When I was flatterooning birch bark, I have got some sheets big enuff to make handle scales on smaller knives, so I did.
This one badger knife has one handle scale significantly darker than the other, and the lighter one has a distinct camo-look. I am not sure what to make of that, but the knife looks nice and functional.
© Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
© Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
© Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
On the second knife I had better luck finding more similar pieces of bark, but I was also experimenting with making ornamental pins and those were not entirely perfect. But I will probably continue making them, I think they do have kind of charm.
© Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
© Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
© Charly, all rights reserved. Click for full size.
There is still a lot of blades to outfit before I can seclude to warm cozy indoors and make the leatherworks. In the meantime, I am thinking a bit about what kind of sheath would fit these knives best.
The handle scales look almost as if they’re made of rock or bakelite. Are you using the papery outside part of the birch bark or the stiff inner bark?
I think using different-looking handle scales actually works, there is sufficient contrast between the sides. This thing could be taken further with striking results.
The knives look good in a way that doesn’t deter one to use them in everyday tasks.
Beautiful. Cant think of anything more appropriate to say. Wish I could get one.
I’d like to point out that looking like bakelite isn’t a bad thing, it makes the knife handle look retro or new old stock and I think you are good at that type of aesthetics.
@ice swimmer, these are made from the thicker, about 8 mm bark under the papery outer layer. The lighter flecks are remnants of the papery layers that stayed attached to the harder inner bark after grinding and brushing. I did not take any offense at the “bakelite” comment. I do, in fact, have an old piece of probable bakelite that I fully intend to make into knife handles someday.
@StonedRanger, these will be for sale, once outfitted with sheaths. Buyers from outside the EFTA might be eligible for local taxes and tariffs thou.
Once again, I am envious of your skill and imagination.
fusilier
James 2:24
I love the colours of the first handle.