Random Knives #1
INQUIRIES ONLY
The first of the pair of go mai executions by Lautaro and Mauro, the hearts and minds behind Random Knives, this knife presents one side of an evolutionary coin in bladesmithing. It is closer to the western roots of the Bowie concept: while steeped in eastern culture, the dark gray blade and guard with a matte satin finish signal the authentic, rougher, more rustic presence of a tool-knife - an ascetic vibe emphasized by the hidden tang construction embedded in a solid wood handle. Originally, this had been carved from a block of near-black wenge, which echoed if not amplified the knife’s stealthy stance. The trials and tribulations of intercontinental travel and customs had caused the wood to recede, however, and the handle had to be redone. Rather than repeating the ordeal, Lautaro and Mauro availed themselves of the skill and taste of Sam Lurquin, trusting him with crafting a new handle. He intuitively captured the blade’s spirit with poplar burl. The deep, rich, contrasting luster of its dominant blood red and black swirls, strangely, reinforces the blade’s message of tranquil strength. A story of the mutual esteem, trust and partnership at the core of the craft.

Serial number

RK-HT-L-W

Construction

Hidden tang

Blade

1070 core/1070/304ss steels

Damascus

Go-mai

Grinds

Flat

Guard & Fittings

Bohler K100 steel guard

Handle

Poplar burl

Build time

80 hours

Engraving

N/A

Sheath

Serial number JG-C-H-N-RK
Exterior Calf with hammered skulls embossing
Lining Calf
Concho Sterling silver
Stud Steel, milled by Nicolas Verschuere
Build time 14 hours

Knifemaker

Random Knives

From Argentina.

From a very early age Lautaro loved working and creating things with his hands. It was in his genes; his father painted murals, created sculptures and built scale models; his grandfather on his mother’s side, a car mechanic with a passion for knives, would let young Lautaro fiddle in his workshop. In his last school year, his metallurgy professor allowed him and a classmate to make a blade in his charcoal forge. Lautaro was hooked. After 6 months in college studying industrial design, he realized making knives was his calling, rather than designing automobiles. He soon began to sell his creations, attending local fairs and exchanging with recognized knife makers from my country. One of them was Mauro Santacatterina, practically a neighbor in Buenos Aires... Mauro, too, was attracted to handcrafts early on: one of his grandparents had an iron foundry and the other made anything – scale replicas of ships, knives, swords, firearms... – he could think of. Together with his father, who also had manual abilities, young Mauro made swords, shields, helmets and bows. He soon became interested in knives, fascinated by their history and manufacture, as well in ancient and medieval weapons, and blacksmithing in general. So much so that he would eschew university for knife making. He soon grew in his craft, discussing new processes and techniques with fellow bladesmiths, like Lautaro Julio – who soon floated the idea of creating a brand together. Born in 2018, Random Knives is an artistic project for experimenting with all styles, knife models and construction techniques.