The Puukko

Not leather,but best handle material,birch bark ;) and background is interesting too
 
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I made this knife and sheath for my mom a couple of years ago.The blade I used is from Polar and I used birch bark and OD Micarta for the handle.
-Brian
 
CB-R said:
Dang it! I had happily forgotten how much I love these knives. That stacked leather handle job on the bottom is dynamite, Christian!
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rinos said:
Not leather,but best handle material,birch bark ;) and background is interesting too
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Thanks guys. Rinos is right, the handle is made from stacked birch bark. Interestingly this one does have a leathery feel (it's been treated with Tru-Oil) though it did originally have the velvety texture you associate with a birch bark handle.

- Christian
 
Ooooo! Thanks for the insight. I didn't realize birch bark was a fitting material for this type of arrangement. Stunning example from Brian as well.
 
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place where bark was harvested, unfortunately too far for regular supplies

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collecting handle material,just have to be careful not to damage inner bark

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not just that feels great in hand but it is very easy to work with,cut pieces with slot across grain,stack it,press it and peen piece of brass over it :D
you can use glue but it is not necessary,heat will activate tar in bark which will act as glue.

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Nice knife rinos! Did you use some kind of colored spacer or did you dye some of the bark red?
-Brian
 
Rinos, thank you for those great pics and how to hints, I have been thinking of getting a blade and doing stacked birch for quite some time.


bdcoffe, excellent work on that one you made for your mother! The handle shape looks superb!
 
I have a couple family heirloom Puukko knives. The one with the black leather stack handle never had a sheath -- the brown sheath is my own doing, just to use it. The birch handle had a red plastic sheath which broke bit by bit and was discarded.

These two blades -- the black handled one especially -- had a big impact on my knife preferences.

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My latest passion. Here are 4 that I'm just finishing up. The Saami sheath is moose board, the handles are Moose antler sections with Hickory on two and curly burly maple on the skinner. Sheaths are cross bred ;-)))

Best regards

Robin
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Gevonovich said:
Magnificent work ...as always, Robin! Your a master craftsman!
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Thanks my friend, you are too kind. I'm still working the bugs out, the best is yet to come.:D
Just off the my bush to collect Birch bark.
Very best regards

Robin
 
rinos said:
Etna.jpg


place where bark was harvested, unfortunately too far for regular supplies

Birch+bark+Etna.jpg


Birch+bark+Etna+1.jpg


collecting handle material,just have to be careful not to damage inner bark

IMG_5921.jpg


not just that feels great in hand but it is very easy to work with,cut pieces with slot across grain,stack it,press it and peen piece of brass over it :D
you can use glue but it is not necessary,heat will activate tar in bark which will act as glue.

Materijal.jpg


Polar+77.jpg
Click to expand...

Hi Rinos, thanks for the tips. How do you heat the bark to activate the natural tar for glue? I assume you would heat it when it's in the handle clamps, is that correct? Do you grind the stacked bark to shape or carve and sand it. I have seen birch bark finished and unfinished (varnish/ oil), what do you suggest? The outer layer that you are using seems thicker than the outer layer we find on Birch in Canada, do you know if it's the same Birch?

Best regards

Robin
 
After you've assembled the knife put it in an oven at 165 F for 30 minutes.

Check out this article.

- Christian
 
Sure thing. Take some time to read the rest of that blog. Lots of pictures of beautiful knives in there.

- Christian
 
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