Japfin, knife no 59 - Japan meets Finland
Japfin, knife no 59
Japan meets Finland
As the headline explains, this is a try to make a knife that fusion the elegance of knifes from Japan and Finland (Lapland) and it's knife no 59 in the line.
My knife making is my meditation and after I started forging blades also, it has gotten a new dimension.
The forge was fired up and a piece of spring becomes a blade by the anvil.
Blade shaped as close to the final shape as possible.
You can read more in the blacksmith blog: http://lumberjocks.com/mafe/blog/81946
Then with a file the last details and edge are made.
Name stamped in the iron and finally hardened.
Next step is to choose what wood and other materials will fit the idea, deer antler, Mammoth and different woods are tried out.
Then I started sketching but this blad would not really fit the first idea of a Japanese Northman…
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
With the short blade I also made, it was better.
Still not all happy, throwing ideas and smoking tobacco.
Ok, lets cook and make knifes.
Yes blades were getting a heat treatment at the same time.
You can see the fine straw color, this indicates that the blades are fine now.
Ok, I finally found a match to the blade that made me pleased.
The bolster / kakumaki (JP) / forholk (DK) is stabilized reindeer antlers, will be held in place with a brass pin.
The handle made from a piece of Masurbirc is cut to two half's, this to try a classic sandwich build.
The tang is a narrowing type, but I wanted the blades back to be visible.
So just drawing the outline to the sides of the wood.
With a chisel it's outlined.
Like this the blade fits in the rabbet.
Get it? ;-)
I made a hole for a brass pin before hardening the blade, now a hole can be drilled for the pin.
The first hole are used to make sure I get both sides right.
Time to mix some epoxy.
All parts ready.
Plenty of glue and put together.
Then claps from every side possible to make it tight.
Wait for the glue to dry (24 hours are really good).
On the band saw the rough lines are cut.
I have become quite happy with the occ sander for this.
All shaped up.
Also the second knife I worked on at the same time.
This one got the Mammoth bolster and a piece of grape wood from our Turkish house, the iron is from a piece of old file, but that's another story.
That's the knife after giving them oil, polish, wax and love.
At the back I made a sanding mistake, this shiny part will perhaps get some bluing, or I will just let time do the work.
(Honestly I don't like the sandwich in these light woods, they become to visible after).
Blade detail, I am happy with this.
A good feel in the hand.
Time to give it a home.
Inspired from the knifes in Findland I make a sheath with a hard end.
Sewing a tube.
It was fine to hold it like this while sewing.
Side to side.
Ohh yes, coffee, cake and tobacco.
A end plug shaped.
Like this the blade will rest fine and safe.
Testing.
Drilled a hole for a pin.
Then leather glue.
End cap in place and then the pin set.
The pin is cut of ad hammered round.
Like this the sheath will not fall apart, even if the glue should give up in time.
The MaFe stamp are set in the sheath also.
That's it!
Knifes done, a leather string will be the belt holder.
(On the other knife I made a small leather end protector).
Side view.
The string was put through two holes in the sheath, as simple as possible.
Hanging from the belt.
I like that the knife is not saying knife, it's quite neutral and friendly to look at.
One of the reasons I started making knifes, was because of my Norwegian family wear their knifes at important occasions like weddings or baptisms, I feel this knife will be fine for me to wear next time there are an occasion.
Hope it could inspire or at least you enjoyed the time spend reading.
Best thoughts,
Mads
Update:
These are the types that I wanted to melt into a new form:
Japanese.
Finland, Lapland.
Japfin, knife no 59
Japan meets Finland
As the headline explains, this is a try to make a knife that fusion the elegance of knifes from Japan and Finland (Lapland) and it's knife no 59 in the line.
My knife making is my meditation and after I started forging blades also, it has gotten a new dimension.
The forge was fired up and a piece of spring becomes a blade by the anvil.
Blade shaped as close to the final shape as possible.
You can read more in the blacksmith blog: http://lumberjocks.com/mafe/blog/81946
Then with a file the last details and edge are made.
Name stamped in the iron and finally hardened.
Next step is to choose what wood and other materials will fit the idea, deer antler, Mammoth and different woods are tried out.
Then I started sketching but this blad would not really fit the first idea of a Japanese Northman…
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
With the short blade I also made, it was better.
Still not all happy, throwing ideas and smoking tobacco.
Ok, lets cook and make knifes.
Yes blades were getting a heat treatment at the same time.
You can see the fine straw color, this indicates that the blades are fine now.
Ok, I finally found a match to the blade that made me pleased.
The bolster / kakumaki (JP) / forholk (DK) is stabilized reindeer antlers, will be held in place with a brass pin.
The handle made from a piece of Masurbirc is cut to two half's, this to try a classic sandwich build.
The tang is a narrowing type, but I wanted the blades back to be visible.
So just drawing the outline to the sides of the wood.
With a chisel it's outlined.
Like this the blade fits in the rabbet.
Get it? ;-)
I made a hole for a brass pin before hardening the blade, now a hole can be drilled for the pin.
The first hole are used to make sure I get both sides right.
Time to mix some epoxy.
All parts ready.
Plenty of glue and put together.
Then claps from every side possible to make it tight.
Wait for the glue to dry (24 hours are really good).
On the band saw the rough lines are cut.
I have become quite happy with the occ sander for this.
All shaped up.
Also the second knife I worked on at the same time.
This one got the Mammoth bolster and a piece of grape wood from our Turkish house, the iron is from a piece of old file, but that's another story.
That's the knife after giving them oil, polish, wax and love.
At the back I made a sanding mistake, this shiny part will perhaps get some bluing, or I will just let time do the work.
(Honestly I don't like the sandwich in these light woods, they become to visible after).
Blade detail, I am happy with this.
A good feel in the hand.
Time to give it a home.
Inspired from the knifes in Findland I make a sheath with a hard end.
Sewing a tube.
It was fine to hold it like this while sewing.
Side to side.
Ohh yes, coffee, cake and tobacco.
A end plug shaped.
Like this the blade will rest fine and safe.
Testing.
Drilled a hole for a pin.
Then leather glue.
End cap in place and then the pin set.
The pin is cut of ad hammered round.
Like this the sheath will not fall apart, even if the glue should give up in time.
The MaFe stamp are set in the sheath also.
That's it!
Knifes done, a leather string will be the belt holder.
(On the other knife I made a small leather end protector).
Side view.
The string was put through two holes in the sheath, as simple as possible.
Hanging from the belt.
I like that the knife is not saying knife, it's quite neutral and friendly to look at.
One of the reasons I started making knifes, was because of my Norwegian family wear their knifes at important occasions like weddings or baptisms, I feel this knife will be fine for me to wear next time there are an occasion.
Hope it could inspire or at least you enjoyed the time spend reading.
Best thoughts,
Mads
Update:
These are the types that I wanted to melt into a new form:
Japanese.
Finland, Lapland.