Moritaka AS Honesuki - Polish me plz!

[GopherBroke]

This knife started out as a handle job for George, and when George needed to sell it.. it turned in to a custom project for the new owner who we'll call TGarn.

TGarn is a self-professed collector, and not so much a user of knives.
It will be a display piece, and since it's a focal point T asked if I would polish the blade path and add some bling to the blade.

The blade started off in it's original shape and form, fresh off the anvil at Moritaka Hamono.


I started with a Shapton Pro 320 to flatten the blade path as it had the slightest hollow, or concave to it. After getting flat I moved to the Nubatama Ume 1k and worked it until the scratch pattern from the 320 had disappeared. I then moved to a 5k Rika, and again worked the metal on the stone until the scratch pattern from the previous stone are no more.

After the 5k Rika I chose to use balsa strops that had been loaded with a variety of micron sizes. I started at 6µm and stropped at 0.5µm as the finisher.
I think TGarn will be satisfied with the upgrade in bling and appearance







I found the process therapeutic and relaxing!

[gladius]

Looks nice, how long did the polishing take you?

[GopherBroke]

Probably an hour and a half.. ish.
I had the tunes on, and was sort of off in my own little world, so honestly don't know.

[J david]

Wow, i like it.

[Willison_Knives]

Probably an hour and a half.. ish.
I had the tunes on, and was sort of off in my own little world, so honestly don't know.

i usually sit out back with my laptop watching/listening to something. I enjoy it:D

[Chefspence]

When I buy my first Moritaka I'm gonna send it to you first. Man that's pretty!

[ken123]

Nicely done! Thanks for showing off your work!

---
Ken

[STPepper9]

Looks great, I'd love to see the patina it gets.

[nakneker]

That’s really nice! Nice post

[slobound]

Wow! That was done on a Rika to the balsa strop? Fantastic job!

[nakneker]

Mark had one left with the standard Wa handle. I like this a lot, gonna give it a try, atleast the edge polishing. How do you add the bluing? Is it like a hot blue or something else.

[GopherBroke]

Wow! That was done on a Rika to the balsa strop? Fantastic job!

Yes sir.. all on stones (330-5k) and balsa strops (3m to 0.5m)

Mark had one left with the standard Wa handle. I like this a lot, gonna give it a try, atleast the edge polishing. How do you add the bluing? Is it like a hot blue or something else.

The bluing that you refer to is a lighting anomaly, I think. The polished edge had no chemical treatments. It's 100% bare metal.
You COULD blueb it with Birchwood Casey products a but I wouldn't. Sink the blade in to a hot chicken breast and leave it there for 10-20 minutes; instant blue patina that is chemical free and easily removable.

[nakneker]

Wow! That was done on a Rika to the balsa strop? Fantastic job!

Yes sir.. all on stones (330-5k) and balsa strops (3m to 0.5m)

Mark had one left with the standard Wa handle. I like this a lot, gonna give it a try, atleast the edge polishing. How do you add the bluing? Is it like a hot blue or something else.

The bluing that you refer to is a lighting anomaly, I think. The polished edge had no chemical treatments. It's 100% bare metal.
You COULD blueb it with Birchwood Casey products a but I wouldn't. Sink the blade in to a hot chicken breast and leave it there for 10-20 minutes; instant blue patina that is chemical free and easily removable.

Thanks Gopher. That came out beautiful, Kudos.