"Tunguska and Manicouagan" Raptor Kerambits

"Tunguska and Manicouagan": These are a special set of my fine Raptor pattern kerambits (karambits) in a custom matching artistic handmade case. The stylized double-edged knives are based on an ancient Sumatran design of a hand sickle for harvesting rice. The graceful shapes suggest power and movement, so I designed the knives around two major celestial events believed to have occurred in our history, the Tunguska meteoric event in Russia (believed to be an icy comet), and the Manicouagan meteoric event in Canada (believed to be a fiery meteor). The icy crystal designs of the Tunguska meteor and fiery features of the Manicouagan meteor contrast the steel canvas of blades, reminiscent of the iron in a meteorite’s core and one of the building blocks of our universe.

The blades are hardened and tempered 440C high chromium martensitic stainless tool steel, Rockwell C59, mirror polished and double-edged with a combination taper grind and hollow grind, with fully tapered tangs and full vine filework. The bolsters are hand-engraved 304 high chromium, high nickel austenitic stainless steel. The gemstones are blue Sodalite (sodium aluminum silicate), which has been found in meteorites, and red Jasper (cryptocrystalline silicon dioxide) found in strata. The sheaths echo the designs of the individual knives in inlays of both red and blue rayskin in leather shoulder, hand- tooled and stitched with polyester sinew, lacquered and sealed.

The knives rest in a custom case, built to reflect great strength in wedged retainer mortise and tenon joinery, with a base wood of Mahogany and accents and hangers of carved Bloodwood and Ebony. The rectangles and triangles in the joinery of the case is balanced against the curved flowing shapes of knives within, illustrating containment of movement by constructed form.

A great art piece that was a pleasure to create!

Thanks, D. K.!