I had to thin down the blade a huge amount which took many hours of grinding but resulted in a light blade ideal for Tai Chi with great balance.
As well as being a knife maker I am also an artist so was pleased when the customer asked me to design a Phoenix and a Dragon to go on the blade. I spent quite a bit of time researching the traditional forms used on blades along with more aesthectically pleasing designs. The Phoenix's head is based on the secretary bird, its feet on a golden eagle and the feathers a combination of falcons. The Dragon is based on a traditional Chinese Water Dragon. I sketched the drawings double sized in pencil and then inked in the details. I then scanned them in on an A3 scanner. These images were then laser etched onto the blade along with the Ferraby logo by Greensmiths in Sheffield.
Stats:
This is a Tai Chi sabre with a full tang Yew handle and a solid brass guard. It is made out of 2.5mm 305 stainless polished to a mirror finish. It is 920mm long. The handle is shaped for a single or double handed grip. The rivets are nickel silver and brass. The lanyard hole is 6mm stainless.