... While I rarely agree with your logic and do not aspire to emulate your kit and methods ... What you do does work, for you, and I do admire you and your vids. You did a really good job, on this knife, and you *should* be proud. Thanks for sharing and for being you. There is only one Silver Fox !
@phrankus2009 Thank you Sir, I welcome your comment more than many others because you are honest and truthfully I am glad I am different. I dont go out of my way to be different but bumble my way through learning as I go. That's why many of my techniques are not orthodox.
@seanmulhall Well, Sean ... One can tell a tree by it's fruit and regarless of your lack of orthodoxy, if your hair is changing colour (naturally) and if your eyes are getting crows-feet then, that means old-man Darwin has selected you as having been doing SOME things ... right. Put another way, if you were'nt doing some things right, you would have been dead, by now. Hang in, there !
You can also boil the antler until the middle is soft, and then pound the tank in and let it harden. Though, I've only done it with caribou antler, maybe what you have would be different.
if you just soak the antler the pith becomes soft and malleable, you can just work the tang in and let it dry for a few weeks and pith will dry and expand around the tang. you can use some epoxy for good measure but it will hold really well without it.
Sean, I'm sure im way too late now. But if you soak antler in water for about a month it goes soft, you could hammer the tang of the knife into it. Then wait for it to dry out and it will dry tighter around the tang.
@243snake I drilled out all the the pith which is soft and porous. The dowel gave me something solid to fix the blade to. This technique worked for me. I have not tried with just glueing into the pith.
Maybe if you`d split the dowel,put half on each side of the tang before inserting, you could have saved yourself some drilling. That said, smashing knife.Really nice overall form. The lines are right!
I think what you see first is just the preliminary knife using a piece of wood that has a soft core.
The philosophy is to use no extra tool for making the proper knife handle.
Step 2: using simple materials, with their signature; this has a spiritual aside, feeling one with your surroundings. Which is a big factor in daily living_and when you depend on your skills
None what abdula31, deer? They shed their antlers every year, you don't have to kill one to get an antler. You find them, and it's considered lucky by many to do so.
Thanks for the explanation. I forgot about that completely. So it's better to keep them alive anyway. Makes me almost wonder if they drop those for a secure defence or just to keep us satisfied with enough antlers. Anyway thanks.
I think it's just part of a mating ritual and they drop them out of lack of need. Once rutting season ends no buck needs his antlers for anything, plus they can be a hinderance, so he drops them. Their mating rituals are very choreographed and precise, a joy to watch if you get the chance.Two males go at each other in fights with their antlers and it's an awesome spectacle.
It's nothing compared with the eagle mating ritual, look that up and watch it unfold...it will blow you away!
It's awesome to see first hand. The two male eagles grab each other's talons and spiral to the ground in a game of chicken, the one who lets go first loses. Often when young inexperienced eagles try this they both die.
The new antlers grow with the bucks. They shed last years, and the new antlers will often add a point every other year or so. The oldest bucks have the biggest racks with the most points. Better weapon, and a prowess thing when attracting a mate.
I wonder if you could saw down the center of your dowel , but that may make it hard to get it in the antler. Thinking of it like a wedge you use in the handle of your hammer or axe, does the wood swell when it dries? If so it seems like it would tighten onto the tang, plus the adhesive would make it more stable, in theory. If that doesn.t sound like it would work let me know, just a thought instead of the paddle bit.
The tang looks secure to me, great job. I'm not sure how well the epoxy will hold up in time, steel isn't easy to secure. I personally would drill 2 holes through the antler and tang and drive in 2 rivets for added security. It might take away from the look of the knife but there are also decorative rivets that could actually add to it's look, just try to countersink them flush with the antler.
Hi there, responding as requested by Sean. Wood will expand & contact depending on the heat & mosture content of the enviroment.
You could do what you are proposing, but it seems like more work & pieces to go wrong to me. Feel free to try it though. I have wedged in tangs of reproduction scramasaxes. Wth a little epoxy.... ;-)
Yeah I was thinking later it may not be as stable, but I guess it would depend on somethings. I'm always trying think of different ways of doing things, even if I have no stand or experience. Thanks for the response.
It's not essential, but I do it anyway, I have seen the pith react badly to water, softening & losing strength, I'd remove & fill, for piece of min, personally.
RU the same catsnake from BB that I just spoke to about saw blades ?
That's right, the one and the same! lol... I didn't realise it was you Chris, thanks again for the advice I may PM you later if thats ok, with a query about the same stock.
I cut out another blank today, another small utility Seax. Yesterday I worked some antler and the pith occupied MOST of the interier -not sure I'll have much antler left after removing it!
I have had no problems so far. I initially made it as a skinning knife but have used it as a bushcraft knife with no problems. As for the wet and damp, so far nothing has worked lose but I'll be honest and let you all know if it does.
I take the pictures. I mount the camera on a tripod or rest and set the self timer. I so all the photograpgy and videoing myself. Im a budding Les Stroud.
Is it better to first put the blade into the wood before putting the wood into the antler? What is the benefit of doing that, rather than just put the blade directly into the antler handle?
The center of antler is a soft pulp. This needs to be removed. Then you are left with a big hole. By inserting a wooden dowel first you now have something sustantial to insert your bladr into. By inserting the wood into the antler first also stops the wood splitting allowing for a tighter fit. It is possible to fill the antler hole up with resin and insert the blade in to that, but I am happy with my approach.
This particluar piece of antler was a gift from the knife blade maker. I do not hunt for anything but I can buy antler from various sources in the UK. Deer farms are an excellent source.
You should try this kinda camping in the australian bush :) most of the plants are poisonus there are deadly snakes and spiders everywhere in summer it gets to 40 degrees celcius and almost everything wants to kill you in some way :P i love australia
Looks lovely! I really like the fact you kept the antler's grain and overall texture, I much prefer the natural feel, rather than the super smooth and sanded type.
nice knife sean, but i would have put a brass plate to stop myself cuting my fingers on the blade, as you can see the handle is right close to the knife edge, apart from that 5 *
I thought about that but then looked at my other knives and they are all similar in design. The only exception is they have a slight depression in the handle before the blade. I have never cut myself like that on any other knife. I am not intending to do any stabbing so my hand slipping forward should not be an issue. With it being mounted into a wooden dowel if needed I could remove the blade add a collar and fix in a new dowell.
Yes Araldite advesive. Didint use the brand name because was not sure if overseas viewers would know what it was. This is just how the knife came out after Chris forged it. It wasnt planned but an experiment with different shapes. Works well so far as an allround tool. Not a lot of weight to the blade though due to the antler but intended to be a skinning knife and not a chopper. Im happy with the look and feel of the knife.
Norvegian Helle makes good blades and they're sold many places and they also have a kit to make your own knife with all you need. Also Frost in Mora, Sweden sell blades and also many of Finnish bladesmiths will sell blades as ordered. Helle is propably the best place to start and they sell lots of blades to people who want to make their own handles.
Amazing as Always,Sean. What kind of Antler is it? I have a few Moose Antlers, Looking for the right Blade for them. Another quick question. where do you get your blades? any good, reputable dealers you know with a decent website? Anyways Cheers mate. Ed
nice job,... I have a frost mora blade blank waiting on me to find it a handle. dunno yet what I want though. if I choose antler I may try your technique.
nice work sean...i did a similar job on a frosts mora many years ago ive since given it away and have no pics,did you know if you soak the antler in water for about a month you then can tap the tang into it,it dries to ahard glue and doesnt wriggle,its a nature glue..grimbo
Love what you do Sean but I think the 52 second intro is a bit too long
Matt
matty5105 2 weeks ago
Well, Sean ...
... While I rarely agree with your logic and do not aspire to emulate your kit and methods ... What you do does work, for you, and I do admire you and your vids. You did a really good job, on this knife, and you *should* be proud. Thanks for sharing and for being you. There is only one Silver Fox !
phrankus2009 4 months ago
@phrankus2009 Thank you Sir, I welcome your comment more than many others because you are honest and truthfully I am glad I am different. I dont go out of my way to be different but bumble my way through learning as I go. That's why many of my techniques are not orthodox.
seanmulhall 3 months ago
@seanmulhall Well, Sean ... One can tell a tree by it's fruit and regarless of your lack of orthodoxy, if your hair is changing colour (naturally) and if your eyes are getting crows-feet then, that means old-man Darwin has selected you as having been doing SOME things ... right. Put another way, if you were'nt doing some things right, you would have been dead, by now. Hang in, there !
phrankus2009 3 months ago
how did you mount the stick on the knife
jccrick123 6 months ago
You can also boil the antler until the middle is soft, and then pound the tank in and let it harden. Though, I've only done it with caribou antler, maybe what you have would be different.
GISELLE377 7 months ago
nice work done. would it not be better on a Bowie shape blade. But it my favorite.
jassoe 9 months ago
@jassoe
I agree that the blade shape and size is not in proportion but its what I had at the time.
seanmulhall 9 months ago
This song, wasn't it used in "Into the Wild?" Excellent movie IMO, although it being based on a true story.
Liked the demo, too!
4micaman 11 months ago
@4micaman
You are correct the song was used in the film 'Into the wild'
seanmulhall 9 months ago
if you just soak the antler the pith becomes soft and malleable, you can just work the tang in and let it dry for a few weeks and pith will dry and expand around the tang. you can use some epoxy for good measure but it will hold really well without it.
nubsz911 1 year ago
this guys an idiot next video is his hand all messed up lol
jason4amd 1 year ago
good choice in music
foreversorrow81 1 year ago
howd u sharpen i foud a pice of metal on the road and a pice of bone on the trax gunna make knife i wanna no how to sharpen
magicdevil97 1 year ago
Sean, I'm sure im way too late now. But if you soak antler in water for about a month it goes soft, you could hammer the tang of the knife into it. Then wait for it to dry out and it will dry tighter around the tang.
Great video matey.
ThatSage 1 year ago 3
@ThatSage
I have never heard of this technique. Do it still need to remove the pith first?
seanmulhall 1 year ago
good idea with the wood in the midle of the antler .
NICE
TheAsterixx 1 year ago
Drilling and holding it in hand ... wow ... you are Super Hero ;)))) LOL
rozzlobenakachna 1 year ago
have you guys heard of puukko knives? they come from Finland i think. how do those knives stand up to bushcrafting?
darkarchon777 1 year ago
Why do you use the piece of wood in the centre? Would it be just as strong to epoxy the blade into the antler?
243snake 1 year ago
@243snake I drilled out all the the pith which is soft and porous. The dowel gave me something solid to fix the blade to. This technique worked for me. I have not tried with just glueing into the pith.
seanmulhall 1 year ago
Why do you use the stick for the centre? Why not put the blade straight into the antler?
243snake 1 year ago
sweet vid. think it would work without the wood?
PhillieBRidin 1 year ago
Pretty groovy, thanks for the tute.
noisepuppet 1 year ago
Do you guys call Epoxy "Contact Adhesive"?
rainmechanic 1 year ago 5
@rainmechanic yes. A brand name is Araldite
seanmulhall 1 year ago
@seanmulhall I use Araldite super strength 24 hour to full cure Never had any handle come loose yet:D
vince38curious2 1 year ago
Maybe if you`d split the dowel,put half on each side of the tang before inserting, you could have saved yourself some drilling. That said, smashing knife.Really nice overall form. The lines are right!
mwchinbach 1 year ago
nice work
doctordarkness4life 1 year ago
I don't understand why he's doing this. Is it to increase the strength of the knife, or is it just ascetically pleasing?
blahk1234454 2 years ago
I think what you see first is just the preliminary knife using a piece of wood that has a soft core.
The philosophy is to use no extra tool for making the proper knife handle.
Step 2: using simple materials, with their signature; this has a spiritual aside, feeling one with your surroundings. Which is a big factor in daily living_and when you depend on your skills
Rasenkrieger 1 year ago
i did this with my knife just a few weeks ago, i will have to put a vid up of it.
multigunlover 2 years ago
Eddie Vedder. great Song. Great Movie.
jtdrummer2112 2 years ago
nice vid sean but please chainge the way you use the dril one slip and you lose your hand mate
hbrowlands 2 years ago 7
nice work Sean
5/5
BushCraftBums 2 years ago
dont eat the potaoe plant ( from the movie?)
brinson11 2 years ago
What the hell is a potaoe are you trying to say potato.
STRIKER520 2 years ago
I love the music here, describes my feelings exactly. Excellent choice Sean, and excellent vids bro!
akhenatten 2 years ago
music from "Into the Wild" by Eddie Vedder, i respect that. great movie/book, good music
anblink24 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Yaj, let's all make an antler knife.. No sorry don't like it, then there's none tomorrow.
abdula31 2 years ago
Comment removed
akhenatten 2 years ago
None what abdula31, deer? They shed their antlers every year, you don't have to kill one to get an antler. You find them, and it's considered lucky by many to do so.
akhenatten 2 years ago
Thanks for the explanation. I forgot about that completely. So it's better to keep them alive anyway. Makes me almost wonder if they drop those for a secure defence or just to keep us satisfied with enough antlers. Anyway thanks.
abdula31 2 years ago
I think it is lucky once you respect what's in your hand. Sean does that i think, i vote Sean next election.
abdula31 2 years ago
I think it's just part of a mating ritual and they drop them out of lack of need. Once rutting season ends no buck needs his antlers for anything, plus they can be a hinderance, so he drops them. Their mating rituals are very choreographed and precise, a joy to watch if you get the chance.Two males go at each other in fights with their antlers and it's an awesome spectacle.
It's nothing compared with the eagle mating ritual, look that up and watch it unfold...it will blow you away!
akhenatten 2 years ago
It's awesome to see first hand. The two male eagles grab each other's talons and spiral to the ground in a game of chicken, the one who lets go first loses. Often when young inexperienced eagles try this they both die.
akhenatten 2 years ago
The new antlers grow with the bucks. They shed last years, and the new antlers will often add a point every other year or so. The oldest bucks have the biggest racks with the most points. Better weapon, and a prowess thing when attracting a mate.
PUMACABRA 2 years ago
I wonder if you could saw down the center of your dowel , but that may make it hard to get it in the antler. Thinking of it like a wedge you use in the handle of your hammer or axe, does the wood swell when it dries? If so it seems like it would tighten onto the tang, plus the adhesive would make it more stable, in theory. If that doesn.t sound like it would work let me know, just a thought instead of the paddle bit.
yhcranaalex 2 years ago
I'm not sure but I will forward your comment on to my knife maker and see if he can answer your question.
seanmulhall 2 years ago
The tang looks secure to me, great job. I'm not sure how well the epoxy will hold up in time, steel isn't easy to secure. I personally would drill 2 holes through the antler and tang and drive in 2 rivets for added security. It might take away from the look of the knife but there are also decorative rivets that could actually add to it's look, just try to countersink them flush with the antler.
akhenatten 2 years ago
Hi there, responding as requested by Sean. Wood will expand & contact depending on the heat & mosture content of the enviroment.
You could do what you are proposing, but it seems like more work & pieces to go wrong to me. Feel free to try it though. I have wedged in tangs of reproduction scramasaxes. Wth a little epoxy.... ;-)
sc00ny 2 years ago
Yeah I was thinking later it may not be as stable, but I guess it would depend on somethings. I'm always trying think of different ways of doing things, even if I have no stand or experience. Thanks for the response.
yhcranaalex 2 years ago
Does the pith have to be removed?
xXxCatsnakexXx 2 years ago
It's not essential, but I do it anyway, I have seen the pith react badly to water, softening & losing strength, I'd remove & fill, for piece of min, personally.
RU the same catsnake from BB that I just spoke to about saw blades ?
Chris
sc00ny 2 years ago
That's right, the one and the same! lol... I didn't realise it was you Chris, thanks again for the advice I may PM you later if thats ok, with a query about the same stock.
I cut out another blank today, another small utility Seax. Yesterday I worked some antler and the pith occupied MOST of the interier -not sure I'll have much antler left after removing it!
xXxCatsnakexXx 2 years ago
Real nice job on the knife ! Great music too, thanks for sharing both.
61804shill 2 years ago
Thanks!!
mwillblade 3 years ago
No offense intended,the knife is just held together with glue?No pins?Would it hold up in the rain or a fall in the water ?
mwillblade 3 years ago
I have had no problems so far. I initially made it as a skinning knife but have used it as a bushcraft knife with no problems. As for the wet and damp, so far nothing has worked lose but I'll be honest and let you all know if it does.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
Beautiful work, cant wait to try it.
alianchild 3 years ago
who took the pictures?
georgeolik 3 years ago
I take the pictures. I mount the camera on a tripod or rest and set the self timer. I so all the photograpgy and videoing myself. Im a budding Les Stroud.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
who takes the pictures if your in them?
georgeolik 3 years ago
Is it better to first put the blade into the wood before putting the wood into the antler? What is the benefit of doing that, rather than just put the blade directly into the antler handle?
smiley83 3 years ago
The center of antler is a soft pulp. This needs to be removed. Then you are left with a big hole. By inserting a wooden dowel first you now have something sustantial to insert your bladr into. By inserting the wood into the antler first also stops the wood splitting allowing for a tighter fit. It is possible to fill the antler hole up with resin and insert the blade in to that, but I am happy with my approach.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
Thanks for the reply. This si definitely a great job. You have a lot of great videos.
smiley83 3 years ago
where u get ur pieces of antler.......
hunt for them ?????
KillieMonkees 3 years ago
This particluar piece of antler was a gift from the knife blade maker. I do not hunt for anything but I can buy antler from various sources in the UK. Deer farms are an excellent source.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
You should try this kinda camping in the australian bush :) most of the plants are poisonus there are deadly snakes and spiders everywhere in summer it gets to 40 degrees celcius and almost everything wants to kill you in some way :P i love australia
iscay666 3 years ago
I would love the opportunity to camp in Australia. I would seek local advice before setting out to camp and copy the local techniques.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
Yeah eat some wichety grubs LOL yummy.
iscay666 3 years ago
Nice work! Nice music! Nice slide show!
What little time I spent in Scotland (Dunoon Argyll), I loved it. Beautiful countryside.
wavernr 3 years ago
Very nice work, 5*'s.
Gave me an idea with a folder I have that broke. The tang on it is only about an inch long. But, just maybe with some luck...???
CATmover1 3 years ago
Looks lovely! I really like the fact you kept the antler's grain and overall texture, I much prefer the natural feel, rather than the super smooth and sanded type.
RedheadCobweb 3 years ago
One of the most entertaining slideshws I have seen in a long time. Great job.
***** 5 Stars.
Who/what is the music you chose?
zerowildfire 3 years ago
Eddie Vedder - 'Society' in the credits and 'Hard Sun' in the main part.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
Thx
zerowildfire 3 years ago
i like the use of the natural materials like the antler they look so much better
pwnstr08 3 years ago
nice knife sean, but i would have put a brass plate to stop myself cuting my fingers on the blade, as you can see the handle is right close to the knife edge, apart from that 5 *
atomdongle 3 years ago
I thought about that but then looked at my other knives and they are all similar in design. The only exception is they have a slight depression in the handle before the blade. I have never cut myself like that on any other knife. I am not intending to do any stabbing so my hand slipping forward should not be an issue. With it being mounted into a wooden dowel if needed I could remove the blade add a collar and fix in a new dowell.
Thanks Sean
seanmulhall 3 years ago
Goodjob sean which adheasive you use Araldite?
Finished knife look alot like the Nessmuk knife ;o)
Krynnr 3 years ago
Yes Araldite advesive. Didint use the brand name because was not sure if overseas viewers would know what it was. This is just how the knife came out after Chris forged it. It wasnt planned but an experiment with different shapes. Works well so far as an allround tool. Not a lot of weight to the blade though due to the antler but intended to be a skinning knife and not a chopper. Im happy with the look and feel of the knife.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
Norvegian Helle makes good blades and they're sold many places and they also have a kit to make your own knife with all you need. Also Frost in Mora, Sweden sell blades and also many of Finnish bladesmiths will sell blades as ordered. Helle is propably the best place to start and they sell lots of blades to people who want to make their own handles.
Oh, and nice video.
vstoprohva 3 years ago
Superb knife Sean!
FriarTuck1961 3 years ago
Sean You did a wonderful job on your skinning knife, keep up the great work and have a safe and happy holiday. 5/5
nj4x4fever2 3 years ago
excellent as usual sean, love to see what you are doing next. keep it up!
(Can you tell us who sang the extremely good song that played?)
Hard2HandleRandall 3 years ago
Eddie Vedder - 'Society' in the credits and 'Hard Sun' in the main part.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
great job!
orionz51 3 years ago
Amazing as Always,Sean. What kind of Antler is it? I have a few Moose Antlers, Looking for the right Blade for them. Another quick question. where do you get your blades? any good, reputable dealers you know with a decent website? Anyways Cheers mate. Ed
wildlifeed 3 years ago
Very nice knife. That handle matches the blade perfectly.
raindog951 3 years ago
nice job,... I have a frost mora blade blank waiting on me to find it a handle. dunno yet what I want though. if I choose antler I may try your technique.
4ancientarts 3 years ago
Nice video Sean whats the blade material? nice knife. Class A video. ;)
ThaNorthFace 3 years ago
*Shiro gami laminated with wrought iron, HRC 59/60 10cm cutting edge, 3mm thick
*Shiro gami is industrially produced samurai sword steel (Tamahagane) made by Hitachi. Amazing blade steel
sc00ny 3 years ago
'Sc00ny' (Youtube Channel) is the knife maker if any of you were wondering.
Thanks for replying to the knife steel question. I did not remember what you had told me.
seanmulhall 3 years ago
nice work sean...i did a similar job on a frosts mora many years ago ive since given it away and have no pics,did you know if you soak the antler in water for about a month you then can tap the tang into it,it dries to ahard glue and doesnt wriggle,its a nature glue..grimbo
wolfbushcraft 3 years ago
The marrow rots easy though Grimbo, and harbours anthrax!!!
sc00ny 3 years ago
i had mine for about 4 yrs worked ok,and im alright....i think?????lol
wolfbushcraft 3 years ago