"Not all those who wander are lost."

J R R Tolkien

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31 July 2010

My new crooked knife

Crooked knives can be used to make many practical and necessary every day objects: birch bark canoes, paddles, bows and arrows, snow shoes, axe handles...the list was endless for the native people of the Woodlands. I think it's a shame that modern buscrafters don't use the Mocautogan (it's Native name) vey much at all. It is such a practical tool. Holding it with the palm of the hand up, and pulling towards you, takes some getting use to, but once mastered it is a very versatile tool.

I have made various models of crooked knives, or Mocautogan, over the past few years and this is my latest variation on the theme.

This one is a left handed tool, it has a very hard and dense Walnut handle, shaped to my hand. The blade is 4" long, with a slight curve for most of the length, with the curve increasing towards the tip. The blade is fixed to the handle with a couple of small screws, but that was more for convenience than necessity. I have cast the pewter ferrule directly onto the handle and this holds the blade very securely.

This is only the second time I have cast a pewter ferrule on a knife, and it was a little more complicated and tricky than the first one, but I think it was well worth it and that it looks very nice.

It needs some more sanding with fine wet & dry paper, but I have run out at the moment!



9 comments:

  1. What a piece of art! I am so impressed - wonderful work.

    Cheers,

    Mungo

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  2. Brother... I am speechless.. you took it to a whole new level!!!!

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  3. Thanks gentlemen. Much appreciated. Hopefully more people will get to use and enjoy this traditional type of green woodwork tool.

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  4. Very nice work Bro.

    Looks like it will be very useful.

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  5. That is lovely. It's awesome that you pewter cast the blade and handle together. You should do a how to on that. Brilliant!

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  6. That is one of the most beautiful knives (of any style) I've ever seen! Thanks for posting!

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  7. Thank you for all the comments. Much appreciated.

    Joel

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  8. I have a very crude one that I made from a scuffle-hoe blade, but yours is a work of art!

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