A collection in a class all
its own – from William Henry Knives and featuring some of
the finest forged metal in the world. Meridian boasts
hand-forged stainless Damascus blades and mokume handles
finished with dazzling mother-of-pearl and Australian
opal.
Each blade is created from a
billet of Damascus (patterned steel) forged by mastersmith
Mike Norris. Mr. Norris integrates three stainless alloys
into a complex, dynamic, and durable tapestry in steel
that performs commensurate with its elegance. Each billet
requires more than two weeks to complete, features 600
layers of steel, and yields a handful of blades whose
patterns are absolutely unique. The hand-polishing and
deep etching of the blades reveal the exquisite pattern in
this remarkable material.
The handles are crafted from
mokume gane (meaning wood-grain metal) hand-forged by
mastersmith Mike Sakmar. Mr. Sakmar uses copper, nickel
silver, and brass to weave magic in metal that emerges in
rich and striking hues. This process is as complex as
making Damascus steel, and both Mr. Norris and Mr. Sakmar
are among a handful of artisans in the world who have
mastered these techniques for forging patterned metals.
Mother-of-pearl scales
overlay the solid mokume frame, with opals inlaid into the
button lock and thumbpeg to complement the range of colors
in the mother-of-pearl. Each knife includes a sterling
silver bail, braided leather lanyard, and matching brown
sharkskin ClipCase.
