meisterhau
07-13-09, 09:15
Along with an affinity for firearms, a number of folks here also appreciate a good knife.
I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce my lovely and very talented wife, Shan-Aan. A little back story first, and then some pics of some recent projects.
From 2003 to 2008, Shan-Aan apprenticed with a knife/sword maker by the name of Jody Samson. If you're not familiar with Jody, he's the guy who made the original Conan Atlantean and Father's swords. He was a legend in the custom knife world, leaving a hell of a legacy with Balisong and Benchmade. His WeeHawk design is extremely recognizable and oft-copied. Sadly, Jody passed away last December. He left Shan-Aan his tools, designs, unfinished personal work, rights, etc. It was his intent that she be able to carry on the craft that he loved so much. Since then, she's worked toward that, finishing some of his unfinished pieces, as well as doing some of her own. She definitely has her own style, but a lot of Jody's influences are apparent. She's working out a number of designs now - some traditional, some artistic, some all business. As things develop, if there is interest here, I'll be glad to share.
So... end rambling, start pictures and stats!
I'll start with a small group of collaborative works. These knives were approximately 80% finished by Jody. The blades were ground, but needed final polish. The grip scales were in place, but needed final shaping and polish. Shan-Aan took over, and finished these up, and made sheaths for them.
First up - "family photo":
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1groupout.jpg
In sheaths:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1group.jpg
__________
Boot Knife:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1-4.jpg
154-CM steel, Desert Ironwood Burl grip scales with steel pins and lanyard hole.
Overall length: 10 3/4"
Blade length: 6 3/4"
Sheath - hand-sewn, custom-fitted veg-tanned cow, mahogany.
Jody Samson's personal mark:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JSmark.jpg
__________
Group photo of "mini hunters":
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1smallgroup.jpg
__________
Mini Hunter #1:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1-3.jpg
154-CM steel, Macassar Ebony grips with steel pins.
Overall length: 5 7/8"
Blade length: 3"
Sheath - hand-sewn, custom-fitted veg-tanned cow, mahogany.
__________
Mini Hunter #2:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1-1.jpg
154-CM steel, Desert Ironwood Burl grips with steel pins.
Overall length: 5 3/4"
Blade length: 3 1/4"
Sheath - hand-sewn, custom-fitted veg-tanned cow, mahogany.
__________
Mini Hunter #3:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1-2a.jpg
154-CM steel, Desert Ironwood Burl grips with steel pins.
Overall length: 5 5/8"
Blade length: 2 3/4"
Sheath - hand-sewn, custom-fitted veg-tanned cow, mahogany.
__________
Jody was a master of his craft. It appears that he did well in getting Shan-Aan up and running...
As I mentioned above, Shan-Aan has also been working out some of her own projects.
Horsehead Kukri:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/custom%20work/Horse%20Head%20Kukri/horseheadkhukri.jpg
This piece has a 16"blade - a beast of a piece. The pommel was carved in wax, and then cast in bronze. Steel used was 1/4 inch 6150.
________________
Bronze Goddess Dagger:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Goddess%20Dagger/fin_goddess14.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Goddess%20Dagger/fin_goddess4.jpg
I have an interesting in-prog photo series of the development of this piece, if anyone wants to see more!
This is a limited edition of 25 pieces. Shan-Aan carved an original in wax, molded it, and has had them cast in silicone bronze. Overall length is approx 12 inches, and weighs approximately 20 ounces, if memory serves. Elegant, but not inconsequential.
________________
A second Kukri nearing completion (but too cool not to share!):
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/custom%20work/kukri/kukrisanded.jpg
The piece is hand-ground from 1/4 inch thick 6150, heat-treated and tempered. Overall length is 12 1/2 inches, 2 inches wide at the swell of the belly, and weighs a pound. The grip scales are Amboyna Burl, which is absolutely stunning. It feels great in the hand. The amazing thing is, it's not even quite done yet. She still has some sanding to do on the grip, and then will polish the heck out of it. It's just going to pop. This will have a leather sheath as well.
A couple of other gratuitous artistic shots:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/custom%20work/kukri/kukrigoddess.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/custom%20work/kukri/kukrigoddess2.jpg
Thanks for taking the time to check these out! Comments are, of course, very welcome! I'll share this thread with her. Inquiries can come through me, please.
I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce my lovely and very talented wife, Shan-Aan. A little back story first, and then some pics of some recent projects.
From 2003 to 2008, Shan-Aan apprenticed with a knife/sword maker by the name of Jody Samson. If you're not familiar with Jody, he's the guy who made the original Conan Atlantean and Father's swords. He was a legend in the custom knife world, leaving a hell of a legacy with Balisong and Benchmade. His WeeHawk design is extremely recognizable and oft-copied. Sadly, Jody passed away last December. He left Shan-Aan his tools, designs, unfinished personal work, rights, etc. It was his intent that she be able to carry on the craft that he loved so much. Since then, she's worked toward that, finishing some of his unfinished pieces, as well as doing some of her own. She definitely has her own style, but a lot of Jody's influences are apparent. She's working out a number of designs now - some traditional, some artistic, some all business. As things develop, if there is interest here, I'll be glad to share.
So... end rambling, start pictures and stats!
I'll start with a small group of collaborative works. These knives were approximately 80% finished by Jody. The blades were ground, but needed final polish. The grip scales were in place, but needed final shaping and polish. Shan-Aan took over, and finished these up, and made sheaths for them.
First up - "family photo":
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1groupout.jpg
In sheaths:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1group.jpg
__________
Boot Knife:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1-4.jpg
154-CM steel, Desert Ironwood Burl grip scales with steel pins and lanyard hole.
Overall length: 10 3/4"
Blade length: 6 3/4"
Sheath - hand-sewn, custom-fitted veg-tanned cow, mahogany.
Jody Samson's personal mark:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JSmark.jpg
__________
Group photo of "mini hunters":
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1smallgroup.jpg
__________
Mini Hunter #1:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1-3.jpg
154-CM steel, Macassar Ebony grips with steel pins.
Overall length: 5 7/8"
Blade length: 3"
Sheath - hand-sewn, custom-fitted veg-tanned cow, mahogany.
__________
Mini Hunter #2:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1-1.jpg
154-CM steel, Desert Ironwood Burl grips with steel pins.
Overall length: 5 3/4"
Blade length: 3 1/4"
Sheath - hand-sewn, custom-fitted veg-tanned cow, mahogany.
__________
Mini Hunter #3:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Jody_collaboration/JS1-2a.jpg
154-CM steel, Desert Ironwood Burl grips with steel pins.
Overall length: 5 5/8"
Blade length: 2 3/4"
Sheath - hand-sewn, custom-fitted veg-tanned cow, mahogany.
__________
Jody was a master of his craft. It appears that he did well in getting Shan-Aan up and running...
As I mentioned above, Shan-Aan has also been working out some of her own projects.
Horsehead Kukri:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/custom%20work/Horse%20Head%20Kukri/horseheadkhukri.jpg
This piece has a 16"blade - a beast of a piece. The pommel was carved in wax, and then cast in bronze. Steel used was 1/4 inch 6150.
________________
Bronze Goddess Dagger:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Goddess%20Dagger/fin_goddess14.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/Goddess%20Dagger/fin_goddess4.jpg
I have an interesting in-prog photo series of the development of this piece, if anyone wants to see more!
This is a limited edition of 25 pieces. Shan-Aan carved an original in wax, molded it, and has had them cast in silicone bronze. Overall length is approx 12 inches, and weighs approximately 20 ounces, if memory serves. Elegant, but not inconsequential.
________________
A second Kukri nearing completion (but too cool not to share!):
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/custom%20work/kukri/kukrisanded.jpg
The piece is hand-ground from 1/4 inch thick 6150, heat-treated and tempered. Overall length is 12 1/2 inches, 2 inches wide at the swell of the belly, and weighs a pound. The grip scales are Amboyna Burl, which is absolutely stunning. It feels great in the hand. The amazing thing is, it's not even quite done yet. She still has some sanding to do on the grip, and then will polish the heck out of it. It's just going to pop. This will have a leather sheath as well.
A couple of other gratuitous artistic shots:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/custom%20work/kukri/kukrigoddess.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c321/AaronSchnatterly/Shan-Aan/custom%20work/kukri/kukrigoddess2.jpg
Thanks for taking the time to check these out! Comments are, of course, very welcome! I'll share this thread with her. Inquiries can come through me, please.