JSC Knife Art : Design
Design
Handles
A knife handle must rest nicely in the palm of the hand, and still feel comfortable when held with a firm grip.
Designing a hand made knife is a challenge because you must use the right materials in the right amount to get a harmonic result.
Handle materials are mainly in six categories:
- Tusk (all legal according to the Washington Convention):
- Mammoth (Siberia, Canada and North Sea)
- Walrus (Greenland, Norway)
- Narwhale (Greenland)
- Hardwoods
- Amboina (Indonesia)
- Masur-birch (Norway, Russia)
- Bruyere (Mediterranean Area)
- Bog oak (Denmark)
- Snake wood (Viet Nam)
- Desert Iron Wood (Arizona)
- Ebony (Cameroon)
- Horn
- Buffalo (Africa, India)
- Musk Ox (Greenland)
- Cow horn (Africa)
- Antlers
- Elk (Sweden)
- Reindeer (Greenland, Norway, Sweden)
- Bolsters and spacers
- Sterling Silver, Bronze and German silver are often used as bolsters and spacers.
- Tin is common as spacers as well.
The list of materials is endless. It is only limited by your own imagination.
Blades
Blades used in my knives are produced by the best smiths and grinders in Scandinavia. The blade design depends on the overall look of the knife, and what the intended use of the knife is. All blades are hardened to 58 - 63 Rockwell C.
Laminated. Three layers of steel with the center part being hardened carbon steel and the outer layers are the supporting parts protecting the hardened part. The surface is available in two types:
- Ground and polished to a glossy surface.
- A rough hammered and polished surface.
Carbon Steel. Various types of carbon steel are used depending on the blade maker's preferred steel type. The surface is the same as above.
Forged Damask Steel. Made from two different carbon steel types forged together in a certain number of layers depending on the number of layers in the starting block. Normally 7 layers folded to the double each time you forge. Between each folding you twist, make holes, bend and even add nickel into the steel to make a certain pattern.
Stainless Steel. The blades are cut from a high alloyed sheet of stainless steel specially made for hardening and without patterns. The qualities vary from blade maker to blade maker. Usually I use blades from either of the qualities 12 C27 or RWL34.
Powder Forged Damask Steel. Blades are made from Söderfors quality RWL34 and PMC27.
Full Tang. Blades are made from qualities 12C27 and RWL34.
The blade design used in a knife depends on the total design of the knife and what you intend to use it for.
All blades are hardened to 58 - 63 Rockwell C.
Sheathes
Generally there are three types of sheaths:
- All leather sheath
- Half leather and half horn sheath
- Full horn sheath
The materials for the sheath are chosen before the knife is made. A sheath made entirely of leather is always usable. Occasionally there are requests for a sheath in half leather and half horn, or a full horn sheath.
In all cases the quality of leather is always first class natural hard compressed leather or semi tanned leather. There are many varieties to choose from, in some cases even with the fur still on it. Even leather made from a shark or a ray can be used.