Hanayama

Unlocking the WESN Collaboration Designing a puzzle box that serves as both a brain teaser and a functional storage vessel requires a delicate balance of engineering and artistry. The WESN Microblade Puzzle Box is a result of a two-year collaboration between Chris Ramsay and the WESN knife company. This guide explores how to navigate its sequential discovery mechanisms to reveal the titanium and brass prize hidden within. With a difficulty rating of approximately 5 or 6 out of 10, it offers a perfect entry point for those new to the world of mechanical puzzles. Essential Tools and Preparation Unlike many puzzles that require external household items, this box is a self-contained sequential discovery experience. This means every tool needed to progress is hidden within the object itself. You will need the physical 1st Puzzle Box and a flat, level surface to work on. Avoid working over high-pile carpets, as the small metal pins and screws used in the mechanism can be difficult to locate if dropped. Step-by-Step Instructions 1. **Locate the First Tool:** Examine the bottom of the box. You will notice a magnetic panel and two distinct pins. One pin is flat, while the other features a slot for a screwdriver. Press on the flat pin to release the first hidden tool from its housing. 2. **The Screwdriver Phase:** Take the small metal tool you just extracted. It functions as a precision screwdriver. Insert it into the slotted pin on the opposite side of the base and unscrew it completely. 3. **Bypassing the Illusion:** The lid may feel loose at this point, but it will not lift directly off. This is a design choice intended to simulate a standard hinge. To proceed, you must engage the internal gravity pins. 4. **The Magnetic Slide:** Use the magnetic base of the tool you found in step one. Swipe it along the side of the box near the top edge. You will hear the internal pins click as they retract. While holding the magnet in place to keep the pins disengaged, slide the lid horizontally along its integrated track. Maintenance and Troubleshooting If the lid refuses to slide, ensure the box is perfectly upright. The internal mechanism utilizes gravity pins that prevent opening if the box is tilted or upside down—a security feature that even stumped border control agents during shipping. Once opened, you can reset the puzzle by sliding the lid back into the locked position and replacing the screw. The WESN Microblade inside features a titanium blade and brass handle; over time, the brass will develop a unique patina, reflecting its use as an everyday carry tool. The Final Reveal Successfully navigating the box rewards you with a limited-edition microblade housed in a burlap protective sack. This project demonstrates that the joy of a puzzle lies not just in the difficulty, but in the tactile satisfaction of discovering how different materials—magnets, steel, and brass—interact to hide a secret in plain sight.