Rather rashly I suggested running a knife making session for our Explorers, having never done a 'proper' kinfe myself. So I've got on and done mine. Thanks for the advice and inspiration Guys and Gals.
We can also have a guess the wood contest, all I know is that it was from the timber reclaimed from our old workbench. The bench was an old cabinet that has seen about thirty years service as a workbench. Moved from Helensburgh to Wiltshire, out to Germany and back again. A bit rotten after a flooded cellar and covered in engine and gearbox oil, it still took the sledgehammer to knock it to pieces. As it was at that workbench I learn't most of the skills used to make the knife it seemed fitting tribute to use a bit of it. It ain't a perfect bit of wood (spot the screw hole I didn't find till the scales were roughed out) and it ain't a perfect knife but I'm happy and it's very mine.
Not sharpened yet, but I did use it with the firesteel to light my parafin lamp (I wasn't going to be stoped by a powercut). I can report a healthy shower of sparks. I'm going to add a leash and see how I get on with it, once I decide what I want.
On to a go at leather work then!
Cheers.
We can also have a guess the wood contest, all I know is that it was from the timber reclaimed from our old workbench. The bench was an old cabinet that has seen about thirty years service as a workbench. Moved from Helensburgh to Wiltshire, out to Germany and back again. A bit rotten after a flooded cellar and covered in engine and gearbox oil, it still took the sledgehammer to knock it to pieces. As it was at that workbench I learn't most of the skills used to make the knife it seemed fitting tribute to use a bit of it. It ain't a perfect bit of wood (spot the screw hole I didn't find till the scales were roughed out) and it ain't a perfect knife but I'm happy and it's very mine.
Not sharpened yet, but I did use it with the firesteel to light my parafin lamp (I wasn't going to be stoped by a powercut). I can report a healthy shower of sparks. I'm going to add a leash and see how I get on with it, once I decide what I want.
On to a go at leather work then!
Cheers.