This has been a long time coming. I may check back later to see how many years it has taken me to make. It has multiple attempts at a bolster, lots of indecision about the spacer and a little indecision on the main section of the handle.
I hope it was worththe wait!
The blade was made by Mike Blue, an American knife maker of incredible talent and knowledge. I've met him a couple of times and have learnt a lot, just from watching and listening to him.
There are two steels in the blade - 1095 and 15n20. There are 600 layers of steel in a random pattern. One one side the detail is quite fine and on the other side, it looks just like wood grain. It is a thing of true beauty.
As it is a stick tang blade, a bolster was required. This one is the 6th bolster that was made, after making the slot too big or leaving it too small and having the bolster crack on other attempts. This bolster is wrought iron and has been heavily etched in ferric chloride to reveal the grain, hoping to mimic the look of the blade.
The spacer is two pieces of bronze and one piece of nickle silver. I decided on having a bright flash in a very dark and rugged handle.
The main section of the handle is bog oak. After finishing it smooth, I gave a light brushing with a wire brush to pull out the softer sections of grain, again hoping to mimic the blade.
I haven't oiled the handle on this. Bog Oak should be able to cope quite well without it - it's survived long enough already! I would like to see it again in a few years after oils from the hand have soaked in a little. i believe this knife will only get better with age.
A sheath isn't being made by me but by it's new owner. I'm intrigued to see what he comes up with - traditional Scandinavian or something different.
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I hope it was worththe wait!
The blade was made by Mike Blue, an American knife maker of incredible talent and knowledge. I've met him a couple of times and have learnt a lot, just from watching and listening to him.
There are two steels in the blade - 1095 and 15n20. There are 600 layers of steel in a random pattern. One one side the detail is quite fine and on the other side, it looks just like wood grain. It is a thing of true beauty.
As it is a stick tang blade, a bolster was required. This one is the 6th bolster that was made, after making the slot too big or leaving it too small and having the bolster crack on other attempts. This bolster is wrought iron and has been heavily etched in ferric chloride to reveal the grain, hoping to mimic the look of the blade.
The spacer is two pieces of bronze and one piece of nickle silver. I decided on having a bright flash in a very dark and rugged handle.
The main section of the handle is bog oak. After finishing it smooth, I gave a light brushing with a wire brush to pull out the softer sections of grain, again hoping to mimic the blade.
I haven't oiled the handle on this. Bog Oak should be able to cope quite well without it - it's survived long enough already! I would like to see it again in a few years after oils from the hand have soaked in a little. i believe this knife will only get better with age.
A sheath isn't being made by me but by it's new owner. I'm intrigued to see what he comes up with - traditional Scandinavian or something different.
