I travelled to New Zealand recently (on the honeymoon actually) and while we were tramping (bush walking for Aussies) and Heli-hiking on glaciers and other fun things, we found a pamphlet for a "Make your own knife" place.
We (OK... it was Me not We) decided it looked like fun so we went along.
We had a great day, both of us. Steve and Robyn, the owners, runs this from home where they have a forge set up with a bank of linishers and a few other tools.
We started by forging the blade, heating the steel up on a bed of coals and hammering the shape we wanted with guidance from Steve. The forging process adds carbon to the steel and makes a pretty good quality blade (so i was told).
Next the rough shape was defined and an initial clean up of the knife surface using the linisher. Following that the brass pieces (not sure of their correct name) were cut and attached and the handles also cut and attached using brass rivets. Handle slabs are made from NZ Rimu. Actually a 200 year old board that was salvaged from an old woolshed or something.
Initial handle (and brass bits) shaping and further blade shaping
Any cracks or gaps were then filled and final shaping using linishers. Handle was sealed and water proofed with a bees wax type polish.
Then the fun bit, polishing using finer and finer grades of sand paper and wet & dry.
The blade was given a quick sharpen and then the Beer and White Lightening came out.
11 people including my wife and I made fully hand forged and crafted knives that we are very proud of.
I'll post pics and details as soon as I get a chance.
It was a lot of fun and i can recommend it to anyone.
Knife Making Day
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Sorry i haven't had a chance to chase up a pic yet.
Mick, the knife making was in Barrytown. About an hour south of Westport on the west coast.
The attached photos aren't mine. I just pinched them off a web site but this is the place.
The raw materials
Forging
Swinging the hammer
Shaping on the linisher
And our knives look very much like these two.
Mick, the knife making was in Barrytown. About an hour south of Westport on the west coast.
The attached photos aren't mine. I just pinched them off a web site but this is the place.
The raw materials
Forging
Swinging the hammer
Shaping on the linisher
And our knives look very much like these two.
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Jimmy Alexander
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- Location: Frankston Vic
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jindydiver
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There is a bloke about 1/2 an hour from me who runs a workshop like that. He does it through the local TAFE and was telling me last year he makes WAY more showing people how to do it rather than doing it himself. I am not sure how though, the way insurance is these days you would think that having Joe blow walk in off the street and use your linisher would cost a fair bit to coverJimmy Alexander wrote:Looks and sounds like a great day mate.
The way things are going, someone should set up a buisness like that here
Speaking of buisness....Better go to work
Cheers Jimmy
Mick
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
We did discuss that on the day and apparently the system in NZ is quite a bit different to ours.
I even considered undertaking a bit of study, pounding out some knives of my own to gain some experience and then running a similar day long course.
Something to work towards i guess.
Have to be better than sitting in this office all day.
I even considered undertaking a bit of study, pounding out some knives of my own to gain some experience and then running a similar day long course.
Something to work towards i guess.
Have to be better than sitting in this office all day.
The brass "...bits..." are called Bolsters. There are a few places around that do this for a business in Australia. Keith Fludder is in NSW and runs knifemaking courses, I believe the 'Village Smith' does the same in Qld. I could find out more if anyone wants to know. Forging the knife is the best way to make them, though I only use the stock removal method myself, I want to get a forge one day and learn how to be a knifesmith. Congratulations on a job well done, I envy you for having the chance to forge your own knife.