Question On Building a Jewish Knife

Thanks, guys! And that answers my questions very well. I now have some very good suggestions to offer my customer.
 
Wow... offbeat and tough assignment for a commission, and some interesting, helpful, and insightful answers.

Great forum, eh?
 
Roger, After I get that jade work done and a couple of dozen knives completed, I will get to a wedding cake knife.
 
Just going to put in my two cents here. I would use the idea of the olive wood handle with blue and white spacers stacked underneth. You could then inlay a gold Star of David and or other Jewish symbols into the wood of the handle. In addtion to knives I also collect coins. I have several Israeli mint sets from the early seventies. The coins have no real monetary value, but might be neat to incorperate into the handle or sheath. They resemble the coins in ths auction but are still sealed in the mint package and are uncirculated. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3041994769&category=4184 Drop me a email if you would be interested in one.
Patrick Hayes
 
My only thoughts would be:

How are the 5/7 to relate, if there is a standard proportion, it would be cool to find out. in other words is it the edge, the handle, which side of the hilt, if this is a standard deal, there should be some very classic proportions.

Also the symbolism mentioned so far seems to be partly religious, and partly nationalist. It might be wise to find out if there is any preference, or if they are to co-exist.

For such an artisticaly rich comunity, there must be direct examples of antique knives, or other important objects that could be used as inspiration, so one doesn't end up with the Niagra falls souvenir effect.

It's a great oportunity.
 
Nicely said about the correct materials to express what it should represent, not just a collection of Jewish material. And the coins sound lile a really good idea, too. I have sent email about coins, thank you! Thanks, guys!
 
John,
I will get the coins in the mail in the next day or two. I thought of one other thing. The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh has one of the few colletions of Jewish cerimonial objects in the US. Mostly silver. The do have some ritual knives though. You may want to call the muesem and see if the have a cataloug or brochure featuring the Jewish silver. I'll try to find a number for you.
Patrick
 
No one here has mentioned malachite. Ya know, that dark blue stone. Of course, turquoise is lighter blue and may match the flag color better. Semi precious stones used to be really popular for spacers. I like the blued blade idea, but think it would have more effect if you could really keep it a blue color, and be careful not to go too far so that it's black. Perhaps fire blueing? (depending on steel type- don't want to temper it too much) Or even make the fittings from mild steel and fire blue them.

Also, I really think you could take that 5/7 idea and run with it. Make it the whole theme of the knife. Make the blade 5/7 inches wide, for example. (or I guess they use the metric system there. Maybe 5 cm wide? Are there any ancient measuring systems that could be used?) Even the curve of the blade itself could be some mathmatical percentage involving 5 and 7. Maybe some file work involving 5 or 7 in a repeating pattern. Would you feel comfortable ginding narrow multi fullers? Like, say, maybe five of them down the blade? What if you put five of something on one side of the blade, but not the other? It would 'cry out' to the other side of the blade to make it complete. Or even five notches in the spine crying out for 5 serrations at the edge? Just thinking aloud here. The possibilities are endless.

Whatever you do, don't start grinding yet. You need to spend a month attaching symbolism to every aspect of every part, or after it's finished, a brilliant idea will hit you once it's too late to change.
 
Possum, I like what you suggest, especially about the 5 and 7 theme. You are right about taking time to figure out the best possibilities, too. I didn't have much of any idea untill you folks gave me some great insight and ideas. I have a good plan for the blade, and the blue you suggested would be great, too. I have access to lots of blue stone, but as we know, blue jade is not available, dang it! I had my heart on some, but the one piece I could find was too small to apply.Anyone have a rock stretcher handy? Thanks for the suggestions, possum!
 
Patric, I got the steel, NS, jade, certified Jeruselem olive wood, and your coins, thank you. The customer put me on hold because the he got laid off his job. His job status is very questionable as to being called back, but I am figuring on going ahead with the knife. The customer will eventually pick up the knife. You ever have one of those knives you have a burning desire to complete? I should have accepted the 1/2 deposit he offered on this one.
 
If it were me, I would look to the Torah for ideas to use on knife materials - definitely wouldn't use any non-kosher animal materials. Acacia wood on the handle (same wood that the Ark of the Covenant was built out of) would be interesting, as was said previously - gold was very much used on many religiously signiticant items, maybe if you could incorporate rams horn into the handle (tribute to the story Abraham willing to sacrifice his son with a knife). Lots of stuff you could do with it.

Tim
 
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