Sheath for my elk-antler handled favourite carving knife

So, I was being carried away a bit with leather work;-), and while I was at it, I´d thought I´d make my favourite knife a decent home. Made it somewhat Scandi style, but with the seam on the outside, for I wanted a traditional belt loop, not a dangler type. Sorry, no photos in progress, but it was fun to make. If you have a knife that fits in the concept, that´s definitely a cinch to make! It took me aboutsome 45 minutes to make the sheath and fit it over the knife wet, 24 h to dry, and that´s it. It´s small, light and handy. The only requirement is that you have a knife with a blade shallower than the handle.

Sheath for the new Hadseax

So, I liked the new knife quite a lot and thought I´d practice my lousy leatherworking skills a bit, and this is what came out. Got carried away with the work a bit, so no photos in progress, but I promise in the future... The sheath also holds a Karesuando firesteel which throws sparks like mad-got it from Per Laks and I love it!!!

My Hadseax- Done!

Now, this is my new Hadseax. Blade is Zwissler seven-bar damascus from tank bearing, tank cannon and stuff;-), some 95 mm long, the spine is 3,8 mm thick. The blade is edge-quenched  and tempered to only 59 degrees Rockwell. Bevel is convex. The fullers are ground freehand with a Black&Decker power file. The handle is stag antler crown from a flea market and a copper ferrule from the plumber´s shop. The sheath will be more rustic and made from just plain leather without any Gotlandic mountings.

Children´s Birthday parties at the Smithy-Bethaus in Witten, Muttental

 On Saturday I had a great ride in the morning with Kai, singletrails and such. We had great fun, and I was somewhat high from it. Had to drop by Volker´s to give a drill key wrench to him, for Viktor had built a drilling machine, and no key wrench would fit. I had one to spare, so I dropped by. But Volker had a lot to do, so I just helped him out a bit doing filing and grinding of knives and other little projects the kids did at the smithy-for they were there for a birthday party.

 This is Linus forging his first project, a small horseshoe. Volker´s the one kneeling before the anvil giving help and advice. This guy is even friendlier with the kids than he is normally, and his patience is admirably. He simply loves children, and it shows in his work.

 That´s Michael, helping Jan forging a snake. Michael is another guy frequently helping out and also of great patience and friendliness. There can be as many problems, the forge might be defunct, the steel burn, the tongs bend, but he never loses his composure. Really great, laid-back people, and a joy to work with.

 Heating the steel for the kids is a task not only technically challenging, but you always have to have a look for what the little ones do, for not to hurt them. Some want to touch it, for the colour appeals to them! Then you´d show them what a piece of hot iron does to wood and never tire to explain that they should not pick up anything lying on the floor! All the while you are multitasking with those simple blacksmithing tasks.

 That´s a snake Volker did for fun.

 A snail, a common project with the kids. Made from mild steel, and NO, it does NOT throw sparks;-)... (but I am thinking....;-).

 That´s a drill Volker forged from mild steel. He has forged some million of them while working for the Freilicht-museum Hagen, quite some slave work, if you ask me... having worked there myself.

 One perfect nail by Volker! I dream of forging one like this. Mine are always a little off-center. Guess you need some challenges, still, eh?;-)

 That´s what the kids achieved. The blades are all mild steel, and forged by Volker. I did the grinding, fast and dirty, with a roto-grinder, all the while explaining that one never should do this;-) not quite good for my credibility;-)...

 Was some fast, arduous work, so I started a little knife project from leaf spring steel... and how will it look...;-)?

 Taking form... annealed it in the ashes. As you can see, it´s pretty much forged into form before grinding.

 Finished grind. I let it cool on the anvil to take it home to drill it. In the meantime I completely messed up the drilling. Will make a skeletonized handle to make up for it;-) and simply claim I did it on purpose;-). The spine´s quite thick, some 5 mm, but no harm done, because the convex bevel is quite high (almost 4 mm wider as a Karesuando blade in total) and measuring some 3 mm there.

 After some really hard work we cleaned up and had a beer in the Bethaus´s restaurant. This is Michael II, another smith. having a refreshing Weissbier. He works as a lanscaper most of the time, and is no stranger to knifemaking either.

 That´s Hans, who sold handsewn caps to passers-by. He sells sewing machines and is quite a funny chap. We had quite a laugh, but also some relishing in the silent and peaceful atmosphere of the place. Had some cake and some coffee, too, and a really interetsing conversation with Jochen, the cook of the restaurant, who has worked on either submarines and high-quality restaurants all over the world and who works there-for fun!

It was a long, strenuous, but thoroughly contenting day. I rode home with the sinking sun, and had a lot to think about...

Look what I found hike or what became of the umbrella;-)

 Went out foraging some days ago and came across a huge pile of treasures. This I simply found pleasing to the eye, although it might be (very carefully and only with consulting someone with healing practice or a doctor!!!) applied when suffering mild heart insufficiencies. I do not recommend using it, mind you, it´s just traditionally used in this application. It´s the common periwinkle.

 I found these withered steel bolts with a high carbon content submerged in the soil of an ancient garbage deposing site near an old, abandoned farmhouse. I remember the Iberians used the method of submerging iron in the soil and letting it rust and then refining it to carburize it, so I am eager to try this material! One seems to be an old axle, the other a bolt or a piece of prybar.

 This is a nickel silver handle of an old umbrella, very beautifully engraved, apparently by hand. The umbrella´s all gone, and it can´t wait for its new life to start;-). What could it possibly become... uuummm.... I have an idea....

 Some common scurvy grass (Cochlearia officinalis), in German: Echtes Löffelkraut for soup and sandwich and bannock...Tastes a bit like cress.

 Aaaand, one of my all - time - favourites for a hundred and one applications, some garlic mustard (alliaria petiolata), in German: Knoblauchsrauke. All parts ar edible. Before blossom, it tastes like wild garlic, after that like a cress variant, too. The root should be harvested before blossom and tastes a bit like horse radish (in German: Meerrettich) and can be prepared as such. Delicious with some salt, lemon and cream, for smoked bacon, fish or beef! The leaves can be used as spice in sour cream, as a salad or spinache even. You can fill fish with them or meat, you can eat them raw or cooked, you can make a cream soup with them. White wine suits them best, as with nettle leaves. The seeds are said to have aphrodisic properties ;-) and can be used as a energizing tonicum.

Those are the roots, a bit like parsley root they look. Ah, yes, that´s a very old knife I brought out to reality check, and I still love it. The handle has suffered a little, but the blade´s still a beast.

 The garlic mustard before blossom in undisturbed habit. I love that stuff. Did I mention I love that stuff? I love it. I mean, it might be it wasn´t made clear, so I better tell you: I love that stuff;-).

Ah yes, and what became of the umbrella and my would-not-be Nessmuk-would-not-be-seaxwithahumponthespine-would - be - a - no -frills - bush-  beast-blade;-). A bit rough still, and yes, I admit, I have a lot of projects started and lying on my bench, that is my living room table;-). I am planning for a somewhat Russian look, with an antler handle and a "viking style" sheath that was common also in Russia. But we´ll see, I am somewhat volatile at times....;-)

A perfect day in the woods again...

 The woods called mightily and I had to get out again, so I took the bus on my day off last week, and made to the woods again. Packed my woodworking tools and a grindstone to work on the Celtic ring knife design. I walked through those ancient fragrant spruce and fir woods that always remind me of some ancient temple, or the breath of some huge animal. They feel so alive, with a heavy atmosphere resting upon them like an enchanted veil, and I always have the feeling I could lie down there and sleep, sleep as a stone or a tree in winter. But winter has passed, and I am a human being, not a tree, and the lake has broken free from the ice.

This pond lies ahead of the lake I prefer to visit, silent and dark, with mighty carps living in the silent twilight of its swampy depths. As a kid, they always frightened me, even when they were dead. I have seen them in the moonlight of warm summer nights, coming up, silent as a ghost, and you could see their backs rising into the pale shine of the moon, larger than life. This pond always had something otherworldly to it, with old spruce and fir trees overtowering it like pillars of rock. I passed by it on my way to the dam´s lake. I saw a buzzard startled by my footsteps, and an eagle above the lake. There´s a pair nesting there, in the cliffs above the lake.

 Some Icelandic black-neck goose...

 The cliffs....







I then walked to my favourite place, the little birch wood, and had a cuppa tea and some food. Then I took out the grindstone and worked a bit on my Celtic ring knife.

 While sitting there and have a sip of tea from time to time, I had some visitors: This is the ant, my friend, my only friend, the ant...;-), red ants, that is.

 On my way I found a toppled pine with this burl on it, and when I lost my nerve grinding, I started another kuksa.

 And this is what became of it. I plan on carving a dwarves face to the handle, with a big, open mouth.

 Can´t get enough of birch sap, so I tapped another birch while sitting on a stump, grinding and carving. I tried an open system this time, for the closed tap has its shortcomings still... Drank it immediately, and it was delicious. I sealed the birch and said some words to it, more to remind myself, but who knows?

 Carved a plug and cut it flush.

 That´s a decent photo of my Woodspirit "Phurba";-) knife keeping guard for me;-). I just sat there and did some woodworking and grinding and contemplating, and the hours just passed, fading gently and full of meaning. I am always amazed at how different time passes in the woods. There´s so much more sense to the fading hours than in front of a box counting Mammon´s sheep.

The sun was already sinking, when I made for the long way home, and I had the strange notion of not being so human anymore.











Kein Menschelein

Sie sagen dass ich trank
Zuviel des süssen Weins
Doch ich will kein Mensch,
Kein Menschelein mehr sein.

Ich ging unter die Bäume
Und träumte meinen Traum
Und legte meine Hände
An die Borke eines Baums

Sie kamen mit der Säge
Mit Axt und Hammer auch
Und fällten alle Bäume
So ist´s bei ihnen Brauch

Drum geh ich unter Felsen
Ich schmied im dunklen Grund
Will alte Lieder tanzen
Unter des Mondes Rund

Will lachen und will singen
Von Axt und Zwergenschwert
Und Stahlgeheimnis zwingen,
Doch nicht um Geldeswert.

Will rennen und will tanzen
In der Geistermeute
Will lieben und will leben,
Will Jäger sein und Beute.

rep I

Word-by word translation:

No little human

they say that I drank
too much of the sweet wine
but I do not want to be human
no little human anymore

I walked amongst the trees
and dreamed my dream
and rested my hand upon
the bark of  a tree

they came with the saw
with axe and hammer, too
and felled all the trees
that is their habit always

thus I go under rocks
I forge in the crevice dark
want to sing old songs
under the moon´s round

want to sing old runes
of axe and dwarven sword
and force steel´s secret
but not for money´s value

want to run and want to sing
in the spirits´host
want to laugh and want to live
want to be hunter and the prey

(rep I)



(Poetic translation:

Not human anymore

They say I drank
Too much o´the sweet wine,
But I no more pray
In humankin´s old shrine.

I went and wandered far
Amongst the living trees
And felt the power strong
Under the bark flow free

They came with axe and saw,
Brought hammer, noise and doom
This is their nature always
To turn light into gloom.

Thus I went beneath the mountain
I forge beside the well
Besides a dwarwish fountain
No human kin can dwell

Under the pale moon´s silver wheel
I want to sing and forge
And force the secret of this steel
Into axe and dwarven sword.

I want to dance, I want to live,
And sing these ancient runes
Run like a wolf, I want to give
From spirit´s wealth under the moon.)

Great day at the smithy again

 On Saturday I rode to Volker´s place, the Bethaus in Witten, thge Muttental. Volker had asked for my help, and since he is simply a nice guy, I was pleased to help out forging. Doesn´t hurt me a bit, working with children and enthusiastic adults, mind you;-)! Had loads of time to spare, though, and did a striker and two knives. This one´s made from ancient Mercedes truck leaf spring steel, very rare now, since mercedes uses air springs now! It´s a free Celtic interpretation (They had no swan´s neck scrolls but simple rings or animal heads). I drilled the handle for balance in the meantime, and I like it, for it has a rather thin blade that is forged to sharpness. Had to grind it down a bit for tempering.
 I annealed it near the forge, every time when a kid came to forge, and it went nice and soft by that and took an even temper.

 Some girl with a horse hobby (or was that hobby horse;-)) came around and asked if we could fit any horseshoes. It was only after we had already looked for some steel that she told us she were joking;-)... brutish blacksmiths, and a bit thick in the head, we are;-).

 Letting it cool on the anvil for grinding....

 This is an ancient drilling machine, working on transmission, Volker just has lying around....

 This is a look into Viktor´s smithy. Viktor is an old Russian blacksmith of Kazakhian origin, from whom we have learned so much we cannot even tell, and keep learning. This guy´s the real thing, some 74 years old and still going strong. He wasn´t there, but he managed to build the forge anew last week, and I am always astonished how cleanly he achieves forge work. He avtually forged new bolts for it and an axle(!) for some wheels so that it´s a cinch now to move it in and out. The wheels run as smoothly as if the axle were turned!

 That´s an ancient, and very sturdy blacksmith´s vice. Quite a joy to work with, and can stand a lot of pounding!

 That´s Volker´s forge with the wheels on, and the rest of the smithy;-).

 Volker with a neighbour kid and his mother. The kid was enthusiastic, and Ma no less...;-)

 Volker forging a cobra snake. You can already see the head. he loves to make these, and they are quite some detail work.

 It´s me again;-) forging a medium sized bush blade that should have become a Nessmuk replica, buuuut, I messed up the preform and made a Seax from it with a hump on the back I ground off, was losing nerve;-).

 This time I had my knives at hand, for I had been asked quite a lot if I had something to show. I´m normally not into selling my blades much, for they have a personal history and a background for me, but, hey, I live in a heap of sharpened metal and it´s starting to get some sick dimension;-) so I thought I´d get rid of some. Didn´t work that day, though, but no loss, really.

I forged a striker from some file steel. The left side has some sharp edges, rest´s round and still shows the structure. I simply hardened it in water, and it works quite well.

This one ´s an ancient grinding stone used to repair miner´s tools. It worked with a leather transmission belt on water power. Nowadays there´s no water wheel, no transmission and no working grinding stone. And before you ask, no, we are NOT allowed to build a motor in;-).

It was another great day at the smithy, and we packed at some 6 pm and did some cleaning up.