D. Martell Gallery - Hiromoto AS... Full Spa Treatment

Dave Martell · Apr 8, 2014

Here's two more Performance Package Hiromotos.....240mm gyuto & 190mm santoku....

erikz · Apr 8, 2014

Love the result! These knives really benefit from your work. Hiromoto should hire you for this!

Dave Martell · Apr 8, 2014

Thanks Erik

Dave Martell · Apr 12, 2014

Here is Erica's 240mm Hiromoto. It's been thinned & etched and everything rounded smooth. The handle configuration has been converted from full to hidden tang, AZ Ironwood installed, along with copper-black G10-copper spacers, and a copper mosaic pin.

The handle was shaped differently than I usually do because someone (ahem - Jim) has been after me to do a rounded rear end and once tested I really liked it and wanted to do it to this knife since I could tell the look would work. Beyond looks, this rounded rear feels very good in the hand (did you catch what I did here?LOL) and unless people have an objection to it I'm going to continue doing this moving forward from here. Please let me know what you think - be honest!

:wink:

The ironwood that Erica sourced is superb! I really love the look it gives off. The wood is finished to a satin luster, it's hand finished and simply oiled. IMO ironwood doesn't want to be shiny like a mirror so I don't force the issue.

Erica, I hope you get lots of joy and years of use from this one.

:thumbsup:

Erilyn75 · Apr 12, 2014

OMG!! :bliss::bliss::bliss:

I LOVE it! The rounded butt is nice, I really like that. I just wish Mother Nature was so kind :lol2:

Thank you Dave :thumbsup:

icanhaschzbrgr · Apr 13, 2014

Just WOW!

Benuser · Apr 14, 2014

Very nice indeed. Congratulations to both of you!

Dave Martell · Apr 14, 2014

Thanks guys!

Erilyn75 · Apr 17, 2014

OMG! The pictures don't even capture how beautiful the knife and handle is. It's just stunning and the handle is so comfortable. My husband said I might have to get another one for ME lol. Dave, you are a master. Thank you <3

Dave Martell · Apr 17, 2014

Cool, I'm glad that you like it Erica.

Dave Martell · Apr 18, 2014

Here's a 270mm Hiromoto AS gyuto that's been thinned & etched.

Erilyn75 · Apr 21, 2014

Dave, I love my knife. I really got to play around with it yesterday and there was a night and day difference from when it left here to when I got it back. The handle is super comfortable, I love it! Curt can't stay away from it either, he reaches for it whenever he needs to cut something. I asked him why he didn't use his normal knives and he said, "none of the other knives look this bad ass" lol.

Is there anything special I need to do to it now that's it's been thinned and etched? Any special care for the handle?

Dave Martell · Apr 21, 2014

Erilyn75 said:
Dave, I love my knife. I really got to play around with it yesterday and there was a night and day difference from when it left here to when I got it back. The handle is super comfortable, I love it! Curt can't stay away from it either, he reaches for it whenever he needs to cut something. I asked him why he didn't use his normal knives and he said, "none of the other knives look this bad ass" lol.

Is there anything special I need to do to it now that's it's been thinned and etched? Any special care for the handle?

Sounds like Curt has come over to the dark side.

For blade care, I would wash with a soft sponge & regular dish detergent vs say a coarse scrubbie or some chemical abrasive like BarKeepers Friend so that you don't scrub away the etching or scratch the cladding. For sharpening - go slow to avoid wobbling - you'll kick your own ass if you scuff the blade. Otherwise just treat it as you would any other carbon knife when using.

For handle care, you have ironwood which is not stabilized or sealed by a polymerizing oil so you may want to periodically re-oil. To oil your handle use boardwax (mineral oil/beeswax) or something like Howard's Feed 'n Wax Liquid. Think of your ironwood handle like a cutting board and treat it as needed.

It's really great to hear that you're enjoying the knife again.

Dave Martell · Apr 23, 2014

Here's a 270mm Hiromoto AS Gyuto that's been thinned, etched, & has a new custom redwood handle installed.

erikz · Apr 23, 2014

You installed hellwood Dave.... Really?!?!?!?

Great looking piece as always

Dave Martell · Apr 23, 2014

erikz said:
You installed hellwood Dave.... Really?!?!?!?

Great looking piece as always

Yeah but it's the last full tang I do in redwood.

Thanks for the kind words.

ThEoRy · Apr 23, 2014

You did my honesuki in redwood back in the day! As always this looks great!

apicius9 · Apr 23, 2014

Dave Martell said:
Yeah but it's the last full tang I do in redwood.

Thanks for the kind words.

I can see why in that piece, already looks a little spongy, but I have also seen very dense and even old growth redwood that should be easier to work with.

Stefan

eshua · Apr 23, 2014

These all look great. Can anyone give me a general idea of how long the turn around time is for Dave's service these days?

Dave Martell · Apr 27, 2014

Here's a 190mm Hiromoto AS Santoku that's been thinned/etched & a new AZ Ironwood handle installed.

Dave Martell · Apr 27, 2014

Here's a special project 240mm Hiromoto AS Gyuto that's been thinned/etched & has a new box elder burl handle installed with copper liners & pins!

WarrenB · Apr 27, 2014

Beautiful work as always:thumbsup: You seem to be able to get an almost 3d look with the wood, really nice stuff.

daddy yo yo · Apr 28, 2014

Pretty!

Erilyn75 · Apr 28, 2014

Gorgeous Dave!

chibok · May 13, 2014

Is the opportunity to do this gone for a long while as you concentrate on your own line?

Dave Martell · May 13, 2014

chibok said:
Is the opportunity to do this gone for a long while as you concentrate on your own line?

We could talk and line it up but yeah I've got to get a lot of knives made before I can take on anything new. Please PM me if you'd like to get put on the list.

Thanks,
Dave