CS 1075 Small Kiridashi

Number four in my series of simply-made kiridashi-inspired knives. The unique feature of this particular knife is the blade size. My original design included a 2 3/8" blade which was perfectly fine, though I wanted to see if a smaller blade would simplify the heat treatment process enough to warrant a change in design. At just under two inches, it is still an effective utility knife. 

I found it much easier to maintain an even temperature when heating the blade area with a MAP-Pro torch. Furthermore, the reduction in mass also translates to quicker heating times and I would suspect a better quench when using a smaller volume of simple oil. 

As for the rest of the knife, the shape and dimensions remain unchanged. I found myself with some extra padauk on hand for the scales and I left the steel with a matte finish. A little beeswax worked into the handle offers a "grippy not sticky" finish that I really like. I purposely didn't go crazy on grits when finishing any part of this knife in favor of keeping it simple, fast, and functional. Overall I'm very happy with the result.