Alveprins

Very clean execution, nicely done!

That is very kind of you to say Sir! If you just improve one thing at a time - and always challenge yourself - eventually after a while when you look back at your previous work; you'll realize you've come along far! Just got to keep going at it.

Hi everyone, I put some final touches on side B of this blade yesterday, and thought I'd share the result: Perhaps some of you recognize the ship... I've now begun working on the sheath scales, as well as test-scales for the handle. I need to drill a big hole through the handle, and I am not risking 260 hours of work without a test, so I am preparing a replica of the handle with the exact same materials as the actual piece in order to see with 100% certainty how it will go. fingers crossed! Have a nice weekend folks!

I've finally managed to finish sculpting and texturizing some of the surfaces.. oh, and put in a 0,03ct yellow diamond near the tip as well... A bit more proper picture. I really like the activity in the meteorite iron. Beautiful stuff. Have a good sunday everyone!

Haha, yeah... it does get tiresome after a while. It all comes down to having a plan, and following it without deviation, and without compromise. It can be exhausting at times, but in the end - you're better off for it.

Hi everyone, Another little status update. Currently 234 hours into the project, and I've just etched the blade. there is still some work left to be done on side A and B in regards to sculpting and texturing, but I'm getting pretty close. there is also a bit of stonesetting left. All details are in 24kt gold and copper. I will be adding a yellow 0,03ct natural diamond on each side close to the tip (that little black dot on the blade after the writing), and there will be one white diamond on each side of the tang (where the ricasso meets the little notch near the edge). Slowly but surely getting there.... Bit of a closer-up on side A to see alloy patterns: The blade is in a san-mai lamination. The outer layer on both sides is pure meteorite iron. A real pain to forge, but beautiful to look at. Have a nice week everyone!

Lindsay Airgraver.

Just finished outlining the mathematical formula... I was surprised it took 1h 37 minutes... Super tiny lines tho....

Alright, some progress... Managed to finish up all the outlines, as well as the border on side A: I think I need to outline the mathematical formula as well, but it is so small I am worried I'll F it up... I suppose I'll re-sharpen my graver point to a very small one and do it carefully. The planks on the boat need to be sculpted, but this will be done after I finish side B - which is completely blank. I also decided to re-do the edge.. There was originally a secondary bevel, however the angle was too blunt to produce a sharp edge - so I brought it down as much as I could. I think I might just run out of gold on this one.. Time to order more..

Hi everyone, I just started engraving and doing inlay on side A of the blade. finished inlay of gold and copper in the longboat, and currently doing inlay of the lettering. I think this is the smallest inlay I've done to date... Have a nice week everyone! :)

It looks as if it has a nice hefty weight to it relative to it's size. Lovely.

Here's a little peek at a test-assembly I did yesterday: The screws are temporary just to keep things in place. there will be bronze pins going through all of those holes. Now I need to put an edge on the blade while it can still be clamped in a knife sharpening jig without damaging any engravings, then I will proceed to engraving outlines of designs that will go on the blade... It is a step-by-step process.

Here's another test-plate.. finished yesterday. I find these non-organic shapes more difficult... Keeping those lines clean is really hard when sculpting at different levels. I wanted to test whether or not I could hide 3 bronze pins beneath some diamonds, and it appears I can. These diamonds are fake though, factory made - and for testing purposes only. the figure is sculpted on three different height levels. I think I might need to lower the arm a bit so that is is even closer to the background...

I've been working on another test-plate for an engraving that will go directly on the blade. This is side A - a viking longboat - here in copper. On the blade it will be gold and copper. I decided to sculpt the individual planks and shape them as they would be on a klinker-buildt longboat. The trick is making it looks nice - which is currently my biggest concern. I will let it mature in my mind while I continue with other test plates...

I will make an improvement to the existing one and see how it turns out.

Very artful, and wonderful! I especially love the organic flow of the piece.

Ok, here is attempt number two! To the left - first attempt. To the right - second attempt. I tried not to be afraid to remove material on the 2nd try, and hollowed the cheeks a bit. I suppose I might improve the nostril a bit, making it less sharp, as well as improving the ear a bit. I should have let the earlobe fade out near the jawbone but.. this is what happens when you stare yourself blind through the microscope... Anyhow, enough test-plates now... the next one will have to go straight on the knife, with no room for error....

Hi everyone... I've currently put down 34 hours into a project I've started - which I hope to have ready at this time next year. It has been a while since I've done a WIP thread, so I thought I might start one, and update it every once in a while. I don't want to give away the theme of the knife just yet, but as we progress I suppose it will become increasingly apparent... Anyhow, here's a couple of pics to get started: Now, this will be the first time I sculpt something remotely resembling a living beeing. The above image is my first test-plate. I have since made some adjustments and corrections, and will continue working on the next test-plate today. I've watched an instructional video by Sam Alfano on deep relief sculpting, but that has been based on sculpting acanthus leafs, so this is a bit different taking into consideration that certain parts of the face are higher in terms of topography than others. Unfortunately I've yet to find any instructional videos on sculpting relief figures such as this one. the only videos relevant are those of wood carving, and marble carving - since in both instances we remove material without being able to add new (as in wax or clay carving). Anyhow, I wish you all a wonderful week!

I snapped some macros for a potential customer. Slightly better than the two I took earlier: And that's about it!

Thanks. I've been wanting to experiment with gold backgrounding for some time, and decided to make something with a few different angles as well as an obstacle (diamond). I think I have what I need to proceed with the technique. Usually people do this with flat wire. I did it with 0,54mm thick round wire - squishing it flat. But I think I can get more out of the gold by flattening it beforehand. Used about 0,7 grams for this one.

Alright guys, new month, new pendant! Introducing Stjarnaljós - Starlight - a lantern to shine the way in the darkness! Forged out of old iron from Kongsberg Silver Mines, which has been made from bog ore dug out of the surrounding area. The pendant has been engraved in a deep relief, with 3x 0,03ct natural white diamonds set on a bed of 24kt gold. Stats: Length: 40,49 mm Width: 8,37 mm Weight: 14 gram Hole Ø: 3 mm And with that Gentlemen, I wish you all a wonderful week starting Monday, and a hopefully equally wonderful month of June! sincerely, Alveprins.

Very tight fit with the copper bolster! good job!

I made a quick little something for a little boy.. though't I'd throw it in here. Made from meteorite iron (Campo Del Cielo) inlaid with 24k gold. Seeing as my first pendant eventually sold earlier this month, I will be making another one at the start of the next. Until then, have a good week!

Does anyone have any experience entering into the different competitions at BladeShow Texas? There is no information on the website, althought I sporadically find "winner of this, and winner of that" when doing a random google search. I do not however, find any list of classes, rules, critera, or how it works. Anyone?

Ok, so perhaps this isn't as sharp as people here are used to, but I'll give it a shot anyway.. I've recently (this week actually) decided to start a little side-hustle in connection with my knife-making - seeing as I need to practice my engraving skills, and would like to get paid doing so. So I've decided to dedicate 1 week a month to making one piece of jewelry, while utilizing the remaining 3 weeks for my knife project. So - I present to you all the first week's result - the "Compass": Stats: Width: 29,2 mm Length: 63,7 mm Thickness: 4,8 mm Vekt: 27 gram It ended up a bit thicker than I had initially wanted, but... I'll make the next one around 3 - 3,5mm thick I think. The piece is made out of a forged piece of railroad steel, engraved in a deep relief with some ornamentation many might be familiar with.. In the middle of the ornamentation I put a 2mm blue sapphire. I also put in some 24kt gold in the corners, and engraved the traditional wheat-pattern sprouting out from the top and bottom of the piece. The bail is made from a piece of 925 Sterling Silver. The bevels around the edges are mirror polished. Total work time: 24 hours from first hit with the hammer, to the last polishing touch... Tomorrow I'm putting this up for sale at the equivalent of 615 USD here in Norway. I have to say, I haven't felt this nervous in quite some time. Fingers crossed! Enjoy what is left of the weekend folks, tomorrow it's back to work!