Not posted a thread for a bit so thought I ought to.
I've been oddly interested (read obsessed) in knives all my life. From my first crappy 'survival' knife to a very expensive handmade 'bushcraft' knife.
As part of that I've handled a few blades in my time and enjoyed it for the most part. But I've always wanted to do better and do more.
The 'I blame Sam part'
He linked me the Woodsmoke blade course. Sadly I'm not in a position to afford it (looks amazing), but the knife through the ages idea stuck.
I did however have a day flint course already book with the amazing Will Lord. So earlier this year I took my first steps into our stone age past.
Long story short, I suck at flint knapping (but will get better). I struck a few blades and a small hand axe with a lot of help from John Lord. But I did cast a pointy sharp lump of flint that screamed out to be a blade. Now I want to make a proper biface in the future. But for now. This is my stone age start. This I handled in red deer antler, and set with pine pitch glue. The pommel is buffalo antler (very not stone age but I wanted to so did) and the design is a buffalo from Creswell caves. It's not perfect or truly primative, but it's 'styled' and i have to say, works a treat as a knife.
I want to add bronze casting to this list, but that does not look a cheap option. So that one will wait for funds to appear from the gods.
But I was lucky enough to get on the blacksmith/Viking knife forging at the recent bushcraft Show. So I get to tick my Iron Age box in my knife making journey. The amazing Austine helped a lot in making this knife the thing it is. Is it perfect, no. But it's bloody sharp, holds a great edge, and has my sweat in it.
So I've two of my three steps. None are perfect and I want to do more and do better. But I'm loving the history and evolution of the knife. I still feel it's mans greatest tool.
Right. Not knife but a few other bits made recently.
Antler and Lignum ring
Handled Budd spoon knife blade I got a bit back in beech
And finally a bit of cordage making. Oddly obsessive to do. But sore fingers now.
I've been oddly interested (read obsessed) in knives all my life. From my first crappy 'survival' knife to a very expensive handmade 'bushcraft' knife.
As part of that I've handled a few blades in my time and enjoyed it for the most part. But I've always wanted to do better and do more.
The 'I blame Sam part'
He linked me the Woodsmoke blade course. Sadly I'm not in a position to afford it (looks amazing), but the knife through the ages idea stuck.
I did however have a day flint course already book with the amazing Will Lord. So earlier this year I took my first steps into our stone age past.
Long story short, I suck at flint knapping (but will get better). I struck a few blades and a small hand axe with a lot of help from John Lord. But I did cast a pointy sharp lump of flint that screamed out to be a blade. Now I want to make a proper biface in the future. But for now. This is my stone age start. This I handled in red deer antler, and set with pine pitch glue. The pommel is buffalo antler (very not stone age but I wanted to so did) and the design is a buffalo from Creswell caves. It's not perfect or truly primative, but it's 'styled' and i have to say, works a treat as a knife.
I want to add bronze casting to this list, but that does not look a cheap option. So that one will wait for funds to appear from the gods.
But I was lucky enough to get on the blacksmith/Viking knife forging at the recent bushcraft Show. So I get to tick my Iron Age box in my knife making journey. The amazing Austine helped a lot in making this knife the thing it is. Is it perfect, no. But it's bloody sharp, holds a great edge, and has my sweat in it.
So I've two of my three steps. None are perfect and I want to do more and do better. But I'm loving the history and evolution of the knife. I still feel it's mans greatest tool.
Right. Not knife but a few other bits made recently.
Antler and Lignum ring
Handled Budd spoon knife blade I got a bit back in beech
And finally a bit of cordage making. Oddly obsessive to do. But sore fingers now.
