Japanese swordsmithing dates back to 645 A.D. and has a proud craft tradition. Several years ago, Columbia River was asked to create a production fixed blade following these design traditions for ceremonial and martial arts use.

This is a unique knife including their blade grinds, edges, and hand-wrapped handles. They are knives different in almost every way from familiar Western knives.

The blade is 440A stainless steel in a satin finish. The blade shape is a combination of the ancient chokuto straight sword and the classic morha-zukuri double edge tanto. The grind is a convex zero edge, or appleseed cross section, resulting in an edge that is much stronger than taper of hollow grinds. The massive blade continues through the tapered full-tang, resulting in incredible strength from tip to butt. The striking handles are a traditional Japanese cord wrap, resin impregnated, with black ray skin underlays. Combined with the pommel, they provide an amazing level of grip.

Columbia River has designed a series of custom injection-molded Zytel® sheaths for the First Strikes. They firmly grip the knives, left or right, and have removable belt clips plus multiple slots and holes allowing almost infinite carry option on belts clothing or gear.

Despite their ceremonial and martial arts orgins, these are heavy-duty knives with great everyday utilities.

• Razor Sharp Cutting edge
• Satin Finish
• Black Cord
• Blade Length: 5.50 in.
• Blade Thickness: 0.23 in.
• Steel: 440A
• Overall Length: 11.75 in.
• Weight: 11.2 oz.