Overview
Custom knives born from the skills and experience cultivated in Seki, crafted with dreams and vision.
About the Craftsman Toshiyuki Takahashi
Toshiyuki Takahashi was born and raised in Seki City, the heart of Japanese blade-making. Now 54, he has spent three decades refining his skills at one of the Seki city's leading knife manufacturers, where he has played an important role in production and development. His technical expertise and dedication to craftsmanship have earned him respect within Seki's blade-making community. Drawing on the skills and experience cultivated in his hometown of Seki, Mr. Takahashi now focuses on creating custom knives with his own dreams and vision. The Traditional Curved Skinner & Field Knife represents this new chapter—a knife that brings together his accumulated knowledge, personal standards, and aspirations for what a custom knife should be.
Mr. Takahashi’s Knife Making Philosophy – D-2 Tool Steel
Mr. Takahashi prioritizes practicality, cutting performance, and long-term reliability above all else. For this knife, he selected D-2 tool steel for its excellent wear resistance, dependable edge retention, and proven performance in demanding everyday use. While D-2 requires more careful maintenance than stainless steel, Mr. Takahashi values its ability to maintain a strong, effective cutting edge over extended periods. His choice reflects a practical philosophy: selecting steel not for novelty, but for the qualities that best serve the knife’s intended purpose. The blade is ground in a Hamaguri-ba (Convex) profile and finished in black, a combination chosen to provide strength behind the edge, improve durability, and complement the rugged character of D-2 steel. The solid D-2 steel blade is carefully hand-etched to produce a blackened copper-brown patina, with unique variations in tone and pattern that make each blade visually unique. To add visual interest and dimension to the overall form, Mr. Takahashi applied a hammered texture near the Hilt area. This Tsuchime Hammered Finish creates subtle depth while complementing the knife's clean lines.
The handle is carved, handcrafted from a single block of rare, dense natural wood called "Lignum Vitae". Takahashi hand-contoured each handle symmetrically, working from the block while visualizing the finished form and considering how it will feel in the hand and how the owner of the knife will feel while gripping. Each handle is individually carved and polished to completion.
Traditional Curved Skinner & Field Knife (Copper-Brown D-2 Edition)
This is a Mr. Takahashi's aggressive, yet sophisticated, Practical Field Skinner Knife with 5.7" Hamaguri-Ba (Convex Edge) Black Finished, Solid D-2 Blade with Tsuchime Hammered Texture.
5" Hand-Contoured Lignum Vitae Natural Wood Handle with Brass Hilt and Brass tubular Lanyard Hole on end. Comes with Custom Double Stitched Leather Sheath with belt hanging strap with Stag Horn tip on end.
What is the Natural Wood "Lignum Vitae"?
The name "Lignum Vitae" comes from Latin, meaning "Wood of Life"—a fitting name for one of the world's hardest and most durable woods. Known for its remarkable density and strength, this rare material is prized for its exceptional durability and beautiful grain patterns, Mr. Takahashi's smart choice for his concept and vision of knife making.
Specifications
Blade Material: Hand-Etched Copper-Brown Finished Solid D-2 Steel
Rockwell Hardness (HRc): 60 to 62
Handle Material: Lignum Vitae Natural Wood w/ Brass Hilt
Overall Length: 275mm
Blade Length: 145mm
Blade Thickness: 4.8mm
Weight: 278g
Serial Number: 006
Included: Custom Leather Sheath
New condition.