Til yesterday, I had no idea what the word Kiridashi was :confused: When I saw Scott's post Clouds & Rain Dashi...very nice compact blade. I recognised that style from a utility blade Jason Knight had made. I had taken a picture of his blade plus a drawing where he was going to add a bottle opener...like my beer blades
Then I went in on Tia Goo's forging site and was completely mesmerised by his work! Not only the kiridashi blades but the really cool rolled hollow handle blades. That was all I could stand. I got up early and tried my hand at a couple kiridashis myself.
They are fun little palm utility blades. Fairly easy to make. I did a hollow grind instead of the traditional Japanese single bevel. My sharpest blades seem to be a shallow 8 inch wheel hollow grind with a convex edge.
Scott, Thanks for broadening my horizons...Doc
Top has finger hole for third finger to keep it firm in your palm. Control of blade is with first finger and thumb.
Middle has a rolled hollow handle that would allow a stick to be attached. I had trouble with that as I wasn't sure how Tia did his handle. I tried to roll it around a hawk mandrel. I emailed Tia and he was kind enough to explain how he just forged in on the anvil horn...need some practice there!
Bottom just a little palm blade.