Cutty Sharp
Banned
- Joined
- May 22, 2012
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I'm curious to find out what preferences people have with handles on their Japanese knives. I don't mean to ask if people prefer Japanese or Western shaped handles. Rather, what style of wood and overall appearance do you like?
Lots of knife knuts seem to have handles re-done if they can. Maybe the knife comes in plain old 'ho' wood with black buffalo ferrule to start ...
http://bernalcutlery.com/shop/images/584/ashi slicer handle-2.jpg
... but then people get customised handles put on, often with eye-catching burl and other flashy bits ....
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TxetSD7hIkw/TqLQPyFFoVI/AAAAAAAAATU/2RUBub5wN-o/s1600/Handle+close+up.jpg
Well, it's quite cool and I appreciate the work that goes into it. I'd even like to experiment with my own handles in the future. However, I've developed a dislike for these handles, maybe especially because they're Japanese knives. Isn't it too much? Knives are all about cutting and the blade, and don't handles like these draw attention away from the blade? They just seem a bit too ornate and overwrought.
I think lots of people who do this kind of work, including pros, are active on this site and I don't mean to criticise them or to take away from their livelihood. As said, I appreciate the work. My feeling is just that less can be more and simplicity can be very cool. If two identical knives had different handles, one simple/plain and the other busy-burl, I'd definitely go for the first.
As we're talking about J-knives here, it might be worth thinking of things like this description of 'wabi-sabi': 'The primary aesthetic concept at the heart of traditional Japanese culture is the value of harmony in all things. The Japanese world view is nature-based and concerned with the beauty of studied simplicity and harmony with nature. These ideas are still expressed in every aspect of daily life, despite the many changes brought about by the westernization
of Japanese culture. This Japanese aesthetic of the beauty of simplicity and harmony is called wabi-sabi.'
... 'Studied simplicity' - I like that. Anyway, simple or burl? My vote: simple.
Lots of knife knuts seem to have handles re-done if they can. Maybe the knife comes in plain old 'ho' wood with black buffalo ferrule to start ...
http://bernalcutlery.com/shop/images/584/ashi slicer handle-2.jpg
... but then people get customised handles put on, often with eye-catching burl and other flashy bits ....
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TxetSD7hIkw/TqLQPyFFoVI/AAAAAAAAATU/2RUBub5wN-o/s1600/Handle+close+up.jpg
Well, it's quite cool and I appreciate the work that goes into it. I'd even like to experiment with my own handles in the future. However, I've developed a dislike for these handles, maybe especially because they're Japanese knives. Isn't it too much? Knives are all about cutting and the blade, and don't handles like these draw attention away from the blade? They just seem a bit too ornate and overwrought.
I think lots of people who do this kind of work, including pros, are active on this site and I don't mean to criticise them or to take away from their livelihood. As said, I appreciate the work. My feeling is just that less can be more and simplicity can be very cool. If two identical knives had different handles, one simple/plain and the other busy-burl, I'd definitely go for the first.
As we're talking about J-knives here, it might be worth thinking of things like this description of 'wabi-sabi': 'The primary aesthetic concept at the heart of traditional Japanese culture is the value of harmony in all things. The Japanese world view is nature-based and concerned with the beauty of studied simplicity and harmony with nature. These ideas are still expressed in every aspect of daily life, despite the many changes brought about by the westernization
of Japanese culture. This Japanese aesthetic of the beauty of simplicity and harmony is called wabi-sabi.'
... 'Studied simplicity' - I like that. Anyway, simple or burl? My vote: simple.