New York, New York. July 2018. This custom is like no other. It’s a new handle concept. It’s a wedding gift. And it was a surprise. When my father informed me that my cousin, Ashley Darryl, was getting married we immediately thought the same thing! Let’s go in on creating something out of this world!
It was not an easy task, for a secret gift. So, I had her parents sneak me pictures of her home in upstate New York, while I sourced the blade, a Masakage Kiri Santoku. Next, I made palette of materials, just like she would for one of her clients, and excitement rushed over me. The energy was alive, and everything felt right. So simply, The Astro was born.
Now you’re probably wondering, what sets The Astro apart? Well, besides owning some serious bragging rights. It’s a hybrid, featuring the comfort of a western/oval profile with tapering near the pinch, but on a hidden tang blade. It’s a futuristic take on a classic Japanese design, and it feels fantastically natural in the hand. Finally, comfort tells you how to hold a knife.
But the best part is happily knowing that I built a functional piece of art that she and her husband will cherish. A design that straddles the old with the new, and folds seamlessly into the home of a renowned interior designer.
Handle materials include: red malee burl ferrule, dyed emerald green maple burl spacer, white fiberboard spacer, malachite azurite spacer, natural flame birch body, angled white acrylic spacer, and more natural flame birch rounding out the end.
Saya materials include: bocote, rare earth magnets.
“Jeff and I were blown away when we took it out of the box and read the beautiful note. You are beyond talented!” - Ashley Darryl
“Thank you for creating such a special unforgettable wedding present for Jeff and I.” - Ashley Darryl