My very own puukko

[tongueriver]

In June I drove a thousand miles or so out to Minnesota to visit my Brother. We hiked, biked, went to Fabulous Swedish Museum in Minnesota... but I digress. We hooked up his airstream trailer and drove north to Grand Marais, on the North Shore. The North House Folk School is there, among many other great things, and we were signed up for a three-day forging class. There were eight (the instructor's limit) in our class, all green. We leaned to start and maintain a coal forge, then the race was on. I picked a chunk of 1084 and some others picked some other steel. Anyway, what a learning experience to keep the right heat on at the right places at the right time. Almost everyone burned off the tips of their blades at least once and some had to start over from scratch. So... three days. Forging, annealing, filing, drilling, hardening, tempering, hafting. I had a piece of elk antler which a friend gave me from a bull he had shot with a bow. It was too big and I ended up grinding it down quite a little, but elk antler has a thinner outer dense section than Sambar and so one can't take it down too far. I finally had it down as far as I could practically go and it fits my hand perfectly, although it appears to be out of balance when one is used to our traditional American hunting knives. I found that a BUCK 103 sheath fits it like a glove. I am looking forward to using it in a few days on a hunt. It ain't pretty but it was hard earned and it is mine.

[Doc B]

Looks like a very cool experience! The knife is awesome!!!

[Gunsil]

That looks like FUN!! And you got a really useful knife of your own that looks and feels good. Musta been a great trip!

[treefarmer]

tongueriver,
That is great! Your knife does look very comfortable and I hope you get to use it soon. Pictures of it in use will just add to this great post.
Treefarmer

[Quick Steel]

I know it is early but do let us know when you will appear on Forged In Fire. Wonderful knife and photos.

[Colonel26]

What a beautiful knife, and a great experience. That would be very high on my list of things to do given the chance. Let us know how it goes when you put it to use on Mr. Deer.

[kootenay joe]

Nice one Calvin ! I really like the profile of your blade. Many Finnish Puukkos have a blade of similar size & shape. For a first knife it is impressive and attractive too.
Were you able to get the blade fairly thin just above the edge ?
kj

[tongueriver]

Were you able to get the blade fairly thin just above the edge ?
kj

Pretty much; lots of filing. We were discouraged from using power tools but did cheat a little now and then.. Thanks everyone for the nice comments.

[Dinadan]

Very cool post, Tongueriver. Great photos of a unique experience. That is a good looking knife, especially for a first time forger.

[kootenay joe]

Calvin i, and likely others here are not just saying it is a good looking knife because you are a nice person and valued AAPK'er.
It really is an attractive knife with good flow & visual balance. It looks more like a guy's 10th knife than his first one.
kj

[doglegg]

Amen to what Roland said. You make me jealous with that experience. Great time and knife.

[Tony_Wood]

Great experience, a great blade, and with your brother!!
Which blade is his?

[FRJ]

Terrific knife, Cal. I am very impressed with your work.
I hope you use it for a long time.

[TripleF]

Soooooooooooo cool.
Knice job!!!

[hellize]

sweet!

[orvet]

Wow, I missed this thread!

That looks like a load of fun!
If my shoulder was better I would love to do that.

Congratulations Cal, great looking puukko!