Turkish walnut has an appealing color and is suitable for the checkered design that provides the basis for the excellent grip. Turkish walnut is very often used as the wooden part of a hunting gun where you have the same need for a reliable grip. The scrimshaw area consists of two small pieces of reindeer horn with just enough space for two small scorpions as dangerous as the knife is sharp. To protect the knife blade I made a new type of sheath with a better fit around the knife itself. As sheath decoration I added a delicate piece of lizard skin.

The task was to create a knife for all-round use, one that would be practical while also providing a sense of beauty. I placed slices of bronze and aluminum with some additional file-work between the pieces of horn. The scrimshaw designs feature two animals very different in size; an ant hiding in the leaves and a stag roaring toward the sky.

A small hunting knife decorated with two scrimshaw designs: two salmons on the right side and a single heron on the left side (both in colors).

To choose a scrimshaw design from all the exciting animals of the world is always a challenge. But for those people who enjoy fishing, salmon and trout are in a league of their own. The heron is a unique and rarely seen bird, and not a target for hunting.

The knife is usable for all purposes as it fits well in your hand, and the blade – stainless Damasteel from Söderfors, Sweden – is extremely sharp. The iron wood will last for the lifetime of the knife. Some of the scrimshaw might be worn out over the years. The sheath is yellow-brown to match the handle with a little part stamped.

A regular-sized hunting knife decorated with two scrimshaw designs; an Eland on the right side and a Thompson gazelle on the left. I selected these gazelles as they are common prey animals for the hunter in Africa.

The knife is usable for all purposes as it fits well in your hand and is extremely sharp. The blade is made from stainless Damasteel from Söderfors, Sweden, which is one of the best steel types for knives. The iron wood will last for the lifetime of the knife. However, some of the scrimshaw might wear out over time. The sheath is yellow-brown to match the handle with a little part stamped.

The largest knife in a set of three, this hunting and fishing knife has two different scrimshaw images on the handle. All three knives are made from the same materials but have varying sizes and animals depicted in scrimshaw.

The knife is an all-purpose model with a a solid grip and an extremely sharp blade. The iron wood will last for the lifetime of the knife, whereas some of the scrimshaw might wear of over time.

To select the images for the scrimshaw is always difficult as you have many majestic animals to choose from. However, the elephant was my final choice and a little humor was added with the animal coming toward you on the front side and having just passed you on the back. The scrimshaw color is black to mimic the elephant’s grey skin. The sheath is yellow-brown to match the handle with a little part stamped.

For a long time I had avoided trying my hand at making scrimshaw in color. But curiosity won me over: it was going to be now or never. The drawings were made. The proper materials found. And off I went.

For materials I chose white reindeer horn and placed it dead center while both ends were bordered by grey reindeer horn for file work. Masur birch was dyed red-brown on both sides of the reindeer horn. A piece of white reindeer horn finished off the top of the knife. The sheath was made from semi-tanned leather, stamped and dyed in a brownish color.

Narrowing down which animal to scrimshaw was tough, but the tiger and the wild boar made a great pair. The tiger faces its audience and the wild boar is in profile view. The result is a perfect set of tools for the hunt. And definitely not my last foray into scrimshaw in color.

North of my home town is an eagle and falcon nursery with rare birds, mostly Danish sea eagles and dark-feathered falcons. The beautiful location and the majestic birds inspired me to scrim the head of a white American sea eagle. 

I decided to place the sea eagle in full color on the front side of the knife and the ornate hawk eagle on the back. The challenge was to make the design without too many straight lines; the birds are better presented surrounded by curved materials. 

A thin piece of aluminum was chosen to frame the reindeer horn. A suitable forged damask pattern blade was combined with white reindeer horn and a curly piece of  masur birch. The sheath design is simple but adequately covers the knife.