Carving wooden beads

[mrrampro]

I have seen several beads and really like the natural approach on the traditionals. I made this quick bead while waiting on a load of concrete. I was curious if anyone else has any close up pictures or how to's for their beads. I have seen antler, wood and stone. Here is this one!

Thanks in advance for your input and I am going to make some more.

 

[kamagong]

Is there anything specific about carving beads that differentiates it from other forms of whittling/wood carving?

- Christian

 

[richstag]

Step 1 take a walk through the woods (or a drive in this case) and find some burl

Step 2 cut out a piece of wood you want and find the grain so you can orient it in the direction you prefer

Step 3 enjoy your bead

@ Christian, all I can think is that you would be making the bead to be paired with a traditional knife.

Kevin

 

[richstag]

On knife, finished

 

[mrrampro]

Wow that is amazing!

 

[yablanowitz]

Nice tutorial Kevin, but I'm having trouble following it. What are these "woods" you speak of? And as for "finding" some burl, do you think that stuff grows on trees?

On the other hand, I guess it could, but I've never seen any on either of the trees here.

And for the record, I forsee this thread being deported to the Workshop since it really doesn't have anything to do with traditional knives.

 

[The Government]

Fallen trees can often reveal their roots, which can have interesting grain structures as well.

(Nicely finished beads, Kevin!)

 

[richstag]

Thanks gents! They are fun to make

I have to try out some tree roots, thanks so much for that idea. Next walk I am taking my whittler and looking for downed trees.

Jack, yeah, I feel for you about no surrounding woods. As for where the thread belongs, IDK, not up to me, just glad I saw it and could add a little info.

Kevin

 

[midnight flyer]

Thanks gents! They are fun to make

I have to try out some tree roots, thanks so much for that idea. Next walk I am taking my whittler and looking for downed trees.

Jack, yeah, I feel for you about no surrounding woods. As for where the thread belongs, IDK, not up to me, just glad I saw it and could add a little info.

Kevin

I wouldn't sweat it. Using your traditional to carve some manly jewelry to decorate it doesn't seem too far out of bounds. Old timers (and mid timers like me!) have used their knives for years to carve and whittle to pass the time. It is part of the job description when you are a traditional knife.

About 20 - 30 years or so ago, hand carved beads for knives were the rage here. Guys were carving them out of mesquite, huisache, deer horn, cow bone and all other kinds of stuff. They hung a lanyard of some very traditional large hunting folders (that large Schrade 250 two bladed was the most favored as it had a lanyard hole) that they drilled a hole into to receive the lanyard. The lanyard made it easier to get the knife out of the sheath, and the beads kept the lanyard from looking like a piece of string. For a while, folks were even drilling holes in their Buck 110s to put some jewelry on them.

Carving out one of those was a nice way to spend some time around the camp fire at the end of the day after hunting or camping. They were usually attached to the knife with a piece of old leather boot lace or utility cordage.

The lanyard/bead accessory seems to be coming back. At the last few gun shows I have been to I am seeing more of it, and the GEC guy was selling the lanyards along with his knives, and on the expensive models it was included.

Robert

 

[richstag]

Thanks for that info, Robert! I wasn't sweating it BTW. I figured I would post here, if it gets moved I could continue posting there

As for all the materials you have seen beads carved out of through the years, I think that is awesome! I have a ton of antler that is too small for knife or gun grips, but would make great beads for my traditionals. I actually went looking for the burl for a different reason in the first place. I have been searching for a very cool handle material for a traditional style machete I have been making for my brother. I cut a section of this burl out to take a look inside and decided to use the scraps for beads I actually have the bead on my stag 73 on a leather shoe lace. I made that switch a month or so ago. IMO it looks much better with more natural lanyard material.

I first tried a lanyard for fun, and then I realized it actually helps hold the knife in pocket. Then I tried the bead for fun and realized its a great way to pull the knife out. While the lanyard helps keep the knife in the pocket it does so by getting tangled up in the fabric of the pockets. The bead give a very good object to grab onto and pull the knife right out. All very functional IMO.

Thanks so much for the info,

Kevin