Australian Blade Ed 3 Dec 2017

commences his book by detailing his early life and schooling in Nova Scotia, Canada and how
Murray
came to enrol in karate classes. This kindled the beginning of a lifelong fascination and study of all
he
Japanese. In turn and upon finishing high school, Murray travelled to Japan and enrolled in a dojo
things
Kumamoto. Within his first two or three days Murray stumbled upon a bladesmith shop in
in
This twist of fate led to a six year apprenticeship, where on the eve of the seventh year
Kumamoto.
was informed “You are to be the 17th generation Yoshimoto Bladesmith.”
Murray
Bladesmithing contains seventeen chapters that include safety, steel selection, forge welding,
Carter’s
techniques, heat treating, straightening, grinding and drilling to name but a few. Murray’s
lamination
are laid out in logical sequence as are his writings within and his book is supplemented with a
chapters
of colour photographs. Murray spent eighteen years in Japan living and working as a village
multitude
book combines both Japanese and Western techniques and comprises a true essay where East
Murray’s
West. Bladesmithing is an informative and entertaining read and is a valuable edition to not just
meeting
knifemaker’s library but anyone with an interest in knifemaking. Signed copies are available on
the
website, click here.
Murray’s
Book Review
bladesmith and is the only Caucasian recognised as a Japanese bladesmithing master.