Inspired by some of the threads here, and elsewhere, I just wanted to post a tribute to one of my oldest and most faithful friends. It's not perfekt, not even wellmade or really well designed but after more than 20 years it's still the knife I reach for when going outdoors. Sure, there's been others - a LOT of others - spanning from customs to moras and also products from my own hands but they all seem to slip into oblivion after a time and my old knife surfaces again.
It was the third knife I ever made and has been with me since I was 15. It's traveled to NZ (North and South Island), England and the mountains of southern Bavaria as well as from Swedens most southern point up to above the artic circle. It's been used for batoning, carving, eating and whatever at the same time it has carved its way through a load of moose, boar, deer and lesser game as well as fish from both salt and fresh waters.
The 9,5cm long blade is made from carbon steel by Gunnar Bergström and seems to have a perfect balance between hardness and ease of sharpening for my needs. I've always wiped it with something oily when neccessary so it has developed a nice patina over the years but has never really rusted. The handle is made from moose antler, birch bark and a pice of rather plain masur birch. It's a bit blocky but fits me good enough. I've thought more than once of reprofiling it but can not bear myself to do it. I've used it so long now that any change would almost feel like commiting sacrilege. For me - maybe this is THE knife?
It was the third knife I ever made and has been with me since I was 15. It's traveled to NZ (North and South Island), England and the mountains of southern Bavaria as well as from Swedens most southern point up to above the artic circle. It's been used for batoning, carving, eating and whatever at the same time it has carved its way through a load of moose, boar, deer and lesser game as well as fish from both salt and fresh waters.
The 9,5cm long blade is made from carbon steel by Gunnar Bergström and seems to have a perfect balance between hardness and ease of sharpening for my needs. I've always wiped it with something oily when neccessary so it has developed a nice patina over the years but has never really rusted. The handle is made from moose antler, birch bark and a pice of rather plain masur birch. It's a bit blocky but fits me good enough. I've thought more than once of reprofiling it but can not bear myself to do it. I've used it so long now that any change would almost feel like commiting sacrilege. For me - maybe this is THE knife?