So why be scared of that?
The Covenant embodies the concept of form and function being in perfect spiritual harmony, and it is a knife that will need care, maintenance, and occasionally may need to be worked on to extend its life span. This is not something to shy away from. We in the west have become complacent and too comfortable with disposable tools that we don’t look after. The Covenant challenges this notion and calls you to action.
The Covenant is not for everyone, but if you feel you are ready for the investment in a life long companion you can get in touch to order one. I require 3 months to complete each Covenant I make, and I only work on one at a time. This means there will be a waiting list. Best to get on it sooner rather than later.
I can be reached through my Contact page. You can see the first concept of the Covenant and future examples on The Covenant Collection page.
