I have an affinity for knives and swords with Japanese-influenced blades. A kwaiken is the traditional Japanese dagger carried by the samurai class. Albuquerque knifemaker Lucas Burnley and Boker USA have collaborated to make this modern version of the Japanese “pocket knife.”
The Boker Plus Folding Kwaiken could be called a large gentleman’s folder. Though its handle is a bit over four inches in length, it is straight and slim in form. Steel liners underlie thin green canvas Micarta scales. Canvas Micarta is an excellent choice for this svelt handle because of its inherent grippy texture, wet or dry.
All the steel fixtures on the Kwaiken have a nice tumbled finish that not only subdues the surfaces, but adds an interesting visual appeal to the knife. I originally thought the black backspacer between the liners was plastic, but upon disassembling the knife I found it to be made of canvas Micarta.
Kwaiken’s hollow ground 3 1/2″ blade is AUS-8 stainless steel, which is Aichi Steel Corporation’s moderate high carbon stainless steel with vanadium added for wear resistance. Its Rockwell Hardness is not mentioned by Boker. In everyday chores, my edge has held up well and I have not yet needed to resharpen it. The blade’s spine has a Continue reading
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