There’s nothing quite like walking through a woodland in the Autumn, for me, it’s one of my favourite things to do when my wife and I visit England where she is from. 

While I was making this particular Shrike for my table at the Cape Town Knife Show, I had a picture in my mind, of seeing Hares running across some fields in Dorset, with the browning leaves of beautiful old oak trees in the background. This was the lead for this knife’s colour palette. Sadly, I only wish I had a rabbit menudo to add to this one’s handle, but it wasn’t to be.

The blade here is made from 1095 high carbon steel, carefully freehand ground and forge heat treated. I gave the blade a high polished finishing by hand, and then a hot bluing treatment to give it that dark mirror like effect. 

The handle is composed of a polished copper liner, and polished black buffalo horn with some white and brown flecks in it. The Samegawa (sting ray skin) is lacquered black, and the handle is completed with dark brown silk tsukaito.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Steel: 1095

Hardness: ~59 Hrc

Blade Finish: Polished & Blued
Handle Theme: Autumn Usagi

Liner: Polished Copper

Fitting & Pins: Polished Buffalo Horn & Carbon Fiber (Blended)

Samegawa Lacquer: Black

Ito: Dark Brown Silk

Menuki: None

Wrap Style: Hineri-Maki

Sheath: Black Kydex