Viking Age Folding Knife

[sjaqua]

My wife and I just finished this knife today. My second folding knife to date.



The handle scales are carved bone. The blade is a multi-bar composite pattern of 1080/15N20. Like all pre-17th century folding knives, this is a simple friction folder. The blade pivots on the rear most pin. There is a notch in the blade on both sides of the pivot point. The second pin fits into these notches to act as a stop in both the open and closed positions. The knife is held open for use when the hand grips the handle trapping the tang end of the blade once it has swung around and into the handle side of the pivot.

This knife is a reproduction of a Viking Age folding knife that is housed in the Cantebury Museum in England. My wife used the drawings from the museum to reproduce the carvings. The knife is 15% larger then the original, to fit a modern hand.

[circlepknives]

I want this knife No I NEED this knife!!!

[hammerdownnow]

That turned out great Scott. Your first pics of this one inspired me to start one. Nice to see that one finished. Exellent repro. Thumbs up for the Misses. WOW!

[C.M. Arrington]

Now that's cool ! ''Great job'' is an understatement.

[Dan Graves]

Truly a great job by you and your wife. Lucky that you are married to someone who is so talented.

[sjaqua]

Thank you, one and all.

Yes it really is great being married to such an artist. We match each other pretty well in our skill sets. Both of us produce our best work together.

Paul,

Your need may go unanswered for a little bit. The right of first refusal goes to the SC Blades club president. He said he wanted to buy it prior to my wife starting on the carving. However we will see if he still wants it now that we know how long it took and can set a price. In any case it will be my showpiece at Knife Expo (Pasadena CA, Feb 24th-26th).

However, we will be doing this again! My primary market is the historic reenactment groups. And I figure there is a demand for medieval folding knives. The last one I made only lasted a day once I got to an event I could sell it at. And right now, no one else in my area is reproducing them.

We may not try for the exact reproduction next time, at least in the carving. According to my wife Sandra, two different people must have carved the original piece. The skill level and style varies greatly between the two sides. She was pretty much cursing the twisty beastie side (inset lower left). She said who ever did it, didn?t know how carve knot work correctly.

[McAhron]

I have been waiting to see the finished product and am pleased with the result.You both did very well!