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Killing time #6116846
01/07/18 02:07 PM
01/07/18 02:07 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
N
Nunamiut Offline OP
trapper
Nunamiut  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
Life got in the way this early season so Im not able to hit the line yet. I did take up a new hobby to pass the time at work.
These are the first ever knives and ulu's I have made so they are going to be nowhere near perfect. Keep in mind I put these together before I bought knife making books, so I just kinda winged it with a belt sander, drill motor and a band saw. I have found a new obsession, so Im going to slowly start buying the right tools to make them the right way.
This blade got aluminum corby bolts, Dahl sheep horn handle, one side sanded smooth and the other side had the natural growth rings showing. The sheath was a kit I bought, it was basically just the leather blanks that had to be made into a sheath. The belt loop I made from an old leather belt I had laying around. I sliced the piece into 3 strands down either side about 1" short of the very ends and braided them to give it a nice look. The knife strap that holds the handle in the sheath was also from my old belt. Im not done with this one yet.





This Ulu blank I found online. Its a nice think piece of steel which came with no cutting edge. I made the grip out of an old shovel handle I had laying around that needed to be uses for something. The finish edge ended up tapered about another 3/4" back, skandanavian style edge, because of the thicker stock steel(1/8"). This was an xmas present for my little Sis. Ulus are fun to make becuase they dont take as long as a knife does to make. I just need the leather to make the sheaths for them.

The last knife I just started, it also sports a shovel handle stock wood. I think thats why it cracked on both sides of the handle. (The handle was already cracking from being weathered)I did a little bit of file work and carving out a paw print with the dremel which took some time. I fastened the handle to the blade, then my supplies came in a day later, so I did the file work and dremel work with the handle already on there. Kinda a pain in the butt just cause the metal shavings discolors the wood.



If there are any knife makers out there, what tools do you absolutely need to make things a lot easier for your work?


If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6116881
01/07/18 02:32 PM
01/07/18 02:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
nunamuit, really nice work! Im not a knife maker....but my son is. He actually passed the blade smith test with one of his knives. He hand forges his own blades and tempers them himself. His tools are pretty simplistic. He uses an angle grinder a lot. He did buy one of those small belt knife grinders. I bought a worksharp knife sharpener with the belts and he uses it at times now. Only advice I would give is that you should realize you can sell those knives easily. For good money too. My son sells every one he makes without even trying. His average price is about $400, some more some a bit less, and he doesn't even advertise. Just word of mouth.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6117507
01/07/18 09:18 PM
01/07/18 09:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,259
Mt.
g smith Offline
trapper
g smith  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,259
Mt.
It is good to reuse the materials ! That is the way of the past ,we got by with what was available near home >.Nice work.


You can ride a fast horse slow but you can't ride a slow horse fast .
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6117593
01/07/18 10:01 PM
01/07/18 10:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Nice work.


Nevada bound
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6117705
01/07/18 11:12 PM
01/07/18 11:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,345
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline
small greenhorn
smalltimetrapper  Offline
small greenhorn

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,345
Interior Alaska
Cool, looks like a fun new hobby. I like how you are using repurposed materials. I've thought about making a knife but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6117848
01/08/18 03:11 AM
01/08/18 03:11 AM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
N
Nunamiut Offline OP
trapper
Nunamiut  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
Yukon-Nice, I can see a potential for making and selling them. I already have an interested buyer for the wooden handle knife. He just said,"call me when its ready". Im going to look into a belt/ sanding wheel combo for my first purchase. Ive just never sold knives before, so I don't know how to price them out.

The sheep horn handle knife was my first one I ever made so I gave it away as a gift. My uncle never seen it, he got into a snowmobile accident and the medivac plane could not land due to weather. My Aunt has it now, I told her I would finish it up after the Holidays was over.


If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6117855
01/08/18 04:22 AM
01/08/18 04:22 AM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
N
Nunamiut Offline OP
trapper
Nunamiut  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
I done up this side last night. It turned out ok...i guess. Detailing complete, now to start the sheath next.


If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6117868
01/08/18 05:43 AM
01/08/18 05:43 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,930
Montana
B
beartooth trapr Offline
trapper
beartooth trapr  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,930
Montana
Excellent, very nice work.

Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6117929
01/08/18 08:12 AM
01/08/18 08:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,321
Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks Offline
trapper
Pete in Frbks  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,321
Fairbanks, Alaska
Ben,

Your work is looking great. Pretty soon the "Forged in Fire" show on History Channel will be flying you back to New York City to compete for the big money!

And speaking of that show, when you are in town sometime, let me introduce you to Mark Knapp at Mark Knapp custom knives. Mark is a trapper and actually was on "Forged in Fire" last summer. And he actually won the grand prize! He knew your dad and would love to meet you. Meanwhile, Google up his knife making business.

Pete

Re: Killing time [Re: Pete in Frbks] #6117994
01/08/18 10:11 AM
01/08/18 10:11 AM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
N
Nunamiut Offline OP
trapper
Nunamiut  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
Originally Posted By: Pete in Frbks
Ben,

Your work is looking great. Pretty soon the "Forged in Fire" show on History Channel will be flying you back to New York City to compete for the big money!

And speaking of that show, when you are in town sometime, let me introduce you to Mark Knapp at Mark Knapp custom knives. Mark is a trapper and actually was on "Forged in Fire" last summer. And he actually won the grand prize! He knew your dad and would love to meet you. Meanwhile, Google up his knife making business.

Pete


Pete, thanks. I dont know about all that jazz, Im just trying to pass time up at work. My wife might be heading down in a couple of weeks for appointments, so I may get a trip to FBKS soon. We will see, but yeah Ill check out his knives.
B3


If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6118170
01/08/18 02:02 PM
01/08/18 02:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
P
piperniner Offline
trapper
piperniner  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
Nun:

Jason Knight ( the guy I mentioned ) is one of the personalities on the forged in fire show. In his opinion, if you don't forge, you are not a mastersmith. Propane is popular in Alaska.

Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6118227
01/08/18 03:23 PM
01/08/18 03:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
N
Nunamiut Offline OP
trapper
Nunamiut  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
Piperniner-It would be nice to forge, but at $425 for 100 lb propane tank. I might end up with some very expensive knives!


If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6118245
01/08/18 03:43 PM
01/08/18 03:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
P
piperniner Offline
trapper
piperniner  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska

Lots of talent out there, you don't need to be a master or forge to pursue an interest and produce quality work. Just have fun.

Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6118296
01/08/18 04:54 PM
01/08/18 04:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 135
AK, Northwest Arctic Borough
C
Caribou Offline
trapper
Caribou  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 135
AK, Northwest Arctic Borough
I use metal chisels,a 1 inch belt sander (under 100$) with various grits of sanding belts, wheel grinder, a mapp torch, a small anvil or steelplate, hacksaw and a 3 lb hammer

I also make the Ulu blades out of handsaws, and grind the blade slowly to avoid heat and annealing the edge.

Muskox and sheep horn make excellent handle scales, and like wood , dont freeze to your hands.

You good work will be excellent in a few years,if ya keep at it.


What would the Founding Fathers do?
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6118680
01/08/18 10:02 PM
01/08/18 10:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,259
Mt.
g smith Offline
trapper
g smith  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,259
Mt.
Ben is there any coal in the river banks there ?


You can ride a fast horse slow but you can't ride a slow horse fast .
Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6119089
01/09/18 07:58 AM
01/09/18 07:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,321
Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks Offline
trapper
Pete in Frbks  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,321
Fairbanks, Alaska
Ben,

Trips to NY to be on TV notwithstanding, you should meet trapper Mark Knapp and see his knife making shop and forges in Fairbanks!

Pete

Re: Killing time [Re: Nunamiut] #6119348
01/09/18 12:17 PM
01/09/18 12:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,739
S.W.Oregon
newhouse114 Offline
trapper
newhouse114  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,739
S.W.Oregon
Are you making your own blades or buying blanks and putting handles on them. I put together a bunch of knives but I don't do the blade work myself.


Life Member NTA & FTA
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain

http://alaskastoneanivory.com/index
Re: Killing time [Re: g smith] #6119413
01/09/18 01:32 PM
01/09/18 01:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
N
Nunamiut Offline OP
trapper
Nunamiut  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
Originally Posted By: g smith
Ben is there any coal in the river banks there ?

Few and far between, no big deposits around that I know of.


If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
Re: Killing time [Re: Pete in Frbks] #6119414
01/09/18 01:35 PM
01/09/18 01:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
N
Nunamiut Offline OP
trapper
Nunamiut  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
Originally Posted By: Pete in Frbks
Ben,

Trips to NY to be on TV notwithstanding, you should meet trapper Mark Knapp and see his knife making shop and forges in Fairbanks!

Pete

It's on my "to do" list now. He's in a league of his own for sure!


If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
Re: Killing time [Re: newhouse114] #6119419
01/09/18 01:39 PM
01/09/18 01:39 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
N
Nunamiut Offline OP
trapper
Nunamiut  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148
North Slope
Originally Posted By: newhouse114
Are you making your own blades or buying blanks and putting handles on them. I put together a bunch of knives but I don't do the blade work myself.

I'm just buying the blade blanks and fastening handles on them right now.


If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
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