FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions on Akitsu Forge
How long have you been making knives / swords?
I began knifemaking in 2016 and became a full time maker in 2017. In 2024 I began experimenting with making my first Japanese tanto’s and began forging blades in 2026. My forging work is almost exclusively limited to traditional Japanese blades.
Have you worked under other names?
Yes. Over the years I’ve worked under a few identities
I first started out under the brand “Ironside Armoury” which became “Ironside Edge Works” from 2018 to 2025. I spent a year trying to figure out my new direction after my partnership with Ironside Edge Works dissolved, and made a few knives under “The Arcadian” for a year before committing to my current journey as “Akitsu Forge”.
Where is Akitsu Forge located?
Akitsu Forge is located on my family homestead, “Sōkoyu-En”, about 3 hours outside of Cape Town, South Africa, in what is called the Overberg region. Surrounded by farm lands, mountains, valley’s and the ocean nearby it is a peaceful and meditative place where I can focus on my art at a slower and more intentional pace.
Do you ship anywhere in the world?
Yes, I would say almost anywhere.
Common major destinations like North America, Europe, Asia and Australia / New Zealand are all definitely possible.
Countries currently experiencing conflicts or under sanctions may be more difficult to ship to. Please check with me if you are unsure.
Why do you make so few knives / swords per year?
For much of my career as a knifemaker I tried to turn out high end knives at a rapid pace, at times 20 or 30 pieces a month. Frankly I burnt out very hard.
When I founded Aktisu Forge my aim was not to repeat this, but to rather slow down and be more intuitional, more focussed and more precise about what I want to make.
This means I make less. I have no quota that I need to meet, I simply make what I feel inspired to make.
Can I custom order a knife / sword from you?
I offer very limited opportunity for Custom Work.
To be honest custom work does not appeal to me very much anymore, and these types of projects really need to speak to me on an artistic level for me to take them on. I need creative freedom and the ability to try new things, make mistakes, and not be held to a strict deadline.
All this means I accept perhaps only 3-5 custom orders a year. If you have an idea you want to run by me, please feel free to ask.
Questions on Japanese Swords
What does "Nihonto" mean?
The word “Nihonto” (日本刀) literally means “Japanese Sword” and is the term used to explicitly refer to swords made in Japan, by licensed smiths in the prescribed traditional method.
This can be used to refer to antique swords 900 years old, or a modern sword made yesterday. So long as they both fit the above description. There are many other terms which further categorise Nihonto into the time periods in which they were made, and the design schools which brought them to life, but this is a general term and one usually used for “real swords”.
What I and many other modern smiths make will never be considered “Nihonto” but are instead faithful interpretations of them. I try my best to use traditional methods and techniques whenever possible and practical for a smith working outside of the Japanese tradition.
What does "Hamon" mean?
The word “Hamon” (刃文) literally translates to “Edge Pattern” and refers to the ghostly line visible in within the steel of a traditionally heat treated Japanese Sword.
This line is quite literally the visible boundary between the hardened steel on the edge of the blade, and the softer unhardened steel of the spine. This is commonly known as “Differential hardening” in the Western tradition.
The Japanese tradition however takes this to an extremely high level as it is considered of high importance both for the function of a sword and the aesthetics. A sword cannot be considered “Nihonto” without a distinct and preferably beautiful, hamon.
To achieve a Hamon on a blade, the steel is coated carefully in clay, the precise mixture of which is a closely guarded secret of every smith. The clay is applied to the blade in a variety of patterns to create different styles of Hamon which typically indicate the lineage or design school of the smith. The blade is then heated in the forge and quenched in water, a process known as “Yaki Ire”.
When the blade steel is quenched, the exposed part of the blade cools rapidly, hardening at a molecular level, which the part of the blade coated in clay cools slower, and doesn’t harden. The result after polishing the blade thoroughly, is a beautiful pattern which is literally part of the steel itself. In Japanese bladesmithing the Hamon represents the moment a blade is transformed and “comes alive”.
It is important to note that in the West, blade smiths more often than not quench blades in oil, while the Japanese tradition is to quench in water. Oil quenching is not quite as volatile, its gentler on the steel and allows it to cool ever so slightly slower, meaning it is more stable and less likely to crrack or warp.
Japanese water quenching is a volatile process. It is not uncommon for blades to crack during this process, roughly 30% -40% of the time in fact. I am however of the opinion that you simply cannot match the beauty of a water quenched Hamon.
Water quenching produces much more subtle character, whisps and ghostly shadows in the Hamon than quenching in oil does. This is why my personal goal as a smith is to become proficient at the Yaki-Ire method of heat treating blades, and quench my Japanese swords in water.
How long does it take to make a sword?
Up to 3 months is the general rule of thumb.
It can of course vary dramatically depending on complexity. The steel used, the method of forging, whether it is fully polished, or whether the blade is mouthing in Shirasay or Koshirae – and whether these components are made from scratch or not.
When it comes to Japanese Swords I only make one piece at a time. Therefore I’m limited as to how many I can make in a year.
How many swords do you make in a year?
My goal currently is 3 to 5 per year.
I very much doubt I will ever make more than 10 per year.
How traditional are your methods?
As a Western smith, I am not working in the completely traditional prescribed method. For example I use modern mono-steels, modern machines and abrasives. I do however try to stick to tradition where I feel it is important, such as forging blades, and doing Yaki-Ire for heat treating.
Do you make all the components of the sword yourself?
As a rule that is my aim.
However I do at times work with other artists /. blade smiths on a project collaboratively. Where I may only make some of the parts.
Sometimes I also like to incorporate antique mountings into a project. My aim though is to become a Sole Authorship maker of Japanese style Swords, and that would require me to make every component and complete every process myself.