Musk ox with L6 steel hunter

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milesofalaska

milesofalaska

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Dec 4, 2010
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This is a typical knife I make, except wanted to show what can be done with ‘scrap’ material. In this case musk ox horn that is 90% bone. We need not toss out such material. I use children’s chalk as powder filler with super glue as the bonder. Cracks pours spots imperfections etc all get filled and can create an random abstract pattern. In this case I use ‘blue’ but it can be more natural, depending on the end result desired.
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The custom cast fish guard as well was , what might have been a glitch. I did not spin enough metal in the mold--- so used another metal to spin in a second time round and got the two metal guard. I had to solder together where they meet but is stable and ‘interesting’.
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We do not always need to use the best materials if we have imagination. Or too… I sell raw materials and just put up some mammoth scales and one set of nice blue had 3 people trying to buy the same set within the first hour. More ordinary material can sit forever, even at a much lower price. So.. just showing what can be done, not showing my best materials but showing a good imagination, with the reality of what I am stuck with sometimes for materials when I want to turn out a lot of knives at a good price. . .
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I really like the look of the handle. Do you consider this a "wall hanger" with the engraving on the blade and all? I think the engraving would stand out better had the blade been smoothed out a couple more grit steps. It is a one-of-a-kind, for sure.

- Paul Meske
 
Hello Paul
Yes a higher polish would show up the etch better. Defending myself somewhat here… the steel was a rusted cross cut saw blade that took some work to get smoothed out and in so doing it is not perfectly flat, thus a final shine would need to be done by hand.
I look at the time / cost factor. This is meant to be a ‘low end’ knife. Using scrap materials, keep the cost down, offer a unique knife. Cold be a wall hanger but made to be used. The L6 crosscut saw from the 1800’s was reputed to be folded and forged – making it a tough steel with flex.
The etchings I do look fancy – are I suppose unique to me, but the etching process is simple for me, not costly or time consuming.
Total time beginning to finish of the blade about 4 hours. Do I want to add another half hour to hour on a better finish? How much would that raise the value?
I have other knives I spend more time on and offer as more high end sold for time and quality. This knife was showed just as a reminder maybe to all of us that hey- we can find a use for that scrap pile. It doesn’t all have to be number one material and we can make an ‘ok’ Knife that sells - for that market with a tight budget.
But um, yes one of my failings is I do tend to lack on final finish work. I enjoy designing and making it work, then I get bored, and the rest is not fun anymore. Oh well? My work ends up with a rustic look.
 
I like it. I don't buy that style of knife, but I like the approach. If you took the time to polish, and "finish" the knife then it would cost me more, all the while I'm going to get it dirty, scratched, and a patina will cover up the imperfections in the polish.
If I were buying that knife to hang up, maybe a nicer finish would be necessary, but not for a user.
 
milesofalaska said:
Hello Paul
But um, yes one of my failings is I do tend to lack on final finish work. I enjoy designing and making it work, then I get bored, and the rest is not fun anymore. Oh well? My work ends up with a rustic look.
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I resemble that remark! I maintain that I don't have the mindset of a craftsman (precision and detail oriented) yet I'm cursed with the desire to make knives.

- Paul Meske
 
So Miles with the children chalk, do you powder it, put it in the crack and then cover it with the super glue? The set time of the glue seems to be too short to mix it.

By the way, I have your card from the Tuscon gem and mineral show. I bought a oosluk (sp?) and mammoth ivory pieces from you. That was the last time I was there (and first) about 3-4 years ago. do you still go there?
 
Hello MT
Yes still go to the Tucson fossil gem show. My mother lives there – getting old- so like to spend time with her. Set up at the Ramada on I-10 easy to find me.
On the use of chalk, yes rub the soft chalk stick over crack (the chalk should scrap off and fall in the crack) – then put thin super glue in and it usually requires more chalk added. If crack is wide or a dip to fill, I shave chalk to powder to fill the area.
Colors of chalk can be layered so when sanded there can be a blend and pattern, sometimes this fits well with the material and can look natural. Certainly it adds strength.
I use the same method if I have a slight gap between guard and handle, or handle pin does not fit perfect in hole when peened.
Mammoth ivory scales can be stabilized by this method if a crack develops.
 
Pure art. I even like the "scratches" on the blade. They're very faint........however, totally fit the entire scheme of what he's got going on there.
You may not respond to my emails Miles, but you sure can make a great looking knife. Sooner or later I'm going to get one from you sir.
Pure Art.

Is this for sale?
 
Hey Bad Boy!
Thanks for the compliments. I consider the possibility we are not as in charge of what we do as we think. Or- a project can take on a life of it’s own, and we are the tool, and observer. Or, we are who we are and tend to do things a certain way and can change, but not by as much as we think. So we, and our work, is either liked or not. – We can not be who we are not, or can our work. Some of it we are born with.
This is not a concept generally accepted. Many years ago I built a houseboat under the care of a master wood worker. We had trouble getting the wood to bend right, to the design I wanted in the bow. He said “The wood does not wish to be this shape.” I snorted back “So who is in charge! The wood or us!” My concept at the time was “Screw the wood, this is what I want and we will make the wood comply!” He sighed and told me “The wood is the master”
Later an elderly Eskimo artist (one of the best in the world) told me about his amazing art. “My job is to release the spirit in the material that wishes to be”. With these thoughts in mind it is common for me to begin a knife project with a blank mind. Let my material tell me what it wishes to be. Not totally. I of coarse try to have some idea and be in some control, and obviously some of ‘us’ is in the project! Yet I can not force an idea that will not work. If any of this makes sense to others.
So yes, my work tends to be rustic, a style of it’s own. I think of it as beautiful, but alas, like us, imperfect. It is possible to accept imperfection, even go beyond that and find a story, a message, respect, and beauty. Ya that might be a little to Zen. Not the kind of words one might expect from a guy who once killed a moose with a knife. Bottom line being, I’m one pretty weird guy (grin) Welcome to my planet.
Oh Ya knife is for sale. Maybe check out my custom knife page on my web site. Or email me
 
That's very deep Miles. I'm following through, I want this for my collection. I absolutely understand, comprehend, and totally agree with everything you just said.

Very insightful, I'm coming after this one, dang man! You said it.
 
Sent email to Bad Boy- looks like it's spoken for. Always nice for any of us knife makers, when something comes together in such a way it is exactly what someone out there has been looking for!
 
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