So recently I made a smaller hunting knife out of my grandfather's last found deer shed and a DIY knife kit from the internet (knifekits.com to be exact) and was very pleased by the result. I recently decided to enter it in the upcoming county fair, I found a deer rack from one of my dad's kills to display it on and everything. I started to look at it and I decided... It needed some friends.
I started to think about my next project, what I would make it from, whether I should make another kit or actually try my hand at forging. I remembered eating dinner at a friend of the family's house, and their son talking about a group of hunter/foresters in Alaska who completely made their tools from recycled chainsaw parts that had worn out (Bars/chains). He said the knives they make hold an edge for years and never break, and included some special story about how the snow there has special mineral content that makes a ceramic like edge when the fordged blades are quenched in the melted snow, and other tales of amazement and wonder. While I let most of it pass me by, I must say I was intrigued by the concept. And the parasite of an idea spread until I could wait no longer. I found one of the many antlers lying around my house that was big enough to suit it. Then came the blade, I looked for a chainsaw, and bingo; A worn out bar from god knows when. After using a plasma torch to cut the rough shape of a machete, I went to work with a grinder and got the blade all shaped, and hand filed to get an edge its finished. I epoxied the blade into the handle, and used some leather shoelaces to make a wrist loop and some old-school blade wrapping. There are some minor things like sanding and finishing the handle and cleaning up the blade to attend to, but I couldn't wait and had to show it off. So without further lengthy explanation, here is my latest creation named after the beautiful state that inspired its creation:
The Handle:
The stamp in the bar itself giving the size and item code:
an overall look at the blade (dirty side up, needs some TLC):
And the complete piece, in all of it's glory:
Comments and feedback are welcome, even if they're not nice. I know this is only my second blade ever, and the first made completely by me, so it has some issues. Go easy, but not TOO easy...
Thanks,
Jet
I started to think about my next project, what I would make it from, whether I should make another kit or actually try my hand at forging. I remembered eating dinner at a friend of the family's house, and their son talking about a group of hunter/foresters in Alaska who completely made their tools from recycled chainsaw parts that had worn out (Bars/chains). He said the knives they make hold an edge for years and never break, and included some special story about how the snow there has special mineral content that makes a ceramic like edge when the fordged blades are quenched in the melted snow, and other tales of amazement and wonder. While I let most of it pass me by, I must say I was intrigued by the concept. And the parasite of an idea spread until I could wait no longer. I found one of the many antlers lying around my house that was big enough to suit it. Then came the blade, I looked for a chainsaw, and bingo; A worn out bar from god knows when. After using a plasma torch to cut the rough shape of a machete, I went to work with a grinder and got the blade all shaped, and hand filed to get an edge its finished. I epoxied the blade into the handle, and used some leather shoelaces to make a wrist loop and some old-school blade wrapping. There are some minor things like sanding and finishing the handle and cleaning up the blade to attend to, but I couldn't wait and had to show it off. So without further lengthy explanation, here is my latest creation named after the beautiful state that inspired its creation:
The Handle:
The stamp in the bar itself giving the size and item code:
an overall look at the blade (dirty side up, needs some TLC):
And the complete piece, in all of it's glory:
Comments and feedback are welcome, even if they're not nice. I know this is only my second blade ever, and the first made completely by me, so it has some issues. Go easy, but not TOO easy...
Thanks,
Jet
