+bujifan Thank you. Hopefully you were able to check out some of the other videos I posted from the show. Kiku had some VERY nice blades on display here. If you are local to Seattle area, I can point you in a direction to be able to check some of these out first hand, they are amazing.

+GravityRoller I'm in AZ, If you know of anyone out this way I'd love to see them.

nevermas No, the one I selected was sold (actually manufactured for a specific client). Beautiful designs.

No, not San Mai blade, at least not in the way I typically think of San Mai (3-layer makeup with a hard high carbon core laminated with non-corrosive stainless). I believe it was/is SPG2 Damascus model KM-495 Bolo-Chete with Hamaguri-ba grind. Super Gold 2 (SPG2) powdered steel core forge layered stainless Damascus steel blade (I suppose one could argue the "true" definition of San Mai ... hope you don't feel I am dodging your question ;-) Here is a picture of Kiku and Gunny with new KM-495 Bolo-Chete at SHOT Show in Las Vegas on Jan., 2015 delivered to hand. It was pretty cool to lay my hands on this one before delivery. i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc155/ChrisOBucket/Knives/Kiku%20Matsuda%20amp%20Gunny%20with%20Bolo-Chete.jpg It is my understanding that the SPG2 steel is made in Japan by Takefu. I "think" this knife may also be available in OU-31 blade steel. For me, I believe using a PM blade steel in a forged blade is kinda defeating the whole PM process making this more a collectible than a significant user tool. It was beautiful in hand (balance, feel, etc., etc.), & I would truly enjoy putting this design to the wood :-) I believe however, I would want it in either PM steel or forged (but maybe, just maybe their is some of that Ninja Japanese mystique method used during forging that further increases the performance of PM steel ... romance :-)

Cool! Thanks for responding!

@@GravityRoller That's actually not damascus. That's a multi layers laminated SG2 steel. Kobelco made the R2 steel and Takefu laminated it. The result is much more consistent than the in house forged one. www.barmondsheffield.com/knife-making-steels/takefu/