jake cleland Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 i've been approached to make a large (roughly 16" o/a), ornate viking knife, with a nautical theme, as a wedding present. so far i've come up with 3 basic designs. the first is basically a narrow seax with carved beast panels and a osenberg ring knot round the middle. for this i'd probably use antler for the handle with an ebony spacer, silver or steel mounts and copper accents: next up is my interpretation of a Gotlandic war knife. this would have blued steel fittings, ebony handle and antler spacer with sea serpent carving: and finally a shorter version of the war knife as filtered through the idea of nordic wedding knives: i'm leaning towards the larger war knife design - what do you think? Jake Cleland - Skye Knives www.knifemaker.co.uk "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan O'Connor Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 i'm leaning towards the larger war knife design - what do you think? I am with you on that Jake. It is the sexiest (not seaxiest) of the bunch. Dan O'Connor https://nuclayer.com https://www.facebook.com/NuClayerSystems/ https://www.instagram.com/daniel.oconnor.twinoaks/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 I'd vote for the handle of the first with the blade of the second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Jake - definitely go with the second blade design. As for handle, go with either the first or the second. Both are nice. I don't know enough about tradition to know how that would guide. This looks like it will be really cool. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Second one is the most elegant looking - my vote. Tom SterlingTom's Instagram Tom's FacebookSterling Sculptures Web Site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owen bush Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 second all the way .... forging soul in to steel owenbush.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.Arthur Loose Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I second, errr, third or fourth the second! jloose.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james G. Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 I like the middle one on how the blade flow with the handle .The drawed carving help with the flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kekishev M Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 The lines, proportion and everything on the second one is just perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake cleland Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 well thank you all for your input on this. i ended up only sending the second design, and after several days googling osenberg, jormungandr and gotland, the customer loves the design. one day i still hope someone will commission a laverstock interpretation from me, but this thread has convinced me that i've approached this from the right angle, so thank you all... Jake Cleland - Skye Knives www.knifemaker.co.uk "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake cleland Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 made a start on this one today - 11 1/2" 1095 blade, rough ground with a slightly hollow back and flat bevels. still needs a bit of tweaking before h-t: Jake Cleland - Skye Knives www.knifemaker.co.uk "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 off to a good start. keep us posted, please. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake cleland Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 so i got this clayed and quenched tonight. unfortunately, it took three attempts - i'd left the edge a bit thick because this cross section has a tendency to warp badly - and so it has taken a considerable nose dive. plus, on the last one something went wrong getting it into the quench bucket, and the last inch of the blade didn't get quenched fast enough to harden. it's in the oven now, and if it survives straightening, i'll take a good look at it and decide if it works for me, or if i have to go back and quench it in water, which it's a bit thin for... clayed up: and with the bark ground off after atempt no.3: what do you reckon? personally i like the shape, but i don't know if it's suitable for this knife... Jake Cleland - Skye Knives www.knifemaker.co.uk "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake cleland Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 finished the grinding today: in this pic you can clearly see the amount of negative sori this took on through the three quenches. the bloody thing is too long to fit in my etching tank, so we'll have to wait and see about the hamon, but what does everyone think about the shape? Jake Cleland - Skye Knives www.knifemaker.co.uk "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petr Florianek Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 i like the shape very much! GULLINBURSTI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels Provos Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 The shape seems quite elegant. I don't mind the reverse sori at all. It might even add to its slender beauty :-) Looking forward to seeing the hamon. Niels. Niels Provos The Serpent in the Sword Videos - Sword Resource Search Listen to my Activ8te EDM music releases Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSchneider Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 I like the shape and think it complements the overall design well. website: http://www.dancingotterforge.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.louis Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Very nice blade that announces a future great achievement! I am eager to see the hamon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Routledge Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 That has a beautiful flowing elegance to it.I like it a lot, very graceful and yet purposeful if you catch my drift. www.wessexwildcraft.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james G. Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Hey Jake - you have to think, there must have been a number of viking blades that were hardened in oil, which would mean a number of them that took nosedives. I am not up on 9th Century Metallurgy as I should be, but I would guess that had at least enough carbon in the edge material on many blades and would have hardened especially the shorter (non-sword) ones. So, there had to be a number of knives with a little dip toward the end. It looks very good, you have done well with the intersection of the bevels. I think maybe having a slight hollow in the back helps make the line look really crisp. quite cool. thanks for letting us watch the development. kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake cleland Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 started on the handle for this today, to get an idea of how the lines work before i decide if it will serve its purpose: bolster is steel, handle is ebony and antler, with copper spacers. i think i'm pretty happy with it, i'll know for sure once i get the next 2 spacers and the buttcap and peening block shaped, but i like the flow from the edge to the finger rise at the start of the handle - looks almost like i planned it... Jake Cleland - Skye Knives www.knifemaker.co.uk "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Page Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Superb, Jake. I'm really liking where this is going. Can't wait to see the handle carved- the drawing is awesome! John Not all those who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien-Shards of the Dark Age- my blog-Nine Worlds Workshop--Last Apocalypse Forge- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean McGrath Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 (edited) I like the shape of the blade, I don't think the nose-dive hurt it at all. Edited January 14, 2012 by Sean McGrath To realize that you do not understand is a virtue; Not to realize that you do not understand is a defect. -Lao Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omalley Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 (edited) Crappy knife. Way too pointy and sharp looking for a knife, and with the handle that well put together everyone will know you didn't really make it. Send it to me, I'll dispose of it. Just finish the carving first In all seriousness, is this based on a historic model? I seem to remember seeing something in my research pretty similar, but I lost all that when I reformatted. I don't mean the small little knife from Sweden. I think it was from a Viking settlement in one of the Baltic countries (latvia, lithuania or estonia iirc). Either way, I really like the geometry of the blade, especially the way it dovetails with the handle. Very cool work! -Liam Edited January 17, 2012 by omalley "Whats the point of women? I've got knives, they're just as pretty and I don't need to buy them dinner to get them out of their sheath" http://omalleyblades.weebly.com/available-blades.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now