Description

At the Seki Knife Show, we met a gentleman called Suzuki Hiroshi, who has over 35 years of custom knife making experience and considerable knowledge of the knife making process and industry. The collection of knives on his table included numbers of sophisticated and attractive custom knives.

He is a very kind and intelligent man, who teaches young talented Japanese custom knife makers about custom knife making skills, the knife market and many other related subjects. Due to his high quality work, and his efforts, he has gained many fans in the knife industry. 

His custom knife making vision and passion can be sensed and seen in every small detail of the sophisticated custom knives in his collection, which are all hand made to an excellent overall quality level.

His techniques and skills were developed during his unique family upbringing and personal history.

His father runs a small factory, in Saitama Prefecture, which produces the ‘precision nipper’ type of finger nail cutter. While he was a young boy, he spent many, many hours helping his father at work. During this time his hands and body naturally learned many different handcrafting techniques and he gradually learned how to handle, shape and sharpen many different kinds of cutlery steel. 

About 35 years ago, he became interested in metal processing and began making his own custom knives. Now he is an active member of the Japan Knife Guild and he attends various knife shows.

We think “Beauty without compromise” are the best words to describe his custom knife making philosophy and his artistic custom knives. He uses rare and premium materials for both the blades and the handles of his knives. 

Please discover the passion and sensitive works of this Veteran Japanese Custom Knife Maker. In the future, we hope to introduce you to more custom knife art from his wonderful collection.

HS-420 Silverback Tactical Tanto

When I first held this new masterpiece in my hand, I was captivated by the unique aura it exudes, as well as its sophisticated design and the beauty of its form. Custom Handcrafted by Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki, this exceptional 5.3' Tactical Tanto Blade features a three-layered steel construction with VG-XEOS, one of Japan's highest-grade stainless steels, as its core material. The matte gray finish perfectly balances power with delicate beauty, making this stunning blade a flawless fusion of functionality and artistry.

For best matching with the tactical taste and elegant Tanto blade, Mr. Suzuki carefully selected the two color of Linen Micarta and created the practical and durable 4.9’ Custom Combination Handle. The hand contoured Custom Combination Linen Micarta Handle provides a precise and secure grip, it is a well-considered overall design that is practical to use.

This knife comes with a custom-made Black brown leather sheath, with belt loop. 

VG XEOS SAN-MAI Blade : 3.8mm thick, 135mm blade, 250mm overall, Weight 207g, Handle Length 125mm

What is VG XEOS ? 

VG XEOS is newly developed high-grade stainless steel from Takefu Steel Company. While the Chemical Composition of this new mysterious steel is currently a confidential trade-secret of the company, they have disclosed that, compared to other steels in their VG series, VG XEOS was specially engineered to offer improved High Hardness, Strength, Wear Resistance and Corrosion Resistance. Furthermore, VG XEOS can offer this desirable balance of improved characteristics.

What is Silverback ?

Silverback Gorilla, a symbol of leadership and dominance among gorillas, served as Mr. Suzuki’s inspiration and guiding spirit whilst creating this exceptional knife. We think his design beautifully captures the strength and presence of these majestic creatures.

Specification
Knife Model: Hiroshi Suzuki HS-420 Silverback Tactical Tanto
Blade Material: VG XEOS SAN-MAI
Rockwell Hardness (HRc): 60 to 61
Handle Material: Custom Combination Linen Micarta Handle
Leather Sheath: Included
Overall Length: 250mm
Blade Length: 135mm
Blade Thickness: 3.8mm
Weight: 207g