Knife making

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Knife making

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Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

Knife making

Two short but relaxing films I thought some of you might enjoy. They each depict a knife maker and his work process for making a Damascus steel knife (the modern type, since the original technique was lost in the sands of time). I can't seem to embed the videos so you'll have to click on the links.

https://vimeo.com/56287630

https://vimeo.com/128262966

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2020 20:55:27

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: Knife making (in reply to Piwin)

Very nice! Thanks for the video!

I love knives, the samurai swords were made with the same proces.
Once a knifemaker who was very interested in the historical way of making damast, made me a very nice survival knife I designed inspired by the Kukhri knives.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2020 22:26:14

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: Knife making (in reply to gerundino63)

It's embarrassing, but this is the only knife I ever bring with me on hiking trips.

I think you would beat me at the survival game.

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"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2020 0:59:08

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: Knife making (in reply to Piwin)

Size is not importand, it is what you can do with it.......😃

Opinel is very handy, and a cleverand symple locking system.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2020 9:22:28

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: Knife making (in reply to gerundino63)

quote:

Size is not importand, it is what you can do with it.......😃

I've been lied to!

On a sidenote, it's a shame the 2nd video ends where it does, but you can already tell by the yatagan-inspired shape of the blade that it's going to be a Laguiole. I have a small assortment of Laguiole knifes, but unfortunately no Damascus blades in there.

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"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2020 9:57:50

El Burdo

Posts: 632
Joined: Sep. 8 2011

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Dec. 22 2022 15:39:39

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2020 14:39:13

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: Knife making (in reply to El Burdo)

Oh good grief...

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"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2020 14:45:37

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Knife making (in reply to Piwin)

Thanks, Piwin. Very interesting. One of the more interesting weapons, both historically and today, is the Malay Keris (sometimes spelled "kris") which is still made in In Indonesia in Java, Sumatra, Bali, and other regions, as well as in Malaysia. It has a long history as stabbing weapon but today is primarily used for ceremonial purposes. It can be made either with the familiar wavy blade or with a straight blade. Within each of those there are many styles (called "dapur") for the keris blade.

The blade is made of a combination of iron and nickel, and the maker (In Malay called an "empu") will "sandwich" the blade over and over, sometimes dozens of times, for strength and the beauty of the damascene design (called the "pamor") produced by the nickel. Kerises from various regions have distinctive designs, from the pamor in the blade to the hilt. A Javanese or Malay man in full kit (sarong, etc.), will wear his ceremonial keris at his waist in back.

When I was assigned to the American Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, I received a letter of introduction from a friend, introducing me to the Palace Keris-maker (empu) to the Sunan (equivalent of Sultan) of Surakarta (Solo). Both Solo and Jogjakarta, in Central Java, maintain many traditional arts and crafts. I visited the empu and requested him to make me a keris in the Solo style, with seven "curves" in the wavy blade, and with a design made of gold on the blade with the pamor. I made five trips to Solo just to work with the empu making the keris. He did a fantastic job, and the keris now hangs above the mantel of our fireplace.

The keris is believed by many to have magical properties, particularly if made by a renowned empu. For example, one should never withdraw a keris from its scabbard (appropriately called a "sarong") without "drawing blood" or it might result in having a bad influence on its owner. The exception is that it may be withdrawn if done so above one's head.

Bill

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And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2020 15:29:00

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: Knife making (in reply to Piwin)

Ha! That was funny! Remember the movie from the past.

I have a few Laguiole’s too, nice village to visit too.

And El Burdo, survival rule number one, if they have a knive run. If they have a gun, fight.

And,.......if you can still wave with the thing, you have a little extra work to do.

(Sorry for that, but I am in a very childish mode today😃)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2020 15:35:18

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Knife making (in reply to BarkellWH)

This thread on knives and swords brings to mind the epitaph on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's headstone.

"Steel true, blade straight"

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2020 15:36:25

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: Knife making (in reply to BarkellWH)

I've been perusing the internet for reading material on the keris, of which I knew nothing, and I have to say it has a fascinating history. There are detailed descriptions of how the ornamentation on the hilt changed according to the religion that happened to be prevalent at any given period. The parallel with Andalucia and the impact of Islam on art seems rather strong. In more recent events, it seems there was a bit of tension between Indonesia and Malaysia over the keris when UNESCO attributed the title of "masterpiece of the the oral and intangible heritage of humanity" to the keris of Indonesia but not of Malaysia.

In any event, it sounds like a beautiful work of art you have over your fireplace! Have you tempted fate and drawn your keris outside of the prescribed rules?

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"Anything you do can be fixed. What you cannot fix is the perfection of a blank page. What you cannot fix is that pristine, unsullied whiteness of a screen or a page with nothing on it—because there’s nothing there to fix."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 27 2020 1:06:27