Accepting Wabi-Sabi in our knives... Show your Wabi.

[Macchina]

I am a Product Design Engineer for a very high quality American Furniture Company. We pride ourselves in being American Made and our craftsmanship is among the best in the nation on handmade furniture. Though many of our pieces sell in the $5000 range, they are made with natural materials and therefore there are knots in the wood, wrinkles in the leather, texture to the wool, etc. On top of that, all our seams are sewn manually and therefore show the quality of the craftsman while still showing the uniqueness in each piece. When fabric is pulled over foam and manually stapled it creates slightly different form in the morning as it does in the evening. On top of this, natural materials wear in a certain way that can actually add to the value of some of our products. Certain lines have been in production for decades and older pieces with wear (not damage) can sell on the second-hand collectors market for more than a new one.

These "flaws" in the materials and workmanship as well as wear are what the Japanese (derived from the Chinese) call Wabi Sabi. I admittedly don't fully understand the principal or even the translation but I believe Wabi refers to the details that show something was manufactured (ideally by hand) with certain flaws left in the product. I believe I once read it actually means something about living alone in the forest. I think a rustic clay pot is the ideal example of Wabi. Sabi refers to the wear and patina that objects pick up as they are used. The patina and scratches on a knife are actually a perfect example of this concept. I believe that both Wabi and Sabi do not negatively affect the intended function of the object.

I think many of us have embraced the principle of Sabi in our collections. Patina is prized and a decent amount of our threads are designed to show worn/used knives. Praise often comes from an "earned" patina while a force patina (maybe a form of artistic Wabi?) is also seen as a positive.

Where I think we all could improve (I know I could) is in the area of Wabi. Accepting the cosmetic flaws of a knife that do not affect function. I am OK with gaps, obtuse/absent factory edges, and slightly mis-matched scales, but off-center blades and non-flush springs really bother me. These are serious hang-ups for me and detract from the beauty of the knife so much more so than something like a mismatched cover would.

I received my first TC Barlow a few months back and upon initial inspection everything was perfect except for the final grinding on the Blackwood covers took far more off one side than the other. The handle bevel actually flows into the bolster by 1/4" on side and not on the other. I thought about this for a while and decided I appreciated the proof of hand-finishing and accepted the "flaw" as Wabi. If I could only do this for springs and off-center blades I would be a much more happy collector!

There is a point where extensive Wabi on an expensive knife becomes sloppy craftsmanship, that is not what I am referencing here. If the flaw affects function (loose blades when open, cracked covers, blades contacting back springs, exceptionally poor grinds, etc.) then it is not Wabi, especially at the prices we pay for our knives.

Do you accept both the Wabi AND the Sabi in your knives? I'd love to see examples of Wabi (and Sabi) if you have any "flaws" you have come to appreciate.

A couple of my examples:

Wabi on my Hess Tiburon. The handle is attached with a brass nut that is tightened on a steel thread until the leather handle discs are under tension. The nut is turned to whatever angle it happens to be properly tensioned at, and polishing has deformed the aluminum pomel where the openings in the nut are. I love the original method of attachment and the way that hand finishing has mixed 3 different metals into a juxtaposed union:

Sabi on my first GEC I purchased new, a 15 Scout. The patina is from many apples and the bone has worn in some places from pocket carry:

 

[kamagong]

Interesting idea for a thread. I think this barlow is a good example of wabi. Normally the marrow bone ends would be thrown away instead of being made into covers, but because the barlow originated as an inexpensive knife they fit.

 

[wundergussy]

Interesting idea for a thread. I think this barlow is a good example of wabi. Normally the marrow bone ends would be thrown away instead of being made into covers, but because the barlow originated as an inexpensive knife they fit.

The things I would do for that beauty...

 

[Jack Black]

A very thoughtful opening post Macchina, and an interesting thread idea. Many years ago, I used to have a pine table in my kitchen, and the marks and dents in it caused by my children learning to use cutlery only added to its beauty in my eyes. I think about it often. In terms of knives, I think I have many which would fit in this thread. The most common pattern I own is the military clasp knife in all its variants. These knives are never pretty, they're big, brutish things for the most part, ultra-utilitarian, they're usually worn, and in fact they're one great cosmetic flaw, but I have an attraction to them I can't explain. In my eyes, this Needham NAAFI knife, gifted to me by the ever-generous Duncan, is one of the most beautiful knives I own

 

[wundergussy]

I can post photos later, but two of my TC sawcuts have mis-matched sawcutting. meaning one side is cut differently than the other. I find these actually appealing as they illustrate the personality of a handmade object.

 

[kamagong]

The things I would do for that beauty...

You don't want that knife. It has a little too much sabi for its age, the result of a careless sharpening session.

 

[wundergussy]

You don't want that knife. It has a little too much sabi for its age, the result of a careless sharpening session.

Ha! Still want it. Would love all the soups, and at this point, can't sit around waiting for a new one!

 

[philllll]

Christian, that TC has taken on some SERIOUS character. I always love too see pics of that one.

Gus, don't bother buddy, I tried too, He ain't givin' that one up!

 

[Pipeman]

The pitted blades and bolsters, the worn and warm stag, a favourite. Great thread.

Best regards

Robin

 

[philllll]

This khukuri has some serious wabi going on!

 

[Macchina]

A very thoughtful opening post Macchina, and an interesting thread idea. Many years ago, I used to have a pine table in my kitchen, and the marks and dents in it caused by my children learning to use cutlery only added to its beauty in my eyes. I think about it often. In terms of knives, I think I have many which would fit in this thread. The most common pattern I own is the military clasp knife in all its variants. These knives are never pretty, they're big, brutish things for the most part, ultra-utilitarian, they're usually worn, and in fact they're one great cosmetic flaw, but I have an attraction to them I can't explain. In my eyes, this Needham NAAFI knife, gifted to me by the ever-generous Duncan, is one of the most beautiful knives I own

This is an awesome knife and a fine example of Wabi! Made to work.

 

[stezann]

Great examples, this is a very interesting thread.
The wabi is the most controversial of the binomy, as it has been the coverage for poor craftmanship and lazyness too often. Nevertheless i can appreciate a lot CHOICES (intended "flaws") likwise the amzingly beautiful bone scales of that TC Barlow.
Wabi belonging to the natural material already manifest charachter are those i like more than those goofly made by the maker.
The Sabi is a pain at his birth, but then grows appeal as the years follow

 

[kamagong]

Would this be an example of wabi?

 

[Macchina]

That is one way to make two mismatched staff scales fit

 

[robgmn]

That's an interesting thought on that curved knife. Is it wabi-sabi if it was intentionally created?
'Makes me think of "distressed furniture" and the premium it sometimes commands over new stuff.

 

[RobbW]

Haha. Good one!

I say no, the blade looks nice and centered to me!

 

[T. Erdelyi]

At nearly 200 year old mid 18th century Josef Sziraki Sleeveboard Lobster has plenty of Wabi and Sabi. The blend of the beautiful MOP with brass and German Silver hardware are the epitome of Wabi, MOP being extremely difficult to work always shows the eccentricities of the maker. the mix of natural and man made come together in perfect harmony even with the inconsistencies and personality typical of Mother of Pearl and the precision inherent in silver and brass.

Then there's the Sabi, can't have a 150+ year old knife without lottsa Sabi. The patina and and pocket wear along with the chip give it lots of owner induced personality, something you can't fake or hasten. Here's my entry of Wabi and Sabi on a knife, I believe it's earned that title. BTW because I'll never sell it, I paid $3 for it, I bought it from a lady who out bid me for the box lot it was in. She paid $30 for the box because of some lace linens she wanted, she didn't even want the knife.

 

[Dadpool]

Hopefully this thread isn't too old to respond to, because I love it! I must have missed it last month.

I love it because it's about something I struggle with. I'm a perfectionist, and even though I know that the material things I've loved most have been the ones that have been used, that have become worn and acquired character through their use, it still sometimes bugs me when new things have flaws, and when they start to become worn.

Particularly with traditional pocket knives, accepting wabi-sabi is something that I know will make me happier. And I've been working on it! I'm getting better. Slowly...but surely.

I've tried to capture wabi on top and sabi on the bottom in this photo:

If you look closely at the top knife (Tuna Valley Railsplitter), you can see a gap between the horn cover and the bolster, on the left. This knife came from the factory with bad blade wobble (a good example of a flaw that's not wabi, at least for me), so I sent it to Queen for repairs. It came back a few months later, and while going over it I noticed this gap.

I was bummed! I thought perhaps it hadn't liked the change from my home in a dry climate to the more humid climate at the factory, and that the horn had shrunk. But when I pulled up the photos I took the day I received the knife, there was the gap! I was shocked.

I'd been so over the moon about the horn covers, and the way the knife made me feel, that I hadn't even noticed the gap. I've come to see it for what it is -- a flaw that adds character, and signals the human hands behind this tool's creation -- and thanks to this thread, I can sum that up even better as wabi. I've come to like that flaw in this knife.

The knife on the bottom (Ka-Bar Coppersmith Dog's Head Barlow) is my best example of sabi. I knew that copper would acquire a fantastic patina, and it has. (It's hard for me to capture in a photo, though!) Sometimes I can see swirled thumbprints in it, from when I open and close the knife.

Before I got into traditionals, I lurked here and read up on them. The Porch was responsible for getting me to see the beauty in a good patina, and I chose this knife -- my very first traditional -- in part because I wanted to see what it was like to own and use a knife that would, in time, show its character through that patina.

I'm consistently surprised by the emotional and philosophical underpinnings of collecting traditional pocketknives. Thanks for letting me ramble about them, and for helping me see things differently!

 

[Railsplitter]

Great post, Dadpool. Both of those knives are knives to be proud of. The Railsplitter is stunning and I'm glad to read that you have gotten past the gap. It looks minimal in the picture but I do understand your initial concern. If you don't mind my asking, did Queen fix the blade wobble to your satisfaction? I hope so.

Those are both fine looking knives.

 

[Dadpool]

Great post, Dadpool. Both of those knives are knives to be proud of. The Railsplitter is stunning and I'm glad to read that you have gotten past the gap. It looks minimal in the picture but I do understand your initial concern. If you don't mind my asking, did Queen fix the blade wobble to your satisfaction? I hope so.

Those are both fine looking knives.

They did! It's like a new knife. Getting in touch with them was more difficult than I expected, and fixing it took longer than their estimate, but the proof is in the knife-shaped pudding at the end. It was worth the wait.