Brief review of a Kálman Szabó mushroom hunter´s knife

 It was some time ago when I received this nice little parcel from Hungary. Mr. Szabó is a very friendly and professional craftsman, and shipping and payment was executed with textbook accuracy on his part.

 The knife came with this extremely durable and well - executed pouch.

By this detail you can see it´s propably an industrial product. But it works great, and is durable to boot. All seams were well executed, the rivets tight, the leather has a straight grain and even colour.








All three blades run on this pivot. The mushroom blade, which can be used as a tool for foraging herbs and pruning trees, is a one-hand opener due to a misunderstanding, for it´s not legal in Germany. Also I wanted the utility blade to be locking, also, and being a two-hand opener, too. But the blades are perfectly made, come with a razor edge out of the box, and they are all made from 1.4034 with a Rockwell hardness of ca. 56 HRC. The one-hand opening pin can be removed by a small Philips head screw. The pivot is riveted. The blades had a bit of play, but with this design it´s relatively easy to adjust them by peening the rivet some more, if you are careful.

 The knife´s handle is made from native staghorn, and shaped to accomodate the hawkbill mushroom blade, and with this one it works awesome.

 The utility blade.

 The saw. Razor sharp, even better than a Vic´s, and that is some achievement! I´d use this knife for the saw alone. Also, it has a hollow grind, which makes for easier cutting.

 Now, this is awkward. The utility blade apparently is taken from a backlock design knife, but runs on a slip joint spring, which makes for a bit of a low retention force.

 The springs, however, are meticulously crafted again. Mr. Szabó certainly knows his trade, and I can only guess he had nothing lying around at the moment.

 Less than optimal was that the saw is moving against the liners, which wears down the edge. Not good.

Another point of criticism I would have is that the liner runs all the way over to the opposite side when blocking, making for less room for wear. But this is a minor criticism, for it holds the blade open fairly well, and withstands even a very rigorous spine whack test.


Overall, this knife is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship with minor faults, some due to my failure to define the task more clearly, but some leaving room for improvemt. When I talked to Mr. Szabó, he offered me to rework the knife, but since this would cost him and me too much, I decided to keep it instead. I look forward to work with him again, and the flaws are nothing to be ashamed of. Just keep a lookout:-).

Wednesday ride of my club-fare you well, Merlin!

 On wednesday my club, Zee Aylienz traditionally starts its ride there are always several rides on offer: beginners, rookies, and amateur levels. I made a fourth by ignoring all of them and starting a technical training I dismissed for years again in the Felsengarten, a rock garden park, where, with the (inofficial) permit of the owner, we  are allowed to toodle around a bit:-). This is a sculpture I would not keep you from seeing, an icon of my hometown.

 And this is an icon of a weird person.*ggg* Bastian dropped by to have some fun. No beginner at all, but a great dude to have around*ggg*.

 Acting the easy rider. The jersey, by the way is a collaborate design of jandark and myself*ggg* bit funny to have 100 people now wearing something I scribbled on a handkerchief being not quite so sober and professional...*ggg*.

 Highlight of the evening*ggg* after the ride we traditionally meet at a  local alternative café, the Kultopia, to have some fruit juice and milk with honey*ggg* and a delicious homemade grilled burger with all the décor*ggg* yumyummyummyumm. daniel and Jandark looking a bit SNAFU:-) after riding hard...*ggg*

 Dennis and Bastian, two persons as different as one could possibly be. Dennis is a hardcore racer, doing crosscountry circuit races, and bastian is a very laid-back stunt and singletrack rider, smoking like and old chimney and drinking altogether too much beer and booze*ggg. Just kidding, he is quite sensible, but different, too.

And this is Merlin, a guy I feel privileged to have encountered. An all - out worldcup extreme endurance events racer (3rd at the 24 hour-race worldcup in Adelaide 2010), but laid - back and friendly with no allures at all. he´s always smiling and has a very calm and simple air of nicety around him that gives everybody around, even the moron training champions of our lot, simply a good feeling. He has lived in Germany now for seven months. we did not meet often, but it was fun to ride with him, and good to talk to him. In 2012 he will return to Germany to take up studies over her, and we all look forward to welcoming him again.
Don´t know why this vid ended up in this place, but here it is. Me hopping a rock. And looking the goof at it*g.

Bastian being embarrassed by me*ggg*. And riding the pool...












It was simply great to have those good-natured folk around, having some great food and a beer or two, and simply relishing in one of the last warm evenings of the year.


We said farewell to our first Australian member in one of the best ways we could think of.

I enjoyed this very much, and I am right grateful for that, for this has not been the case with me for several years.

And I know whom to thank:-).

No, not a foraging ride at all.... NOT AT ALL, I SAID!!!!:-)

 On Tuesday I was not going out foraging at all. I needed a break from all those ´shrooms and herbs and fruit and especially those mad apples, so I just rode a swimming pool till my arms fell off and then rode some more. Now street and stunt riding certainly is good fun, but I need some scenery or else I go mad like a hamster in a tripwheel, so I simply thought, hey, it´s the Felsengarten, and there´s salvia, so, come on, take some salvia with you, where´s the harm. Then I made for the hills, and loved it. This is a spoil of Annwfn*g, a fly agaric. No, I DID NOT eat it*ggg*, I just loved the colour.

 Fireroad to the hilltops, arduous climbing, but it simply felt good to get good and a sweaty mess with hurting legs and all... did I say hurting legs? Maybe not so ideal*ggg* or great.*ggg* or not? Depends on who you ask, if you ask me*g. Note the artful use of virtual emotional icons, I have finally mastered*ggg*.
Where was I? Oh, there, on that fireroad, and maybe I am still, moving and cranking up that steep slope with the birds singing all along and getting in a state of mind I can rant on intelligently for ages, but you would not be able to feel it any. I was just being. It simply feels great, it is just a feeling of onenness, even transcendence. One reason for me riding since 26 years.

 Then everything went awry, for I met this little fellow and had to take him home...

 I cut him with this knife, which is my EDC kopis. Liekki, this is the world, the world, this is Liekki*ggg*. Zwissler "monster" damascus, leather handle, 95 mm of trustworthy steel. I simply love it. I use it hard for three years now, and have never sharpened it aside from redoing the bevel once, but that was to achieve another geometry, not out of pure necessity. I whittled and carved with it, batoned it through hard knotted wood, peeled apples (there they are again AGAIN!!!!!), even pryed and digged out roots with it, and it always comes back begging for more. It drives away my malevolent spirits and soothed my sleep. Thank you, thing.*ggg*.

 Detail on the pattern.

 Then it was this one.

 And I wasn´t going to forage today. No, really, I wasn´t.

 Passed by the lake...

Yew berries. I love the fact that they taste sweet, but if you make but one mistake you are nicked big style: They are TOXIC, so do not eat them. In ancient times, the yew was a symbol of sorcery, of magic, and of the otherworld. Of winter, of endurance, and of death, and of life. There are theories as to why many European divinational systems (runes) were carved on Yew. I am fascinated by the tree, and by the wood. It has always been a metaphor for poetry for me, too, and a guardian spirit. Near the house in which I grew up there grew a yew, and it did do (okay, I could not resist the rhyme, myne is the pity*ggg)*) a lot for the atmosphere of my old home. Of protection, endurance, and coziness.

But my life was long done with protection or coziness. I came home pensive, but deeply contented. It simply was a good day, and I can enjoy this life ever so much more again. Life is good.

3rd "Tag der RegionEN" in Schwelm:wildflowers going wild in Schwelm:-)

On 25th September the 3rd fair at the Martfeld castle in Schwelm is hold. There will be smiths, gold smiths, falconers, wildstock, dog obedience demos. There will be canoe rides on the pond of the stronghold, and the obligatory culinary adventures, including "bushcraft" cuisine. Many hunters, beeskepers, outdoorsmen, bushcrafters, farmers and conoisseurs will be present and having a ball again. My employer will be present with a booth where wildflower seed packs will be sold at a bargain price. Those wildflower seeds are currently all the rage in Schwelm, where the city department sowed them on formerly triste pieces of grass in the parks. It is a sight to behold those vivid colours of poppy, dandelion, calendula, marguerites, and chamomile in blossom. Though some certain acquaintance of yours, my dear readers*ggg*, might not be so innocent for the promotion of this project as it may seem at first glance*ggg*, it´s a great thing either way*g. You can even get them for a price of 1,50€ from the GSWS (100g, enough for a large patch). Phone for it to get one or hundred*ggg*: +49 02336 860370. Please note, that it´s not me selling them*ggg*.

The seeds:-).

Source:http://www.lokalkompass.de/gevelsberg/kultur/3-tag-der-regionen-m447842,93195.html

Riding aswimming pool:-)

A bad vid of me riding a pool that fell dry.... kids will be kids, I think.*ggg

Some singletrack practice

Needed some tech practice, so I got in some riding at a local spot. Hope you enjoy it...

New pack for mountainbike riding and bimbles

This is a MilTec assault pack, since I could not afford a Tas, for cheap (39€). Loads of Molle loops, hydration pouch (system is not provided), and some well-organized departments with YKK zippers. 1000 denier Cordura fabric. I added a chest strap for mountainbike riding, and I like it a lot.

A seax blade and a knife by Dietmar Konrad

 Now these are twao works from Dietmar I got from him. Dietmar is a local damascus and bladesmith who does reenactment for the knights of the "Wolfskuhle",
and, of course, he´s quite a friendly guy. The seax to the right is 1.2842 with an edge-quench. I have yet to fit some scales to it, but it has some mean heft to it. I reworked the bevel and straightened the tang a bit. It´s a great chopper (we tested it).

This is a small medieval utility. Spring steel (what do you call it in autumn?*ggg), edge-quenched and a very sweet satin finish and a Scandi grind. The handle is walnut with an epoxy varnish. Sheath is a factory one I got on the Expo in Dortmund for cheap and personalized with a dragon that has a bit of a queer look to it*g. It comes sharp and is very nimble, although I like my handles a bit more "arthletic"*g. Certainly no whittler, but a great knife.

71. Flea market in Schwelm on 09th of October

 On 9th of October it will be mayhem over Schwelm again:-). Roundabout up to 70 000 visitors will stroll the aisles. I will work there for my employer, but if I´ll find a bit of time, chance is, there will be some feature on this blog about all the goodies I got there myself. Look forward to Khalil´s booth again, for he always has some great, slightly rotten stuff I covet. Old files and chisels galore, antler material falsely referred to as trophies:-), antiquities, and a load of good food to relish in. And if the sun´s out, the bazaar atmosphere will be even better. Now, you see, I MUST write this (got my meagre salary:-) or was that celary?*ggg by doing so), but it´s a great market I also visited before I worked here.

Many of my flea market finds I featured in my blog I found here. There are people from the Netherlands, Belgium, France and even the neighbouring towns*ggg* attending and visiting the fair, which will take place in the entire city. There will be an art expo in the periphery of the market, shops will be open on Sunday, and, here comes the real clincher, I will be there, too, wearing a funny jacket and being yelled at for my incompetence*ggg*.


More (in German)

Applying for a booth

Soul food by drui.

Bladesmithing history of Hagen (Westfalen, Germany): The "Lange Riege" in Hagen-Eilpe

Progress on Drui´s "Golden sickle"

 Did some work on the titanium sickle I made for Drui, just some sanding, but we´re talking Ti6Al4,5V here:-). It will get its handle drilled to fit some scales out of Mammoth ivory, and maybe Mokume bolsters, but that I still haveis all crap for riveting it any ... maybe I´ll find some moon silver, too, but have yet to talk to the dwarves of Worah-Hall:-)...

Thank you, Anman Cara, once again, and always deeper into my heart.:-)

*φoutanjā-lugra-moros! Progress on my Kopis

 Today I had a rare day competely off, and I worked on my Kopis knife. Here´s a shot of the work in progress.First I did the lineout with a v-shaped wood chisel. Did the contours first and worked from the outside to the inside. Be sure to "charpen your chisel":-) frequently! It was a funny sight but did not surprise me any, that the chisel made perfectly spiral - shaped shavings. Just a coincidence, of course, but nice indeed:-). I worked the transitions by sanding and checking and cutting the knot with a small mini locksmith´s file.

 Then it was the spirals, and some sanding. I will now clean up the incisions, and then it will be a reindeer or stag antler/silver/leather sheath. And I will write the Ogham-inspired poem the knife itself gave to me:-)

Esbit coffee maker

 So, done with funny, and back to business:-), here come some baaaaad pics I will substitute to decent ones as soon as I got my camera repaired, it´s out of focus...just like daddy*ggg*one might say...That´s the pot all stashed together...

 All those tiny little parts neatly fit together. Clockwise: Lid, filter tube, stove, little bag contains a heating module for Esbit trademark fuel, water bowl, seal, filter, lid, filter tube, stove, little bag... erm, that´s the second round, is it? Anyway, you put coffee in the filter bowl, put one mug of water inside the water bowl, place seal and filter on, set on the stove...

as shown here, put the fuel into the module, (burning:-)), put a mug under the snout, and voilá,

hot brew in the middle of nowhere. Works fine, I heard say, with Espresso, too, I´ll keep you informed!

A sketch for Telesphór Cometh

Telesphoros has always been a source of fascination to me. In Jungian psychology, he is the bringer of accomplishment (of individuation, that is). In ancient times, he was an arcane symbol for the fulfillment of the healing process in the cult of Asklepios. He is the eternal child dwelling in all of us, that never ages, a connotation of the arcane and subconscious healing powers of the soul. Note that these are my words, not Jung´s. My own way of life and my own understanding  has been strongly influenced by the psychological and philosophical works of C.G. Jung, Sigmund Freud and Willhelm Reich.

Here you can find an excellent site where C.G. Jung himself gives an insight on the motivation to carve Telesphoros into the picture stone he made for his 75th birthday. 

It was a dream I only had recently, and by motivation of some strong pictures in my mind. Now, anyone not completely ignorant might have noticed that this guy here (me) is not as whole as he could be:-). Enter the witch*ggg*. And I made this sketch just as well for her as I did for me. Through this gate of two trees, tangled roots and tangled wood, the eternal child stepped, holding the lantern and the sword to guide my way. Sorry, Carl Gustav, for ravaging your iconography:-), but this dream is entirely mine.

He guides the way through the darkness and to the land of dreams again, which I until now, entirely thought lost. But as I made "the cliffhanger" with two fingers on the edge, hanging over the abyss, I heard a gentle song. You cannot climb out of a black hole. You have to fly, with the right spin to your movement.

It will go on, and I simply love this way my life has taken. And I do not need to call it any names.

Individually, I will follow my "psychopomp" into the twilight, not with terror, but with a joyous curiosity. As I have so long ago. The pain I have experienced will make the joy I encounter ever so much more intense. There will be pain again, but also joy.

Life is good.

Tangled woods, tangled roots

Through the forest´s
Greenwood aisles I walked, away,
Away, and to the hills
Where the colden autumn wind
In flaming leaves it talked.

Long was my trail,
And, tiring, down I sat
And closed my eyes and listened
To the rustling leaves
As long a time ago I had.

There the trees,
And with them I grew,
From root to root I whispered,
From word to word
And deed to deed
My burning tears
A crystal gem.

And root to root,
In silence did they grow,
In darkness, and in light
And tangling with each other
For a reason I don´t know.

A gate of trees
Stood, side by side
With tangled roots they grew
And suddenly I knew:
As branch to branch,
And leaf to leaf
With tangled crown and root...

And might it be,
They die from lacking light
Might be they
In twilight they decay,
But their yearnful longing
It formed a gate,

And thence a star
Rose in the night,
A cloaked child,
In hooded shades,
From the twilight stepped.

It guards the way
And guides us there
With lantern and with sword
Far away
To the land of dreams.

At the Bethaus smithy again... forging Titanium.

 I thought I´d make a "golden sickle" for my favourite druidess:-), since I just plain wanted to. (There a problem?:-)) And since gold is not abundant at my home, and way too soft, and I did not care for bronze, I opted for titanium I had lying around. In fact, this formerly was a knife I made as a kid, which will get the job done better than some plain piece of steel. Titanium has advantages, for it´s antiseptic, gives no taste to the herbs, and holds an edge fairly well. It always surprises me how well, provided it only hardens to about 45 HRC at the max. But the titanium oxide that builds on the edge by forging can reach a surface hardness up to 75 degrees Rockwell.
Titanium has disadvantages, too. It is a bastard to work with, holds no temperature and cracks when forged like a rotten piece of wood... if you make one single mistake, that is.

 So, I am proud I managed... funny scroll at the end, too.*gggg

 Also made this Kopis with a leaf - in - leaf handle. Spring steel. Can get better, still, looks a bit battered;-).

 And this licce EDC from laminate steel from Matthias Zwissler. Wrought iron, and tank bearing steel.

 Detail on the blades...

 Up close...

This is a knife Volker made only but recently. Dude´s getting better, too! If only he would use some decent steel. This one is MILD STEEL again. Doh!:-)

Rode home by bike, and was singing all along. I can tell you, I got some funny looks*g!