milesofalaska
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2010
- Messages
- 514
I have been working lately on smaller neck, and fixed blade pocket knives. I am exploring the concept of giving the handle the shape of the theme. Like wolf, bear, skulls. I began a while back with a hummingbird hidden knife for my Ladies of the night' series. This idea is expanded into something for guys.
I was asked to do a small skull theme knife . This is what I came up with.
All in the series are D2 steel double temper cryo treated. Handled with care made to be used. Handles are carved in wax and lost wax cast of bronze from an old barge propeller that ran the Yukon River for a century. Copper is old water pipes.
Sheaths are mammoth ivory. There is a natural curve that lends well to the sheath shape on some bark, and often scraps can be found that work. I often use stabilized local wood for back or another piece of mammoth ivory bark.
Below is a wolf theme neck or packet knife
Neck knife Wolf theme
D2 steel in the shape of a wolf. Tail is blade. Double temper and cryo treated. Very functional quality knife. Handle is two wolves in bronze. Bronze from barge propellers off the Yukon River. Wolf eye is flower with opal center. Sheath is mammoth ivory with stabilized poplar wood back. Decoratively banded and pinned to hold together and look good. Acid etched with wolf head on one side of the blade, and eagle on the other side. Screw eyes for a cord to wear as neck knife but could be carried in a pocket boot etc. Knife overall 5 inches cutting edge 2 ½ inches
All knives have acid etched designs in steel. animal tracks or animal faces Below is the bear theme
Neck knife bear theme
D2 steel Over all length 3 ¼ inches blade cutting edge 2 inches. Sheath mammoth ivory. Custom hand made glass beads. Steel has been double tempered and cryo treated to be an exceptional working blade. Sheath has been pinned . Acid etched bear tracks one side and rabbit tracks other side (the bear chases the rabbit). Light in weight, wears well.
The concept is to have a functional knife that wears like an art piece. A knife can always be handy without being visible or standing out in public.
Above shows front and back of sheath, made of two pieces. Sometimes a spacer is needed to separate the half's to accept the blade. I usually put a soldered and pinned silver band around as well as pin to ensure the two pieces will never warp and separate. I hope this gives others ideas Feel free to ask questions.
Below pictures of other knives in this series with same theme
I was asked to do a small skull theme knife . This is what I came up with.
All in the series are D2 steel double temper cryo treated. Handled with care made to be used. Handles are carved in wax and lost wax cast of bronze from an old barge propeller that ran the Yukon River for a century. Copper is old water pipes.
Sheaths are mammoth ivory. There is a natural curve that lends well to the sheath shape on some bark, and often scraps can be found that work. I often use stabilized local wood for back or another piece of mammoth ivory bark.
Below is a wolf theme neck or packet knife
Neck knife Wolf theme
D2 steel in the shape of a wolf. Tail is blade. Double temper and cryo treated. Very functional quality knife. Handle is two wolves in bronze. Bronze from barge propellers off the Yukon River. Wolf eye is flower with opal center. Sheath is mammoth ivory with stabilized poplar wood back. Decoratively banded and pinned to hold together and look good. Acid etched with wolf head on one side of the blade, and eagle on the other side. Screw eyes for a cord to wear as neck knife but could be carried in a pocket boot etc. Knife overall 5 inches cutting edge 2 ½ inches
All knives have acid etched designs in steel. animal tracks or animal faces Below is the bear theme
D2 steel Over all length 3 ¼ inches blade cutting edge 2 inches. Sheath mammoth ivory. Custom hand made glass beads. Steel has been double tempered and cryo treated to be an exceptional working blade. Sheath has been pinned . Acid etched bear tracks one side and rabbit tracks other side (the bear chases the rabbit). Light in weight, wears well.
Above shows front and back of sheath, made of two pieces. Sometimes a spacer is needed to separate the half's to accept the blade. I usually put a soldered and pinned silver band around as well as pin to ensure the two pieces will never warp and separate. I hope this gives others ideas Feel free to ask questions.
Below pictures of other knives in this series with same theme
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