Kadi
"Kadi" Fine Custom Knife
- Size (Knife): Length overall: 14.0" (35.6 cm), Blade Length: 8.5" (21.6 cm), Thickness: .262" (6.7 mm)
- Size (Case): 17.25" (43.8 cm) wide, 12.25" (31.1 cm)
deep, 3.5" (8.9 cm) tall
- Weight: Knife: 1 lb., 4.5 oz. (581 grams),
Sheath: 10.7 oz. (303 grams), Case (with knife and sheath: 8 lbs.,
12 oz. (4 kilograms)
- Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Cryogenically Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C62, mirror polished
- Fittings/Bolsters: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished
- Handle: Polished Sodalite Gemstone (Brazil)
- Stand: Lauan (Meranti), American Black Walnut, Poplar,
Redheart, Red Oak, Neoprene Feet
- Knife: The Kadi is named for an ancient
Sumerian goddess of justice. This is a custom knife, made just for a
client at their specific request, finish, materials, and style. I started with a blade
of 440C high chromium stainless steel, a hypereutectoid alloy of
steel high in carbon, chromium, and molybdenum. This steel is my most
requested for a reason; it's a beautiful, low care, high performer,
with a fantastic track record of value and durability. The blade I
double-hollow ground, with a differential grind. This means that the
knife is double edged, but with two different geometries in the
grind. The main grind is done with an 8" diameter wheel, and the top
grind is done with a 3" diameter wheel. This gives the double edges
of a dagger, but with a pronounced and heavy off-center spine for great
strength. This is no lightweight knife, and is made from thick and
heavy stock, with a sizeable blade length. I cryogenically treated
the blade for full martensitic conversion and with a long cryogenic soak for extremely high
precipitation of carbides. The blade was double-tempered with
cryogenic soaking between tempers, for the ultimate in thermal
conditioning and high wear resistance, toughness, and corrosion
resistance. The blade is very hard, 62 Rockwell on the C scale, and
can maintain this hardness due to increased toughness created by the
cryogenic process. I've mirror polished the blade to a beautiful
finish, preserving the crisp grind lines and contours. The blade is
fully fileworked with a bold complex vine pattern, throughout the
precisely and fully tapered tang. The knife is bolstered with zero-care 304 high
nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel bolsters, and the front
bolster is sculpted in complex curves to accent the grind character.
The bolsters are dovetailed and bed a pair of striking Sodalite
gemstone handle scales, in natural blue with black and white regions
and bold appeal. The handle shape is complex and extremely
comfortable, with all surfaces smoothed, rounded, and polished, and
the knife feels solid and formidable with the balance point exactly
at the forefinger location.
- The sheath had to match the gemstone handle, so I created this
one in 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, dyed navy blue, and hand-carved to
create areas to inlay 17 pieces of black rayskin. The sheath is bold
and striking, and holds the knife deeply and securely with a high
back to protect the wearer. The sheath is left-handed by the request
of my client. I hand-stitched the entire sheath with black
polyester, in double row stitching throughout for the greatest
durability. The sheath is coated and sealed against the elements,
and is an independent work of art.
- My client also requested a custom case for the knife and sheath,
so I made this one in lauan (meranti) hardwood, with American black
walnut banding and accents, redheart accents and feet, a red oak
bottom, and ebonized poplar insert. The knife and sheath rest on
natural buckskin leather, and the turned hardwood feet are inlaid with neoprene foam
inserts to protect any surface the case rests upon. The design of
the piece is (like the knife) modern, with complex double-double
box joinery in the corners and an inset lid, clean with no metallic
hardware. The case is smooth and lacquered for a bright finish that
brings out the richness of the various woods.
- A beautiful and complete ensemble, and an honor and a pleasure to
make.
Thanks, M. D. !
Jay -
The package arrived this afternoon. J. is seriously blown away and is SOOOO HAPPY!
Thank you so much!!! You are awesome!
I attached a pic of him opening the box; you can totally see how happy he is by the expression
on his face. He took it downstairs to the basement...He keeps going down there to look at it. Lol
Wishing you and your family a very blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thank you again!
--M. and J.
Please click on thumbnail photos