New Pipe/Knife Combo Project

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Blackhorse

Blackhorse

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So...I posted about this a while back. This is one of three current projects in which I've made a Pipe and Knife combination. This is the first. It employs a kit from Mark Tinsky and a Nordic style hidden tang blade that is progressively tempered. The spacers on the pipe stem and on the knife handle match...brass shimstock and black paper micarta (courtesy of a fine brother from this site). As you can see, the top of the bowl is plateaux and it matches the buttcap on the knife handle. You can't tell very well from the photos, but the back flat of the buttcap is plateaux. Looks totally cool and the knife can stand on it, so to speak. The knife handle also incorporates a large Reindeer antler roll and Macassar Ebony (yeah, it's just a little bit busy...but I considered it a practice piece, so whatever). When the Tinsky kit was ordered I asked for the block to be cut with an oversized Prince shape in mind. Mark did well. But as is typical for me, I just couldn't leave well enough alone and ended up with a shape (as you can see) that has a ridge along the back spine of the bowl, which progresses down the bowl and then out and into the stem as well. I kinda like that. The strummel has a 2-part stain (my first) and ended up looking pretty much how I wanted. The briar buttcap of the knife is stained the same. Interesting sidebar: The stain I used (Feibing's Leather Dye) is the same that I used on the two-tone Nordic sheath...so the whole package has a kind of matching integrity). Oh yeah...the incised 'glyph' design is from a Scandanavian rock carving...several thousand years old. I thought since I was using Reindeer antler in the handle I might as well carve the material with a related design. It wasn't going to be on the pipe...until a pit similar in size to the Carlsbad Caverns opened up as I was doing the semi-final sanding.

The NEXT two Combo Projects are nothing like this...they are, like, almost from another planet...or at least an alternate reality. But that's another story.

Pics below:

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Wow that pipe and knife are absolutely beutiful! Love the reindeer and the plateaux buttcap, and if I had the chance I would buy both of them without hesitation. :D
 
Very kind of you to praise it so. I wonder what my uncle Aksel would say if he learned I had sold it to a guy in Stokholm? lol

FYI - the blade is a Lauri...pretty sure it's Swedish steel. After I honed it for about five minutes...it's 'scary sharp'. As I recall the rC rating of the edge is something like 62+ while the spine is down around the low 50's with the differential hardening. Like a Japanese katana it has a nice hamon line and the soft spine takes up shock. It's not stainless - which to me is a plus. I keep a little Camelia oil on it.
 
I really like the pipe, the stain, grain and curves, especially that the bowl bends back toward the button. I like its flow. I think a quirk works well, the continuation of the slight upward tilt of the shank entering the stem, and then the leveling off of the stem into the button. How many pipes have you made? This doesn't seem to be beginner work.
 
As I've spent a lot of time in the north of Sweden along the border to Norway, I'm very fond of the handicraft from that region. Also, I love the connection between the reindeer and knife as for me those are two extremely valuable things for the Sami people living up there!

That knife would be perfect for carving out nice chunks of dried or smoked reindeer after a long day of skiing, especially if it's scary sharp!

And also, your uncle, is he perhaps from Norway judging by the spelling of his name?

:)
 
Very unique set. I like the fact the blade has differential hardening.

Dress a deer and smoke a pipe in style... or whittle your favorite chunks of fallen tree while puffing away... :) I'm kind of thinking I'd love a folding pipe tool/Case knife combo to match a pipe, now...

8)
 
Thanks all.

Ossian...Not even close. Aksel wasn't from Norway, he was from Minnesota. Heh, heh. So were his seven brother and sisters...including Agnes, Henrietta, Jennie, Ehrling, Norman, Gudrun and Helga (whom I called 'Mom' most of the time). It was my grandparents that were from Norway.

Kyle...maybe I could make you up one that has corncob handle slabs! lol You know what 'stabilized wood' is? Wood that is kind of fragile is soaked in 'hardener' which enters the cellulose cells and makes is pretty much rock hard. I'll bet you could do that with corncob! Has to be done under pressure though. Pretty spendy setup for one set of handle slabs.
 
At times like this, I'm reminded of how grateful I am that I cannot afford to get into knives. Dig the knife a lot.
 
The pipe is very nice, but I really do like the knife. You have talent, Blackhorse.
 
Blackhorse":b5uc257f said:
Kyle...maybe I could make you up one that has corncob handle slabs! lol You know what 'stabilized wood' is? Wood that is kind of fragile is soaked in 'hardener' which enters the cellulose cells and makes is pretty much rock hard. I'll bet you could do that with corncob! Has to be done under pressure though. Pretty spendy setup for one set of handle slabs.
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Just soak the sucker in epoxy, I'm sure it'll be fine. :lol:

Seriously, though, some matching folding pocket knife and a pipe would be something I'd have to put on the list for "one day." I wouldn't care of it were a refitted old Uncle Henry with a nicked blade paired a with cob, it'd just be a cool combo to take camping or fishing--in style.

8)
 
Zeno - the blade was purchased at the following vendor...good guy, for less than $30. The rest of the stuff came mostly out of parts bins around my shop or as gifts for generous 'patrons'. lol It doesn't HAVE to be expensive...you just have to be into it enough to make it part of what you do and pay attention to and then the rest falls into place. Not counting the Tinsky pipe kit...I think all told in the knife and sheath and all, I have under $50...and easily as many hours of labor...as almost every step of this project was completed by hand. Very little electricity used. lol
 
Wow, they really do match wonderfully! Love the spacers and Macassar Ebony is always a good choice in my book. How thick is the blade?
 
I was just thinking a more fishing-oriented motif. Anyway, great stuff!
 
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