#1 “NIGHT FLIGHT DESK DAGGER”
The handle and sheath are carved snake wood. The handle is a carved fox bat with sculptural folded wings forming the grip. The sheath has three fox bats wrapped around it, accented with gold dust. The carving was done by Guy Shaw one of the top Netsuke carvers in the world. Mr. Shaw passed away and I decided to finish this piece as a tribute to his great skill as a carver. His cartouche is gold inlayed in the handle. The guard is carved 18K yellow gold. The blade is 3 ½ inches long damascus steel. It has a straight pattern. The sheath is held lightly in place by a rare earth magnet.
#2 “WIZARDS FEAST”
This gentleman’s fork and knife set was completely designed and carved by me. It is made from carved silver, damascus and roe buck horns. The guards and butt caps are carved silver. They depict wizards, stylized dragon claws and scales. The butt caps are wizards’ faces morphing through a set of dragon scales. The blade and fork are made from damascus steel. The work on this set is all by my hand. Virgil England was kind enough to spend some time with me this summer. This is my first attempt at applying the knowledge he shared with me.
#3 “AIKUCHI DAGGER”
This is a completely traditionally made Japanese dagger by Steve Schwarzer and Wally Hostetter. This dagger is very typical of blades made in the 18th century. The blade shape is called sho`buZukur’. The temper line is a very subtle midare. It is 10 ½ long ¼ thick.
It is mounted in the Aikuchi style meaning with out suba. The sayas finish is called togidashi meaning polished makie. It is multiple layers of textured and polished lacquer, replicating cherry tree bark. It is a very time consuming process.
The suki or handle is high grade stingray skin wrapped with red and black silk cord. The menuki are gold shishi dogs. The fittings or fushi+kashira are sterling silver with 22K gold plate. Every Japanese piece Wally Hostetter and I make is done totally by traditional means. If they did not use a method we don’t either. We don’t leave out a single step in replication of these historical art knives and swords.
#4 “DRAGON FLY KATANA”
The blade shape is Shinogi Zukuri. The Boshi is O`maru. This blade is designed for cutting Tameshigiri. Wally Hostetter and I both cut Tatami mats and dried bamboo with each blade we make before final finish. They must perform or they are destroyed. Wally has cut in competition in Japan and here in the states. We know what works and what is just legend. This blade is the real deal. The fittings are flawless and they are in the traditional style. The saya is made using the multilayer lacquer designs of cherry bark .The habaki is a two piece design using copper and nickel silver. The suba is forged and carved wrought iron with silver inlay. The handle fittings are iron. The menukis are dragon flies. The handle is ray skin wrapped in silk cord using the special paper pillows necessary for a sword designed to be used. If you want a real katana made in the traditional fashion in every facet, this is it.
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Stephen Schwarzer
Pomona Park, Florida
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