Māripi shark-knife with Paua Shell
Māripi shark-knife
Māripi shark-knife multi view
Māripi shark-knife carved head
Māripi shark-knife left view
Māripi shark-knife edge view
Māripi shark-knife main view
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A solid steel māripi, also known as a shark-knife.
At a hefty 6.7 pound overall weight is not a light weigh, but feels well balanced in the hand. A 9 mm thick piece of Nitro V was carved sculpted and ground with "shark teeth" for the business edge. The hand engraving is shaped like waves and flows on both sides of the knife. Paua shell dots have been inlaid in the steel body as an additional adornment.
The partial length tang of the knife was handled with Makore wood and the head carved into a rams scull with Paua shell eyes.
While I would classify this art piece more in the direction of a battle axe, or war club, the Māori (indigenous people of New Zealand) mostly used it for cutting meat, and some do suggest that it was also used in battle. Typical materials the Māori used to make it was wood and sharks teeth with various embellishments like shells and local grasses.
- Overall Length: 13"
- OAL: 330mm
- Weight aprox: 3kg ~ 6.7lb
- Rockwell C 58
- Nitro V stainless steel
- Makore wood carved handle
- Stainless thong holes
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