Takeda – Takeda / Takahashi Stag Hunter

Description

Shosui Takeda Blacksmith

  Fort Henry Custom Knives is proud to be a direct Dealer with Shosui Takeda.

 Direct from the Maker from the ECCKS 2012

I have admired Takedas knives for many years.  Takeda Smithy was founded in 1920 and moved to Niimi in 1951 to produce hand-forged blades and tools such as kitchen knives, hoes, hatchets, etc. A third generation master blacksmith, Shosui Takeda specializes in hand forging blades from the highest quality carbon steel, Aogami Super Steel (AS). The blades are marked with "AS", forged entirely by hand, as it has been done for generations. Each blade holds its edge extraordinarily well and resharpens easily.

On this knife Master Takeda hand forged the blade from his famous Aogami Super Steel and passed the completed blade to Master Masao Takahashi, this is the traditional way fine Japanese Swords were created for centuries, one master for each craft.  Takahashi added the gorgeous Presentation Grade Sambar Stag handles and Guard then custom made the Leather sheath to fit the knife.  A very special collaboration knife from these two craftsmen.

Takeda’s Signature is hand stamped into every blade, along with the AS for Aogami Super Steel designation.  The expert Differential Heat Treat is evident by the beautiful Hamon which is clearly visible along the edge, the blade is hand sharpened to razor like sharpness on increasing grits of Natural Japanese Waterstones.

Takahashi also did an amazing job on the fine leather sheath.

Master Takeda explained to me at the ECCKS  that his long time friend Masao is not in the best of health and collaborates on fewer knives each year, this knife will stand as a legacy to his skill for generations.