Utility

Birudashi Info

Ethan

Birudashi Overview

The “Birudashi” is a play on the Japanese kiridashi knife style with a bottle opener of some sort on the back end. These blades are like giant X-Acto(tm) or utility knives and work extremely well as a slim EDC. I make standard 4-hole (full size/large) and 3-hole (mini) versions. Both versions have a single bevel ground on one side (typically the left side) and are sharpened on the opposite side. For the types of cutting *I* do, this works pretty well. However, the asymmetry does cause them to steer oddly in some materials like all single-side ground or sharpened blades.
The Finish is usually straight out of the kiln with the exception of the polished main bevel.

Safely Un-sheating!!

To SAFELY unsheath the Birudashi, grasp the sheath by the lanyard grommets and the knife by the tang and lanyard. Jerk quickly. You can also simply pull on the sheath lanyard. Do NOT grasp the sheath OVER the knife or you will be holding it into the sheath and it will be very hard to release. NEVER EVER put your thumb in the curve of the sheath or you will cut it wide open:

 

GOOD:


 

BLEEDING!:


Bottle Opener

There are two models of bottle opener on the back end:

  1. The old style is a straight-up cap-lifter on a full-thickness tang
  2. 2) The newer style is a fully-tapered tang that neatly pops a bottle top using the lever method and also easily pries up a can pop-top.

In both cases, PLEASE only use the opener with the knife IN the sheath! Both models are made of very tough AEB-L and can stand a bit of of prying, but beware that the sheath is ON and it is probably the limiting factor. Do NOT pry with the blade tip ever, or you will snap it off.

How to carry

I often carry a Birudashi with the sheath half-hitched to a belt loop or pack strap, and then tucked away in a pocket of my pants, jacket, or bag, depending. This way the sheath doesn’t get lost when I use the knife. The larger size with two grommets in the sheath fits the diagonal hole spacing on a Blade-Tech Mini Tech-Lock clip, which can be used to attach it to a belt or pack strap.

Firesteel scraper extraordinaire

The smaller model is right on the verge of fitting into an Altoids tin, for the preppers out there. Some do, some don’t. It’s worth a check. I carry a small one tethered to my firesteel in my hiking pack.

Both models work VERY well as a firesteel scraper. Use the edges of the polished bevel, but not the cutting edge itself.

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Pellet Bag Slaughtering Knife

Ethan

Finally finished this commission that’s been in progress awhile: a kosher-slaughtering-style knife for ritual sacrifice of wood-pellet bags. Imagine holding a large wood pellet bag in a headlock against your chest and sort of cutting its throat (or perhaps gut) to spill all the contents into the pellet stove hopper. Purpose-driven design. 🙂 With sacrifice-traditional ram’s horn scales over ruby red G10 liners. First use of flared tubes. Blade is 5+” of differentially hardened 1084.

(pix before sheath/edge)

1st Au-Kephart in 1084

Ethan

The first Au-Kephart wearing its @beckerknifeandtool #bk62 cousin’s scales (pictured nekkid above!). This is 1084 at 59-60Rc, heat-treat finish, hardened 1/3 up the tang. It came out a touch thicker than the model, but same overall geometry and balance. With hidden lanyard hole. Very pleasing heft. Possible modifications for the next version include making the handle sliiiighly less tall and reducing blade length by 0.75-1.0″ for better tip access and control. 1084? A2? AEB-L?

Update: curly koa scales added!