View Full Version : A pair of knives and piggyback sheaths (pics heavy)
Here is a project I have been working on for some time now.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/IMG_1155.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/IMG_1155.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0987.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0968.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/IMG_1165.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0913.jpg
Both knives are made of 01 tool steel. The handles are stabilised Burr Elm with black liners and brass fittings.
The smaller knife is a Nessmuk with a 3mm thick, 4 1/2" blade.
The larger "chopper" is 5 mm thick. The blade is 8" long, with a 5" handle. A lot of the weight is at the pointy end. The straight part of the blade is a scandi grind and the rounded part is a convex grind.
Both blades are etched with ferric acid.
The sheaths were the most troublesome to design and make. The blades are quite dissimilar in shapes and size, and making sheaths that worked as a pair but also individually, both practically and esthetically, was quite a challenge. That was really jumping in at the deep end!
The whole thing can be carry on a leather sling, on the back, under arm, on the front of the body. It can also be carried on the belt and has a double dangler loop. Both sheath/knives can also be carried individually when wanted. The pouch on the front of the Nessie sheath is to carry a DC4 sharpening stone.
I am very pleased with the result, although I am not sure I would want to make another set like that just yet! I have learned a lot from making these. One of the learned things is that I prefer to work on smaller projects!
I hope you enjoy looking at it!
I like 'em!!
Esp the biggun!!
Good work that man.
I really like the look of that Nessmuk knife.
Can I ask who the maker is?
What material is the handle and liners, and what steel is it?
[Very nice work BTW]
Wow, great work all round Joel
Lovely looking set fella
Barn Owl
07-07-2009, 22:05
Can I use the adjective 'gorgeous' without sounding like a lassie?
'cos that's what it is.
Tom.
(happily harried with children).;)
Lovely work jojo :cool: , and what a great design.
Is the DC4 pouch also removable ? looks as though the flap can thread back through the pouch allowing you to take it off .
Cheers,
Pete.
Fantastic work - love the combination edge on the chopper, it sounds really useful.
Simon
Thanks gentlemen!
I really like the look of that Nessmuk knife.
Can I ask who the maker is?
What material is the handle and liners, and what steel is it?
[Very nice work BTW]
I made them :D The handles are stabilised Burr Elm and black fiber liners and the steel I used is 01 tool steel.
Is the DC4 pouch also removable ? looks as though the flap can thread back through the pouch allowing you to take it off
Yes it is removable, Puub, exactly in that way.
fantastic work, I like it very much! :)
how many working hours did it take you?
Chris the Cat
08-07-2009, 08:10
Very,very nice work sir!
Great setup for an extended trip in the wilderness!
My best.
Chris.
born2roam
08-07-2009, 12:35
Wow!
Stunning as always!
Grtz Johan
HillBill
08-07-2009, 12:47
Very nice mate. I can imagine how long all that lot took to knock together. :)
Nice one.
British Red
08-07-2009, 12:55
The thing I like with your stuff Joel is that there is si much "new" stuff in your work. It evolves and changes as ideas occur to you.
I do like those sheaths - very reminiscent of the one you did for me. Bed thats heavy on the belt though - I think I would carry it shoulder slung. I love the "mix and match" dimension most I think
Red
Asa Samuel
08-07-2009, 13:22
I like the look of those, especially that chopper!
A bit OT, knives with that blade shape - pretty much all belly, are they designed for trapping/hunting? I know that a long belly is good for skinning so it that what that blade shape is designed for?
Thanks,
Asa.
HillBill
08-07-2009, 14:40
I like the look of those, especially that chopper!
A bit OT, knives with that blade shape - pretty much all belly, are they designed for trapping/hunting? I know that a long belly is good for skinning so it that what that blade shape is designed for?
Thanks,
Asa.
Any knife with a belly will out slice any knife without, no matter the material being cut.
Asa Samuel
08-07-2009, 15:14
Any knife with a belly will out slice any knife without, no matter the material being cut.
Ok, why is this?
EDIT: I understand that having the belly will give a smaller area to put pressure on which will make it easier to slice (the same reason serrations work) but why have such a big belly? Maybe it's the beer? :p
2nd edit: Ok, I guess if you are slicing long strips I can see why the big belly would help. Never mind :D
penvisser
08-07-2009, 15:24
Very nice work indeed!
All the best,
Jan
how many working hours did it take you?
Not the slightest idea..:o
The thing I like with your stuff Joel is that there is si much "new" stuff in your work. It evolves and changes as ideas occur to you.
Thank you Red. That's probably because I get bored easily!! I find it tedious to do too many similar things one after the other. On the other hand, I find doing different things, playing with new ideas, stimulating. Keeps dementia at bay, I hope!
Just as well I don't do this to make a living, otherwise, I am sure I could easily afford to move under a bush at the end of the lane..:D
Native Justice
08-07-2009, 18:06
Extraordinary work JoJo!
I also enjoy the concept of "mix and match" gear for the trip and having a piggy back arrangement guarantees that ability. The pride in workmanship really shows, congratulations. I hope you have children to pass that kit onto some day my friend, it's certainly deserving of it.
Can we see some shots of the kit worn in alternate ways plz?
launditch1
08-07-2009, 18:26
Superb JoJo!Very,very nice.
Is that the blade you brought over mine?..The big'un..
jungle_re
08-07-2009, 18:56
Great work, particulary like the leather work very well thought out
Hi Jojo, Top work there, i like the brass nut & bolt bit mate.
Cheers Topknot.
8thsinner
08-07-2009, 21:47
I do like the design of those knives, and the sheaths individually are very well made and look tough to boot. But I gotta say I really don't like the idea of packing all that weight on one side, It looks really bulky. Just my opinion like.
The scandi to convex looks well blended and would be great I reckon for skinning and leather working, and the weight excellent for bone chopping and clearing work, the scandi does look to be a bit steep on it, Is the stock thinned before it gets to the scandi edge?
Look to be good for drawing, and a sharp spine for sparking and scraping perhaps too?
It looks like your trying to what I am planning to do, which is get a perfect all round set for anywhere, And I hope those styles pan out to to just that.
Everything else aside, good bloody job.
Is that the blade you brought over mine?..The big'un..
Yes, it is Nigel.
Hi Jojo, Top work there, i like the brass nut & bolt bit mate.
Cheers Topknot.
I tried various ways to hold the two sheaths together. In the end I chose the simplest and most secure. I also made leather washers to protect the leather sheaths and used a nylock nut.
I do like the design of those knives, and the sheaths individually are very well made and look tough to boot. But I gotta say I really don't like the idea of packing all that weight on one side, It looks really bulky. Just my opinion like.
The scandi to convex looks well blended and would be great I reckon for skinning and leather working, and the weight excellent for bone chopping and clearing work, the scandi does look to be a bit steep on it, Is the stock thinned before it gets to the scandi edge?
Look to be good for drawing, and a sharp spine for sparking and scraping perhaps too?
It looks like your trying to what I am planning to do, which is get a perfect all round set for anywhere, And I hope those styles pan out to to just that.
Everything else aside, good bloody job.
I should say now that this set is the result of a cooperation with a member here over the last few months. No doubt, he'll be along sometimes to give his side of this story. I just wanted to be sure he was happy to give it before I mentioned it!
I haven't used the Chopper, (in case I messed it up ;) ), so i can't say how good its going to be for it's intended purpose.
I should say now that this set is the result of a cooperation with a member here over the last few months. No doubt, he'll be along sometimes to give his side of this story. I just wanted to be sure he was happy to give it before I mentioned it!
I haven't used the Chopper, (in case I messed it up ;) ), so i can't say how good its going to be for it's intended purpose.
And that member is....me!
I originally contacted JoJo because he made my, up to then, favorite all time knife - a standard (for JoJo that is!) Nessmuk with a subtle woodlore proflile cocobolo handle. My only gripe with this knife was that the blade edge came right up to the handle and the curve of the blade and handle was the same at this point (in keeping with JoJo's design of the most elegant Nessie around IMO) which was a bit of a safety issue with regards to my index finger or thumb - depending on grip.
At the same time I have always been a fan of the Leuku/ Puuko knife combo but felt that the traditional Leuku design (long 3mm blade - scandi grind the whole length) whilst great in purely coniferous environments - didn't suit British, deciduous, hardwood woodland.
The big knife needed a bit more oomph! Scandi isn't ideal for chopping tasks and this was going to be an ideal opportunity to brief a designer what I wanted a large blade to do. The overall concept was going to be a cross between a kukri and a machete.
I asked JoJo to make the Nessie handle slightly longer and incorporate a small choil and at the same time I gave him the brief for the chopper which was as follows:
1) Blade as short as possible - but with weight at the point to compensate (hence 5mm).
2) Convex grind for at least the last third of the edge, tapering to scandi grind towards the handle for finer work (feathersticking, shaving etc).
3) The spine of the blade needed to be straight and fairly rounded towards the tip to afford a comfortable grip for drawing, and square edged towards the handle for shaving/ firesteel work.
4) Piggy back sheath encompassing all carrying options (belt, double dangler and baldrick) for both knives together and separately, with a DC4 holder and firesteel loop on the Nessie sheath.
Not too much to ask then!!! OK, enough for now - part 2 and my verdict to follow...
Graywolf
10-07-2009, 12:10
Lovely,beautiful,stunning, awesome its all been said.Very nice work jojo.Not sure about the piggyback setup though.
Clayton
OzaawaaMigiziNini
13-07-2009, 02:02
.....I am suddenly at a loss for words...
Your work always amazes me brother. Is that chopper the blade you showed me in amongst my blades?
At a loss for words :eek: :D Yes it is, Oz. It took me ages to make these.
Hi guys,
Sorry this is late but work has been a bitch and besides, this deserves a bump!!
I'm going to, largely, bypass the Nessie because I was pretty confident that JoJo would turn my favorite all round knife into my perfect all round knife with a few customer demands and he didn't disappoint - the blade profile is exactly the same as Nessie Mk1 - but now I have the slightly longer handle and the choil to keep my fingers away from the edge.
My choice of wood for the handles was dictated by my late Father who, amongst other things, left me his cherished Hawthorn walking stick with a burr elm crook handle - the fact that JoJo's surname is French for "of the Elm" made it pretty inevitable! JoJo couldn't acquire burr elm blanks with the same colour match - which was a disappointment at first - but as you can see from the photos, the differing shades of wood (with the firesteel as well) make a pleasing overall combo and each knife has it's own individual beauty.
On to the chopper:
It's the business! As an axe substitute for British hardwood woodland - it's perfect. It chops on a par with my SFA and I have the super sharp scandi grind near the handle for finer work. It's short enough to be discreet and long (and heavy) enough for serious beating - at 5mm along it's entire length the balance is well forward - just what I wanted. I use the Nessie for skinning and notch carving - but for just about anything else, especially firewood prep, feathersticking included - out comes this!
JoJo has already mentioned that the sheaths were a problem for him - and we had a long correspondence on it (this project was done entirely on PM's). In the end I decided to let the designer design and JoJo produced the goods. The combo is actually quite light on the belt - although I tend to carry the them separately - the Nessie on my right hip and the chopper as a baldrick/ sling - this enables me to carry the big knife discreetly and it's one of the reasons that I use it so much - the handle protrudes from under my left armpit and is just so easy to grab! Unfortunately it's a wee bit on the big side for skinning Mr Bunny so Nessie does see the light of day!
One final note:
Knife design is definitely subjective - we are all familiar with the 4mm "Woodlore" design. I tried this (I have an excellently made Stuart Marsh knife) but I couldn't get on with it. I love the continuous curve of the Nessmuk - for my needs there is no better knife for skinning small game and general fine work (carving aside). I have always decried large knives as unnecessary - until now - JoJo's chopper meets all my needs for a heavy duty knife and, short as it is, I would even take it to the jungle in place of a machete.
In short - I am a very lucky boy!!
Improviser
20-08-2009, 05:22
Excellent rig really like it especially the modular sheath arrangement.
I am currently modding my knives/pouches so they can fix together depending on needs,i like my kit to be flexible but at the same time more on the minimalist side & unobtrusive otherwise it sort of defeats the object really if your not going to carry/attach things because there awkward.
Cheers
Survival Bill
20-08-2009, 14:11
What a great idea meny thanks for showing us that setup may borrow that for the next few sheaths.....
I am glad the chopper has lived up to your hopes and expectations, Fin. When I made it, I had thought to actually try it :eek: but didn't dare... Knowing my luck I would have hit the only lump of metal in a whole forest of trees...:D
If you have some "action" pics I'd quite like to see them.