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My first hand-made knife!

Tsal

Tsal

Jan 28, 2000
4,635
50
43
Finland
#1
I'm sure at least our friend FL Knifemaker knows how much fatherly pride can be put into your first hand-made blade :D

I had fantastic time spending three days in a tiny village in Lapland, making a knife from a scratch while having a professional blacksmith watch over me. There's nothing in the knife that wouldn't be hand made by me, manufacturing it included hand-forging the blade from a steel bar and crafting the sheath out of leather.

So, here it is, my first traditional Finnish-style knife, known as a puukko to blade aficionados. I was very interested to make it as the tradition states, for practical use. It has to do everything from carving wood to cutting open wild game, so the build is simple and rugged: the handle is sturdy and fits your hand, there's only one cutting edge and the blade comes straight to the palm. As I've been told, blade safety on a traditional knife comes from knowing how to use it correctly - personally I just have to rely on pure luck :D Actually, I was taught a very simple rule for that: bottom of your palm is always what drives the knife, your fingers just hold it in right position.

A quick pic! As a groovy detail, the surface finish on both the sheath and the handle is Warwick bass wax ;)

650622830_df3dbc0adc.png


:bassist: :cool:
 
#3
That is totally cool. I didn't know there was anyplace like that where the average guy could make a knife from scratch. That is a lost art in many ways. Looks really good too! :hyper:
 
#5
RWP said:
That is totally cool. I didn't know there was anyplace like that where the average guy could make a knife from scratch. That is a lost art in many ways. Looks really good too! :hyper:
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Quite often knifemakers will invite people to their shops to spend time, at least going through the process. I had 3 guys from Germany here last week right after a big show in Atlanta was over. They are customers of mine but LOVE to spend time grinding, milling, drilling and burning their fingers!! It's a great way for people to try a hobby before taking an expensive PLUNGE on their own. Most makers don't mind helping someone get started.
 
#13
^ Thats me, through and through.

The missus bought the kids a cubby that came in bits of wood...and I still haven't put it together for fear of injuring myself beyond being able to play bass.

I didn't know Knifemakers will happily guide people through the process of making a knife...does it cost much to buy their time like that??
 
#15
Depth_Charge said:
^ Thats me, through and through.

The missus bought the kids a cubby that came in bits of wood...and I still haven't put it together for fear of injuring myself beyond being able to play bass.

I didn't know Knifemakers will happily guide people through the process of making a knife...does it cost much to buy their time like that??
Click to expand...

I love working with metal, but for me anything harder than aluminum or brass is out of my league. I can't imagine having the skills to make the kind of stuff FL makes.

Bet you would have to be invited to work with someone like that. However apparently there are places where you can pay to DIY with a knife maker. That was news to me and I have no idea what it would cost.
 
#18
RWP said:
I love working with metal, but for me anything harder than aluminum or brass is out of my league. I can't imagine having the skills to make the kind of stuff FL makes.

Bet you would have to be invited to work with someone like that. However apparently there are places where you can pay to DIY with a knife maker. That was news to me and I have no idea what it would cost.
Click to expand...

It's not really anything formal. Being close to Orlando, I have people visit that come to Florida on vacation. I often arrange knives to be delivered when customers visit. Mainly it's people that I've gotten to know on our forum and at shows. Sometimes the knife and gun magazine people pay me a visit as well. They like to see the shop, the process and what I have in the works. It all helps with customer relations and magazine exposure. I've never actually charged anyone for shop time and instruction. Making a basic knife in my shop isn't very hard and I usually have components in various stages of completion. They can start from scratch and build the entire knife or just put handles on a finshed blade. Usually people that visit have made a few knives and have the basics down. Usually they have something specific that they would like to learn like fancy blade grinding or precision lathe work. Some just want to see whats involved with the CNC milling machine. I can usually sit back, watch and coach :)
 
#19
Wow thats cool you offer your time and service like that!


Over here nowadays, most places that have anything dangerous behind the doors just point to the "Workmen only past this point" sign and shake their heads :(

And everyone blames "the litigious US" for that!

Did you know Sydney ranks right up there for litigious cities??

Anyway, back to topic that would be awesome to make a knife from scratch to finished product...even a basic blade would be cool.
 
#20
Depth_Charge said:
Wow thats cool you offer your time and service like that!


Over here nowadays, most places that have anything dangerous behind the doors just point to the "Workmen only past this point" sign and shake their heads :(

And everyone blames "the litigious US" for that!

Did you know Sydney ranks right up there for litigious cities??

Anyway, back to topic that would be awesome to make a knife from scratch to finished product...even a basic blade would be cool.
Click to expand...


The legal side does suck. So far, we've only had ground and burnt fingertips. My customers know that if the sue me, the will inherit my house, 4 dogs, 2 teenagers and a 25 year old Jeep Wagoneer :rollno:
 

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