WIP - Carving a Chuck Stapel Knife

[knifecarver]

[FONT=&amp]This is a Mountain Man Knife made from ferrier's file. This is going back to Chuck Stapel when finished.

Here's a picture before I started.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]
[/FONT][FONT=&amp]This is Elk antler. The next picture is the preliminary drawing for placement. I don't get into detail here, I actually draw the picture as I carve, this is just for position. [/FONT]

After I tape the blade, I transfer the picture to the knife. I make a copy of my picture, cut out the individual horses, tape them to the handle and trace around them. I save the plastic tips from shipped knives to use on the tip of the blade, which always seems to poke thru the tape.

I start cutting along my outline. I hold my tool vertically and use it like a pen to add detail or fur or I hold it horizontally to remove background, smooth & shape the stag.

More to Come! Comments Please.

Cathy

 

[knifecarver]

More Pictures...

To make the picture POP! I do two things;
1. I remove stag from the background to raise the picture
2. I undercut the picture. I use a broken tool that I sharpened to a needle point and holding it horizontally, I cut along the edge of the horse, like using spatula, getting under the picture.

Yes, it's anatomically correct.

The best way do describe my style is that I use my rotary tool like a pen and draw what I see. Like a pen, tattoo gun or graver, mistakes can't be erased. But, sometimes, mistakes can be fixed. I wasn't happy with the ear on this horse. It was the wrong shape and in the wrong position. It looked more like a wolf ear and needed to be moved closer to the top of the head. Problem is, I started carving the ear, in the wrong position.

Before Fix -

After Fix -

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=1017266

To fix this I had to smooth out the old ear, cut the new ear and blend in the horse's hair. I also did some more work on the face, as you can see in the 2nd picture.

More Pictures, soon!

 

[Dago Red]

Man, I can't even draw on paper, and you're working on antler. And that ain't like metal where you could put some back. thanks for showing the process I look forward to more.

Red

 

[knifecarver]

Thanks for the nice compliment, Red! I'll post more, ASAP

 

[Gody]

Thats great work and a great WIP, very instructive (not that I could ever do it myself).

Thanks for sharing and please keep it coming.

Brian

 

[Jos]

Interesting thread!

One of these things of which I always thought: how do they do it?

Thanks for posting.

Kind regards,

Jos

 

[fast14riot]

Absolutely wonderful! True craftsmanship.


-Xander

 

[peterinct]

GREAT work Cathy. I just found the thread today. Thanks for posting it.

Looking forward to seeing the progression.

Peter

 

[D lisch]

Thank you for showing this there is a lot going on there cant wait to see more

 

[knifecarver]

Thank you for the great comments, Brian, Jos, Xander, Peter and David! Here's some more pictures...

Stag, Bone, Ivory etc. will burn if you force the tool to cut faster by applying to much pressure. Let the tool and machine do the work. If the tool starts chattering, turn the speed up. I use bits that are 3/32" & 1/8" in diameter. I'm cutting down to a depth of approximately 3/32" to 1/16". I use a magnifying glass and reading glasses while I work, so taking pictures and posting them online is a big help for me. I really love the natural color and lines in this antler.

I'm suppose to keep track of the amount of hours I put into these knives, but I don't because it would make me sick. I drive my husband nuts because I have so many hours into each one. He says I need to work faster. Attention to detail has always been my style and therefore I work until I'm satisfied. This knife has to be my best, because I want to impress Chuck Stapel.

Here are some of the tools I use.

This one is my favorite. I use this to outline, remove material fast, smooth out the stag, and add fur, or in this case, the mane.

Almost finished!

 

[knifecarver]

Here are the final pictures.

I used a colored wax to stain the piece. I also used some black tattoo ink with the wax on one of the horses to make it look different from the other. On the pommel, I burned a double horseshoe brand into the stag.

I was given artistic freedom with this knife, but Chuck Stapel suggested putting brand marks on the handle like the ones cowboys burn into their livestock. I thought that was too easy, so I used my husband’s idea and carved fighting mustangs instead. The blade was made from a ferrier’s file and the horses fit the theme. Adding the double horseshoes on the pommel includes a piece of Chuck’s vision for this knife. I'll be sending this out ASAP. I'll post Chuck Stapel's comment's when he gets this.

So, What do you think?

 

[peterinct]

I think you did a nice job Cathy. I'm sure that Chuck will be very happy.

Feel free to post more of your work. Carving is something i've admired for many years and figured to try at some point myself.

Thanks for showing what you do.

Peter

 

[knifecarver]

Thank you for taking the time to comment, Peter. It's comments like yours that inspire me to keep carving.

 

[SharpByCoop]

Cathy,

You are doing exacting work and are learning each day. You've heard of Malcolm Gladwell's '10,000 hour rule'. (ex: Early Beatles. That it takes this much practice to master a craft or profession.)

Like you I spent 'too much time' early on. Crazily, I STILL spend a lot of time, but my output has improved over ten years.

Enjoy the work, enjoy the focus, and enjoy your output.

I'll be watching, too.

Coop