This dagger is part of the first international exhibition of contemporary bladesmiths held at the Macau Museum of Art.

I feel privileged to have one of my pieces being selected for this unique opportunity organized by António Conceição Júnior.

This is a special project. Made of 1050, 1095 and 15N20 steel. Folded to about 100 layers and then manipulated to generate a pattern that will imitate the AYASUGI hada of the GASSAN school of Japanese swordsmiths of which I have been particularly fond. Cable damascus guard and pommel and stabilized California buckeye burl handle. The blade is 9 1/2 inches and the overall length is 14 inches.

This is the original billet as I am carving with files to generate the final pattern.

This is a close-up view.

As the work progresses...