This bunka arrived from the manufacturer with a small crack in the ferrule. The bunka is new.
The Daovua Bunka knife is the most recent addition to a new line of knives from a young barefoot bladesmith we discovered working in Vietnam. He uses car and truck leaf springs as his steel of choice. This is not quite as crazy as it sounds because these car parts are made with some rather good high-carbon steel. Most leaf springs are made from 5160, which is an excellent blade steel.
We asked him to make us some unusual shapes that resemble traditional knives, and this fun bunka-style blade is one of his responses. The blade runs approximately 180mm at the edge and has a curved belly starting just a couple of inches from the heel. Every blade is going to be slightly different in these dimensions.
Let's make no mistake here. These knives have pits, scratches, hammer marks, and other cladding imperfections. Rustic is a word that definitely comes to mind when looking at them. But the other word that comes out when you experience them is SHARP! These knives have a fantastic edge that, if not exactly perfect out of the box, gets there quickly with a few strokes on your favorite stone.
While the handle is also not perfect, it actually feels really nice in hand. A bit of sanding and some varnish or oil will take it to a very acceptable level. We think these knives are perfect for projects, new sharpeners, or anyone looking for a really low-cost cutter that has personality and uniqueness in spades. Watch the video below to see how they're made. If you're into great fit and finish or are overly particular, look elsewhere! But if you want to try a piece of living history and you're not uptight about a less-than-perfect but excellent cutting tool, then you'll love it.
Each knife is made by hand so all measurements are approximations.Edge: Double Bevel, 50/50
Weight: 4.2 oz (120 g)
Edge Length: 187 mm
Total Length: 310 mm
Spine Thickness at Heel: 2 mm
Blade Height: 51 mm
Handle: Octagonal as pictured (color and wood type vary; video is outdated)
The Daovua Bunka knife is the most recent addition to a new line of knives from a young barefoot bladesmith we discovered working in Vietnam. He uses car and truck leaf springs as his steel of choice. This is not quite as crazy as it sounds because these car parts are made with some rather good high-carbon steel. Most leaf springs are made from 5160, which is an excellent blade steel.
We asked him to make us some unusual shapes that resemble traditional knives, and this fun bunka-style blade is one of his responses. The blade runs approximately 180mm at the edge and has a curved belly starting just a couple of inches from the heel. Every blade is going to be slightly different in these dimensions.
Let's make no mistake here. These knives have pits, scratches, hammer marks, and other cladding imperfections. Rustic is a word that definitely comes to mind when looking at them. But the other word that comes out when you experience them is SHARP! These knives have a fantastic edge that, if not exactly perfect out of the box, gets there quickly with a few strokes on your favorite stone.
While the handle is also not perfect, it actually feels really nice in hand. A bit of sanding and some varnish or oil will take it to a very acceptable level. We think these knives are perfect for projects, new sharpeners, or anyone looking for a really low-cost cutter that has personality and uniqueness in spades. Watch the video below to see how they're made. If you're into great fit and finish or are overly particular, look elsewhere! But if you want to try a piece of living history and you're not uptight about a less-than-perfect but excellent cutting tool, then you'll love it.
Each knife is made by hand so all measurements are approximations.
