This is something that started in 2007, I was watching a Ray Mears Bushcraft DVD where he made a knife on a trip to Sweden and knew it was something that I would end up trying.
It was in December of 2007 when my Grandfather was taken ill that I actually started my first knife using a DIY Scandinavian Knife Kit from survivalschool.co.uk and started working on it as an escape from what was going on at the time.
The reason I chose to make a knife in memory of my Grandfather was two-fold, first he was a carpenter and the second was that he gave me the bug for being outdoors as an avid camper.
I made the kit as directed and worked into the early hours of the mornings to get it finished, sadly he passed before I could finish it. It has a 10cm stainless blade with a handle made of reindeer antler and curly birch which I carved my Grandfathers initials into the end of the handle, this was then coated with linseed oil to seal it. The leather sheath is hand stitched and also has the initials added which I did with a rounded croquet needle (sorry mum).
I enjoyed this so much and wanted to put into practice the things I thought I could do better, this resulted in the purchase of yet another kit but also some different materials for the handle. The second knife has a handle made of cherry with some silver birch, it also has one leather and one birch bark spacer.
I then purchased a Mora of Sweden Laplander blade and this will be my next knife project when I further increase my knowledge and gather some more tools to refine the finished product so watch this space.
