All About Pocket Knives

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:08 pm I haven’t seen anyone post here for awhile so I got out my display case with all my Mcusta’s and took a few pics. Not the best quality pictures but it’s hard to take good group shots. I couldn’t pick a favorite out of this bunch, but the Jazz has to be in the top 2.

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Wed Dec 30, 2020 1:18 am stingray on the handle

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2019 8:08 pm Thought I would give a little history of Mcusta here on the initial page of this thread. Mcusta started close to 35 years ago. Based in Seki City Japan, Mcusta’s name is a combination of “machined custom”. Mcusta uses high quality metals and wood for their knives. All Mcusta’s use VG-10 stainless steel either alone or in a San Mai form. For those not familiar w/ the word San Mai, it simply means a “jacket”. So a VG-10 core would be the hardest stainless steel used for the edge w/ a jacket of other metal. Usually it’s a Damascus stainless but not always. I will post pictures of both.
Mcusta styles their knives from traditional Japanese style knives. Which might be one reason they aren’t as well known or popular w/ collectors. But anyone who has handled one soon finds themselves falling in love with these knives. The precision, high quality of materials and fit and finish are hard to beat unless you buy a custom made knife. Mcusta makes mostly knives that would be considered “tactical” by nature. Made of thicker blade steel and using either thumb studs or a hole in the blade for one handed deployment. They use an oiled washer system for smooth as silk action. Many knives come w/ a pocket clip.
Annually Mcusta issues a very limited quantity of custom knives and if you are lucky enough to get one and can afford it, these are amazing knives to collect. Hopefully there will be some posted later.
I am working on finding out more about Mcusta and Moki and will update information in this and a subsequent thread for Moki’s.
Start posting.
Below is a blade made w/ just a jacket of metal and the other is a jacket of 33 layer Damascus. Both knives have handles made from 33 layer Damascus stainless.

Rich53 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 7:43 pm

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2019 8:08 pm Thought I would give a little history of Mcusta here on the initial page of this thread. Mcusta started close to 35 years ago. Based in Seki City Japan, Mcusta’s name is a combination of “machined custom”. Mcusta uses high quality metals and wood for their knives. All Mcusta’s use VG-10 stainless steel either alone or in a San Mai form. For those not familiar w/ the word San Mai, it simply means a “jacket”. So a VG-10 core would be the hardest stainless steel used for the edge w/ a jacket of other metal. Usually it’s a Damascus stainless but not always. I will post pictures of both.
Mcusta styles their knives from traditional Japanese style knives. Which might be one reason they aren’t as well known or popular w/ collectors. But anyone who has handled one soon finds themselves falling in love with these knives. The precision, high quality of materials and fit and finish are hard to beat unless you buy a custom made knife. Mcusta makes mostly knives that would be considered “tactical” by nature. Made of thicker blade steel and using either thumb studs or a hole in the blade for one handed deployment. They use an oiled washer system for smooth as silk action. Many knives come w/ a pocket clip.
Annually Mcusta issues a very limited quantity of custom knives and if you are lucky enough to get one and can afford it, these are amazing knives to collect. Hopefully there will be some posted later.
I am working on finding out more about Mcusta and Moki and will update information in this and a subsequent thread for Moki’s.
Start posting.
Below is a blade made w/ just a jacket of metal and the other is a jacket of 33 layer Damascus. Both knives have handles made from 33 layer Damascus stainless.

Nice! Beautiful knives.

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:53 pm I put this one in my store today. I don’t intend to use these forums for promotion, just for education and documentation. Some day the knives in these Seki threads will be a great resource of information on knives no longer produced.
This is from the Classic Wave series. This is the first one of these that I have handled and must say I am very impressed. These are designed to be a bit lower cost than the usual Mcusta and certainly lower than the higher end Mcustas. There is no pocket clip on some of these and they usually have less expensive handles, with wood, Corian and Micarta handles. Comes with plain VG-10 blades or the more expensive San Mai 33 layer Damascus blade with VG-10 core. The usual oiled washer system for smooth deployment. These Classic Wave knives all have finger grooves and are very comfortable in hand.
This one has Cocobolo handles that are very nice. Great striation of color and very smoothly finished. Double thumb studs for ambidextrous deployment. This one does not have a pocket clip. Comes with a nylon and leather belt sheath, no Nishijin pouch.

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 5:53 pm Very nice Mcusta. The wooden handles on these are exceptionally nice. I love that smooth deployment as well. The oiled washer makes a big difference.

Toejammer wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 6:42 pm

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 5:53 pm Very nice Mcusta. The wooden handles on these are exceptionally nice. I love that smooth deployment as well. The oiled washer makes a big difference.

Thanks !

I've got a question though. Everything I read about these Damascus models it says "VG-10 core Damascus". Could this infer that they are San Mai constructions ? Looking at the blade it sure looks like the Damascus layers down to a hamon, and then stops, leaving the VG-10 for the edge. Just curious if anyone knows.

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 7:08 pm

Toejammer wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 6:42 pm

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 5:53 pm Very nice Mcusta. The wooden handles on these are exceptionally nice. I love that smooth deployment as well. The oiled washer makes a big difference.

Thanks !

I've got a question though. Everything I read about these Damascus models it says "VG-10 core Damascus". Could this infer that they are San Mai constructions ? Looking at the blade it sure looks like the Damascus layers down to a hamon, and then stops, leaving the VG-10 for the edge. Just curious if anyone knows.

Yes it is San Mai. I think they gave up trying to distinguish the difference for folks. But it is definitely a San Mai blade with a VG-10 core and 33 layer stainless Damascus jacket.

Toejammer wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 5:28 pm Mcusta MC - 14D Seki Japan. My first Damascus blade. The cocobolo wood really sets it off too. I'll never edc it, but it's fun to play with, really smooth opening with just a flick.

Toejammer wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 7:37 pm

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 7:08 pm

Toejammer wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 6:42 pm

Thanks !

I've got a question though. Everything I read about these Damascus models it says "VG-10 core Damascus". Could this infer that they are San Mai constructions ? Looking at the blade it sure looks like the Damascus layers down to a hamon, and then stops, leaving the VG-10 for the edge. Just curious if anyone knows.

Yes it is San Mai. I think they gave up trying to distinguish the difference for folks. But it is definitely a San Mai blade with a VG-10 core and 33 layer stainless Damascus jacket.

Thank you sir !

WillyCamaro wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 4:50 am

Toejammer wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 7:37 pm

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 7:08 pm

Yes it is San Mai. I think they gave up trying to distinguish the difference for folks. But it is definitely a San Mai blade with a VG-10 core and 33 layer stainless Damascus jacket.

Thank you sir !

Man , that tis taking blade smith'ing to a whole nether plain...

Doing straight Damascus, is hard enough.

Wrapping said steel, around a solid core, of a different grade, and getting them too fuse successfully together; well, that's takes some serious skill, and most of all, tons of patience!

I think this boi, is fine sticking with some good ole American (carbon) steel. All these different "exotic" metallurgy, is too much for this foggy brain to handle.
Give me some 1085 relief!



Ah, again sir, amazing Mcusta!

I just have to find an existing dealing, up here in moose land. That way I'll circumvent customs completely. Yes, dealers are still allowed to import flippers, but we ordinary little people can't...

Madmarco wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 5:36 pm

WillyCamaro wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 4:50 am

Toejammer wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 7:37 pm

Thank you sir !

Man , that tis taking blade smith'ing to a whole nether plain...

Doing straight Damascus, is hard enough.

Wrapping said steel, around a solid core, of a different grade, and getting them too fuse successfully together; well, that's takes some serious skill, and most of all, tons of patience!

I think this boi, is fine sticking with some good ole American (carbon) steel. All these different "exotic" metallurgy, is too much for this foggy brain to handle.
Give me some 1085 relief!



Ah, again sir, amazing Mcusta!

I just have to find an existing dealing, up here in moose land. That way I'll circumvent customs completely. Yes, dealers are still allowed to import flippers, but we ordinary little people can't...

Willy! Just FYI, www.srknivesandswords.com and www.warriorsandwonders.com are both Canadian companies that sell Mcustas so there would be no Customs, although, their prices are sky-high! Also, I'm not so sure that the dealers can still import flippers, since that's part of the problem that www.herooutdoors.com has with stock not being available, they place their orders with US and other suppliers, but they then get hung-up at the border. Apparently, some get through, some don't. Hero sells Mcustas too, but their prices are the highest of all. Thought you might wanna know! Mark!