Knife Identification help please.

[markheolddu]

Hi I have been watching some old Ray Mears programs and was wondering about a perticular knife he uses, no not the woodlore. In the program where a native Canadian ( I think) helps him make a canoe. Anyway its the knife they use, has a slight curve to the blade but not asmuch as a spoon knife. I want to know it they are avalible anywhere and if its worth saving up.
Thanks Mark

 

[tomtom]

Its a type of crooked knife. I think Schwert did a group by of them a while ago so it may be worth searching for that.

 

[seany boy]

Some interesting stuff here from Jimbo's site

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/ck.html

http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/ck2.html

 

[Schwert]

That Mears episode really is a very good one. The crooked knives used are traditional designs. Hudson Bay used to supply blade blanks.

A local friend of mine pointed me to a fellow who is a self-described, Luthier/Toolmaker. His woodworking skills are truly amazing for stringed instruments, and he also delves into making some excellent hand tools. Orien MacDonald made this crooked knife for me. Shown here along with my Wheeler forged OSF and Del Stubbs spoon knives.

Orien has a wonderful custom instrument website where his true skills as a woodworker shine. Amazing…

http://www.model-o.com/


That group buy turned out to be a bust. I got some blanks from the fellow but he never finished his commitment to the UK crowd.

Orien is a very talented amateur maker who is just starting out selling his tools. I have an elbow adz coming from him as I type.

 

[seany boy]

Now there's some fine looking tools Schwert, very nice indeed.

 

[markheolddu]

Thanks for the info guys.

Mark

 

[Schwert]

Now there's some fine looking tools Schwert, very nice indeed.

Thanks, this is indeed a pretty good set. The hook knives....both right and left handed for deep curves along with the larger crooked and a straight knife for flatter shaping and wood hogging really makes an efficient carving set.

The Wheeler OSF has recently been supplanted by my new Rod Garcia Skookum Bush Tool though.

I am still working on my "Flamingo" stick.

Now that I have it roughed out, I will be using the crooked knife like a drawknife to taper and do most of the final shaping.

 

[clcuckow]

this is a really good site on crooked knives and there history http://members.aol.com/mocotagan/

When the weather is better I will be getting my forge out and be making myself a lefty, I have already carved the handle. I will post pictures then.

 

[seany boy]

Schwert,
I really love the look of the Rod Garcia, Skookum Bush Tool.
It ticks all the right boxes for me. I saw your recent posting on British Blades.
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37943
I noticed that you made a comparison with the S B T and the Iisakki 1244 Puukko, funnily enough the Iisakki 1244 is my most used knife at the moment. Mind you i'm very tempted to get a S B T.


Nice link there Clcukow thanks for that.
Look forwards to the pictures!

 

[Schwert]

The SBT and IJ are really very easily compared. The IJ a bit shorter and lighter but a very similar blade shape....both wood working delights. Rod makes a smaller version of the SBT without buttplate and shorter blade but about the same size handle that is really tempting me right now. I saw one of these done in burl that had me really drooling.

It is such a joy to find a set of tools that just seem to work. The Del Stubbs hooks are just superb examples of these knives...highly polished and sharp, the MacDonald crooked is an ergonomic wonder that is hard to convey in a photograph, and the flatter longer blade can really move material easily, and the SBT just has to be held for a few moments to realize it a near perfect all-around field knife. The first time I used my IJ 1244 it was a similar experience, the birchbark handle and blade just worked together.

Finding superior tools, sharing work and trips and other aspects of our tool using experiences via the internet is indeed a wonder.

That mocotagan site is indeed another miracle of the internet....The diversity and functional beauty of the crooked knives in the galleries is amazing.


Orien MacDonald put his crooked tutorial over at PaleoPlanet....this the left handed version made for my friend.

http://p081.ezboard.com/fpaleoplanet69529frm27.showMessage?topicID=95.topic

 

[seany boy]

Wow thats a great link....

It's always amazing to see true craftsman produce something beautiful thats highly functional too.

 

[Schwert]

If you happen to look at Orien's musical instuments on his website I think you can get more ideas of his abilities. His tool making was a result of his instrument making...it really shows. His tools just work.

And since you are leaning to an SBT....take a look at my article, maybe I can push you over the edge.

http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=341

With the Pound so strong, Rod is essentially giving these away.

 

[Eric_Methven]

This is what you're after.

I bought this one from Rancid Badger who makes them from old files. He had a couple at Chopwell last weekend but I don't know if he sold them. You might like to PM him and ask. He got swamped with requests last time I posted this pic and he doesn't turn them out peacemeal, just the odd one now and again so he's not geared up to take orders. But it's worth asking if he brought any back with him.

Eric

 

[markheolddu]

Thanks Eric the one this guy had was flatter. But you have given me a great idea make my own. I have all the tools at home or in work and an old file or two around.

Thanks again Eric, Mark

 

[markheolddu]

Great knife buy the way, have you put it to much use yet?

Mark