Sword Arsenal

Konjo is a Japanese term that, in the American vernacular, would roughly translate as “Guts”. It suggests courage under adversity, intestinal fortitude, and a dogged tenacity in the face of physical hardship, pain or even danger. This is an admirable quality in anyone, and it makes an admirable name for these new Japanese styled knives. Inspired by custom knife maker Bud Nealy’s work in the late 1980’s, these knives are available in two different blade styles: with either a reinforced Tanto point style (first popularized by Cold Steel®), or with a “long sword point” that’s particularly well suited for slashing. Both are precision ground out of VG-1 San Mai III® steel and vacuum heat-treated and sub zero quenched for maximum strength, toughness, and edge retention. They are ground to a thin edge before being honed to razor sharpness, and they have an attractive mirror polish and come with a traditional ridge shaped Muné (spine of the blade) and double fullers. Here are some additional features: Tapered Tang: Both knives include a perforated tapered tang. This feature, though costly, dramatically improves the knife’s balance and reduces its overall weight without sacrificing strength where it’s most needed. Bolster: Bolsters serve to strengthen the handle and prevent it from cracking or splitting under stress. The Konjo’s™ are equipped with highly polished nickel silver bolsters designed to emulate the Habaki (blade collar) on a Japanese sword. Handle: The grip scales are made of highly polished black linen micarta. These have been hand fitted and permanently attached to the tang by epoxy and custom “star” bolts. Sheath: The Konjos™ come complete with a sturdy, rich looking sheath that includes a distinctive, decorative inlay of black samé (ray skin). Specifications: Blade: 5" Overall: 9 1/4" Thick: 4mm Weight: 6.6oz.