Selkirk, Manatoba, Canada. April 2018. Teaching all day, can definitely work up an appetite. Drew Hawranik from the Lord Selkirk Education Centre teaches biochemistry by day and transforms into a home chef at night. While cooking at large family gatherings is his specialty, what he really enjoys is showing off his knives.
So when Drew asked me to create a custom handle and saya for his new 270mm Takeda Gyuto, I knew this one could easily become a kitchen favorite.
Drew selected most of the materials from my stock, but left the visual chemistry to me. This custom combination is tastefully refined but still showcases a little bling. I’m sure that this beauty will be turning heads for years to come.
Handle materials include: Redwood burl ferrule, black fiberboard, polished brass, and red spalted birch spacers, buck eye burl copper resin hybrid body, with another polished brass spacer, black/gold onyx reconstituted stone spacer, and an endcap of more copper carmel goodness.
Saya materials include: walnut with a hand waxed finish and a secret magnet to keep the blade in check.
”Wow Alton, that definitely exceeds expectations! Very happy with the results." - Drew Hawranik
"I decided on you, Alton, because of how creative, colourful, and unique your work looked on Instagram. Lots of interesting materials as well, making for a unique texture. Really caught my eye and I couldn't resist." - Drew Hawranik