I've just made a Crooked knife,and Modified a Hoof knife,Anyone got any better ways to make a Crooked knife.
Crooked knives
- Thread starter Forest fella
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rancid badger
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Well done FF!
I love to see improvisation on here, its a favourite pastime of my own, to be honest
I wouldn't say "better" ways, just different I've made a few from old files, roll pins and flat stock 01 carbon steel-the latter being the easiest to work with so far.
"Cariboo" I think that's spelt correctly does truly beautiful ones from old circular saw blades iirc
It's always very satisfying making something you can then use everyday if you wish, especially when you've used materials or items intended for another purpose entirely.
good on you
cheers
R.B.
I love to see improvisation on here, its a favourite pastime of my own, to be honest
I wouldn't say "better" ways, just different
I've made a few from old files, roll pins and flat stock 01 carbon steel-the latter being the easiest to work with so far. "Cariboo" I think that's spelt correctly
does truly beautiful ones from old circular saw blades iirc It's always very satisfying making something you can then use everyday if you wish, especially when you've used materials or items intended for another purpose entirely.
good on you
cheers
R.B.
Thanks,I'm very happy with the blade I made,But in all honestly the Handle I made is well poor.Hopefully I will get some use out of it Before I have to make a better one for it.
rancid badger
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Do a search for "mocotaugan" on the likes of google and then check out some of the sites, there's one that has a proper plan type drawing of a traditional style hook knife. They fit the blade into a slot, cut into the handle and then whip and glue a piece of wood over the top to fix it all in place.
Alternatively, if the blade has a couple of holes in it, carve a handle to suit you, then carve a flat shelf where you want to fit the blade and fix the blade in place with a couple of screws.If you can countersink the screw holes, you should end up with a fairly neat and strong knife.You can always cover the screws with whipping and or epoxy for a neater and stronger job.
With a bit of luck, cariboo will post a pic or two later
cheers
R.B.
Orien MacDonald posted a good tutorial on crooked knives over at PaleoPlanet.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/8530
He made my crooked and it is very well done. He used a file for the blade materal and has a nice way to find proper wood grain in a flat board for the handle.
Here is the right-handed version he made for me. The thumb-support handle is very important I think to comfort and control.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/8530
He made my crooked and it is very well done. He used a file for the blade materal and has a nice way to find proper wood grain in a flat board for the handle.
Here is the right-handed version he made for me. The thumb-support handle is very important I think to comfort and control.
rancid badger
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Orien MacDonald posted a good tutorial on crooked knives over at PaleoPlanet.
http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/8530
He made my crooked and it is very well done. He used a file for the blade materal and has a nice way to find proper wood grain in a flat board for the handle.
Here is the right-handed version he made for me. The thumb-support handle is very important I think to comfort and control.
FANTASTIC!
there you go; all you need to know
Brilliant link Schwert:You_Rock_
best wishes
R.B.
I have made a few of these:
And a couple of links:
http://www.tpadventure.com/Crooked%20Knife.htm
http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/north_public/north_public.htm Do a search for crooked knives.
The trickiest part is to get the geometry of the blade right, the handle can be almost any shape, as long as it's confortable to hold.
And a couple of links:
http://www.tpadventure.com/Crooked%20Knife.htm
http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/north_public/north_public.htm Do a search for crooked knives.
The trickiest part is to get the geometry of the blade right, the handle can be almost any shape, as long as it's confortable to hold.
Thanks Brancho. It's actually really nice to use and was exactly the right shape for me. And a lot less work too into the bargain
I'm feeling a bit stupid but what is the benefit of a crooked knife and is it the blade or the handle, or both, that is crooked?
From some of the pictures I'm guessing that it makes it easier to carv spoons, correct?
From some of the pictures I'm guessing that it makes it easier to carv spoons, correct?
I think it's most often both but that the 'crook' refers mainly to the handle because of the unique grip of the knife. I believe the benefit is in shaping wood, but I don't have the personal experience to find out why yet.
I made my own spoon knife but I too am interested in making a crooked knife. Does the profile of the blade need to be quite thin? What is the normal grind on one of these?
I see a very nice spoon there jojo, do you have a spoon knife? is it not easier to use the smaller spoon knife or is there something I've missed?
I made my own spoon knife but I too am interested in making a crooked knife. Does the profile of the blade need to be quite thin? What is the normal grind on one of these?
I see a very nice spoon there jojo, do you have a spoon knife? is it not easier to use the smaller spoon knife or is there something I've missed?
I am no expert, but the crooked knife such as the ones I have made were an everyday item, particularly to the indegenous people of the Eastern Woodland. There is contention I believe as to who exactly "invented" it, whether the Native American or the White settlers, because they had a tradition of using steel, whereas the Native People didn't.
The benefit is in the versatility of the crooked knife because it's possible to make practically anything with these and a axe, most canoe parts, paddles, carving bowls, you can use them as a one ended draw knife, shape a thwart, carve a paddle, split and plane the gunnells on a canoe etc
Mine is more of a jack of all trade, not a specialised item. I have carved the spoon in the pic with just that knife, but it's a bit big for that.
I could make one just for carving spoons, probably will, and It would have a much smaller blade. I think they are much better suited to green wood working than to dry wood which is very much harder.
For my blades I use 2mm 01 steel, any thicker would be too thick. Mine is shaped like a plane blade, with the bevel on one side. You can also make it as a triangular section with secondary bevel, and thats easier to sharpen.
I dont have a spoon knife so don't if it's easier, but what would be easier it to have a shorter crooked knife blade.
Forgot to mention I am left handed so the knifes are left handed too!
The benefit is in the versatility of the crooked knife because it's possible to make practically anything with these and a axe, most canoe parts, paddles, carving bowls, you can use them as a one ended draw knife, shape a thwart, carve a paddle, split and plane the gunnells on a canoe etc
Mine is more of a jack of all trade, not a specialised item. I have carved the spoon in the pic with just that knife, but it's a bit big for that.
I could make one just for carving spoons, probably will, and It would have a much smaller blade. I think they are much better suited to green wood working than to dry wood which is very much harder.
For my blades I use 2mm 01 steel, any thicker would be too thick. Mine is shaped like a plane blade, with the bevel on one side. You can also make it as a triangular section with secondary bevel, and thats easier to sharpen.
I dont have a spoon knife so don't if it's easier, but what would be easier it to have a shorter crooked knife blade.
Forgot to mention I am left handed so the knifes are left handed too!
Forest Fella, sorry to have participated in derailing your thread What did you use to make the bottom blade?
Those pics are showing the shape of the second blade I made, as you can see, it's swept back and also up. The one with the antler handle has a slight curve rather than a straight section between the handle and the tight curve at the front of the blade.
What did you use to make the bottom blade?Those pics are showing the shape of the second blade I made, as you can see, it's swept back and also up. The one with the antler handle has a slight curve rather than a straight section between the handle and the tight curve at the front of the blade.
The bottom blade was made out of a scrap piece of Meat Cleaver I had already cannibalized to make a Nessmuk,I just forged and hammer it out thinner and then Curved it and Put a Edge on,
There are so many varients of crooked knives. Curved, canted blades, differing lengths, huge variations in handles all comprise the world of crooked knives. The best resource I have ever seen on these can be found in this link, something I am sure has been posted here before but well worth the emphasis once again:
Mocotaugan, the Story and Art of the Crooked Knife
http://www.mocotauganthebook.com/
An excellent historical view of the variations. The whole book can be downloaded....the portfolio is a wonder.
I have noticed that many folks here confuse hooks with crooks. Hooks are much more specialized than crooks....but crooks cover a huge diverstity of purposes...from all around carvers to very specialized knives for specific purposes from canoe building to basket work.
Mocotaugan, the Story and Art of the Crooked Knife
http://www.mocotauganthebook.com/
An excellent historical view of the variations. The whole book can be downloaded....the portfolio is a wonder.
I have noticed that many folks here confuse hooks with crooks. Hooks are much more specialized than crooks....but crooks cover a huge diverstity of purposes...from all around carvers to very specialized knives for specific purposes from canoe building to basket work.
I finally got around to fitting a Handle on my Crooked knife Blade that I got from jojo,the Handle is Stag Antler and the Sheath is Parflech from a left over knife sheath.Fits my Hand perfectly.
Schwert enabled me into a fine crooked knife from Orien. One of the first things I did was test it on a hardwood dowel. It's a great carver and will take wood down in a hurry. As to the design, I told Orien to do his thing and so he gave me a bit more curve on the end than Schwert's knife. So the second thing I checked is to see if I could make a little hollow region. Grabbed a scrap piece of mahogany and it took very little time to make a hollow.
So, I kinda hate to waste wood so after staring at the board for awhile, I decided to see if I could do a quick spoon. So I split off the sides and sawed off the end and began shaping it with Orien's knife, using it mostly like you would use a regular knife for carving.
At this point, I suddenly realized the ice was melting in my drink so I had to come back to it later.
More carving.
'Bout finished.
Had to put Orien's knife down and grab a scraper to finish the spoon up.
So, I kinda hate to waste wood so after staring at the board for awhile, I decided to see if I could do a quick spoon. So I split off the sides and sawed off the end and began shaping it with Orien's knife, using it mostly like you would use a regular knife for carving.
At this point, I suddenly realized the ice was melting in my drink so I had to come back to it later.
More carving.
'Bout finished.
Had to put Orien's knife down and grab a scraper to finish the spoon up.
I finally got around to fitting a Handle on my Crooked knife Blade that I got from jojo,the Handle is Stag Antler and the Sheath is Parflech from a left over knife sheath.Fits my Hand perfectly.
Nice to see your knife, Forest Fella. Any chance of a lighter pic? It looks very dark on my screen
Have you had a chance to use it yet?
Nice work Hoodoo. I am finding a good crooked knife to be an excellent all-around worker. I am liking mine more every time I use it.
What puzzles me Randy is why I waited so long to get one.
Definitely the finest crooked knife I own and one of the best knife purchases I've ever made. Mucho thanks for a super enablement! Orien is an excellent craftsman.
