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Topic Archives => Build Alongs => Topic started by: tippit on January 28, 2007, 01:49:00 PM

Title: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 28, 2007, 01:49:00 PM
I was lucky enough to get a few baleen scraps that were left over from a baleen/osage longbow.  Dean Torges was kind enough to give me some info on finish to keep the hair fibers from fraying.  The stuff is knock down gorgeous when polished.  You can see the hair fiber in a back ground of green & black.  This is just a sample knife to see how it would turn out.  The picture doesn't come close to seeing the detail in sun light.  Now onto a special knife for.....
   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/IMG_2400.jpg)
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: sticshooter on January 28, 2007, 01:53:00 PM
HOT DANG!!!!! tippit you is getting great at making knives. This one is just stunning.When ya gonna make another pig sticker?<><<><
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 28, 2007, 02:20:00 PM
Frank,  Actually I've been fooling around with some damascus...sorta pig sticker/bowie cross  :)   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/IMG_2406.jpg)
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Trinity Outfitters on January 28, 2007, 02:29:00 PM
tippit's back!!!

Awesome work, Doc.  I love seeing your craftsmanship displayed!
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: JC on January 28, 2007, 02:31:00 PM
Gorgeous knife Jeff, what a beautiful handle and blade shape.

Now that damascus, it's just plain ugly, I suggest you wrap it up and send it to me for disposal.  :p  You know I'm kidding, you've really progressed to quite the artisan Jeff. Nothing short of functional art!
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: vermonster13 on January 28, 2007, 02:35:00 PM
Just a sample knife. Dang that one would make me happy as all get out, the Damascus is just incedible.
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Bodork on January 28, 2007, 02:38:00 PM
That's a beautiful knife Jeff. Here's the dumb question.  Is baleen some sort of horn and where does it come from?
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: sticshooter on January 28, 2007, 02:40:00 PM
Hey doc how long is the blade on that sticker? But I have to agree with JC on the damascus. But I would not dipose of it. I would just shove it into my TradGang display case right along with the Big bowie the Donny Rowan sent here  :eek: .LOL See donny shell told ya not to send the knife. Doc all your knives are wowzer awesome.<><
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Buemaker on January 28, 2007, 03:03:00 PM
Baleen comes from a whales mouth. At the end of them is kind of hairs that the whale uses to sift the Krill(tiny sea creatures) that the whale feed on.  Bue--.
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 28, 2007, 03:12:00 PM
Bodork,  Baleen is whale bone.  It can only be gotten from native american/inuits.

Frank, The blade is 6"...total 11"  But I ain't sticking no pig, this is for picking your teeth  :)
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 28, 2007, 03:19:00 PM
If you look at the baleen picture closely, you can see the hair fibers (as Buemaker stated) coming thru near the blade.  That was my problem of how to keep them tacked down.  Thanks to Dean Torges for the advice.  

Now if you think this one looks OK, wait til you see what is being glued up for a special friend!
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Buemaker on January 28, 2007, 03:27:00 PM
Here is some info on Baleen
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baleen
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: sticshooter on January 28, 2007, 04:16:00 PM
AWWWWWW shucks Doc.., I did'nt know we was special friends and all.  :bigsmyl:  Yew's the bestest ever!<><
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Guru on January 28, 2007, 04:42:00 PM
Awesome Bud!!! More impressed all the time    :notworthy:
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Huntrdfk on January 28, 2007, 04:58:00 PM
Nice job Jeff, if the next one is that special, you have to post pics of it at some point, I for one would like to see what that damascus blade would looklike with a baleen handle  :goldtooth:  


David
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: JL on January 28, 2007, 04:59:00 PM
Good looking blades there Jeff! You takin orders yet?

Jerry
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Carbon Caster on January 28, 2007, 06:05:00 PM
LOOKING GREAT Jeff!!!!

I look forward to seeing another one of your blades in person again in the near future.
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 28, 2007, 06:12:00 PM
Frank, You & Shell are indead special friends!  As matter of fact Shell & I already made a deal...a knife for her in cocobola to match your beloved 4 legged friend & a beaded knife sheath for me to give away at St Judes Auction '07.  I guess I'd better make something for that beautiful sheath-to-be  :)  

JL, I'm still trying to learn this trade so nothing for sale yet.  If I were looking for a knife, I'd buy a Campbell.  Now that guy can make a knife...Doc
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Rick Berry on January 28, 2007, 06:26:00 PM
JD Jones had a bow backed with Baleen. The bow was free but the cost of the flannel sock was somthing else.   :eek:  Can a person sell baleen? Was just wondering? ~Rick
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Tique on January 28, 2007, 06:45:00 PM
Nice job Doc. Any chance that pig sticker traveling to Texas?
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Ray Hammond on January 28, 2007, 07:23:00 PM
a friend sent me a piece of baleen a long time ago to use as self- nock inserts on some wood arrows...it worked beautifully...just some awesomely hard materials and Doc, you ARE doing some pretty work my friend.

Can't wait to see you and Mel...was down this weekend and saw 30 hogs...just stump shooting with my friend for miles in the swamps this time, though...didn't feel like draggin' and skinnin...

Looking forward to spending some quality time.
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 28, 2007, 07:32:00 PM
Ray, You better feel like skinnin cause I got a sheephorn skinner all sharpened for you!
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Jeremy on January 28, 2007, 08:16:00 PM
How'd I miss this one earlier??!
Looking real nice!  It's great to see what you come up with just pounding on steel!
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Bob Barnes on January 28, 2007, 08:58:00 PM
great job Jeff...it's fun to watch everyone grow in their talent right here as we watch.  it's amazing.
Bob
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Doug Campbell on January 28, 2007, 09:13:00 PM
Very nice Doc, Where'd ya get that ugly piece of damscus  ;)  You liking that new grinder, lovin both of mine!   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Danny Rowan on January 28, 2007, 09:57:00 PM
Ok Frank, what did my bro Don send ya? gotta see it.

Doc that damascus is real purty and would look good on my side,LOL.

Danny
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 28, 2007, 10:12:00 PM
Doug,  That grinder allows me to do things to steel I never dreamed I could do.  I never knew what a flat grind was until I got the KMG.  Thanks for bringing it east  :)
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Arrowslinger on January 29, 2007, 07:25:00 AM
Good job Jeff.  I really like that damascus blade.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: fxe on January 29, 2007, 07:41:00 AM
Better send me that sample to make sure it will hold up.Awesome work can't wait to see the damascus if it is anywhere close to the sample I know it will be sweet.
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Shell on January 29, 2007, 08:15:00 AM
Hey Jeff,  
That knife is drop dead gorgeous! I just hope I can make a sheath worthy of one of those fine creations of yours...  

  :thumbsup:  

I will certainly try   :)
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Ray Hammond on January 29, 2007, 10:59:00 AM
Oh, man! It's 18 degrees here in Atlanta, Jeff. They'll be all ganged up in huge droves if it stays this cold.
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 29, 2007, 01:21:00 PM
Ray, I thought I was coming South for some warmth...forget the warmth if those hogs are all in big bunches  :)
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 29, 2007, 01:25:00 PM
Shell...Your beautiful sheath will cover all my mistakes!  Heck whoever wins probably won't even take it out of your sheath  :)
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Nakohe on January 29, 2007, 03:40:00 PM
Hey Frank I told ya not to get toooo attached. LOL. You can caress her all ya want, but I do want her back at some point.  :bigsmyl:    :biglaugh:  

Very nice work Doc.

Donald
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: jeff mccray on January 29, 2007, 08:13:00 PM
Did you forge the damascus yourself Jeff?
Nice work.
Jeff
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 29, 2007, 09:28:00 PM
Jeff, No...that's just a billet that I forged the blade out of.  A power hammer would be nice but except for my new KMG grinder most of my work is low tech hammers & sweat  :)
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 29, 2007, 09:35:00 PM
Nols,  No big secret...thin super glue!  But you need to polish the finish cause the super glue doesn't penetrate.  Sanding just takes the glue off & you're right where you started. It also helps to have nice baleen, not the ends that are starting to go into the hair structure.  That's why this was just a trial knife.  My better piece will be on special knives!
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: sticshooter on January 29, 2007, 09:55:00 PM
TOO LATE Nakohe! I like BIG KNIVES!LOL<><
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Nakohe on January 29, 2007, 10:12:00 PM
GROAN, I knew I should have listened to Shell and just traced it out. Now I may never get it back.   :knothead:  

I'll think of something Frank.  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: pignut@home on January 30, 2007, 06:05:00 PM
Dang Doc,  You should know that baleen isn't bone at all.  Keratin, not unlike a horses hoof or a buffalo's horn.  How'd it smell when you were shaping it?  Of course I'm sure the old sailors weren't to picky when they were trying to figure out what to call it.

You should call that line of knives "The Mysticeti".  Mysticeti being a baleen bearing whale.

As always, great looking stuff!

Pete
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: Shell on January 30, 2007, 10:10:00 PM
Jeff,  

  Those knives of yours are top in looks and quality which makes one most desirable!

It will be very difficult to handle that knife that much without getting attatched to it.

  :D  

And the maker is what makes it most valuable  :thumbsup:  

Shell
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 31, 2007, 07:40:00 AM
Pete,  
It was easier to call it whale bone  :)  Where have you been lately?

Shell,
"the maker is what makes it most valuable"

That most definately applies to You! But thanks for the kind words...Doc
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: TexMex on January 31, 2007, 07:53:00 AM
It is awesome!
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: KrEn on January 31, 2007, 10:05:00 AM
Incredibly goodlooking knife!

Balaena, Balaenaopteridae, same word as baleen.
If you say it and listen you'll hear whale in there.

Over here they still shoot minke whale, at up to 12 tonnes apiece, thats some hunting!

I am getting some (baleen for yew), that i thought of using in a bow, some day, any tips will be appreciated.

K
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: pignut@home on January 31, 2007, 04:03:00 PM
Doc,
I'm all for easy.  
Still up here in the new house working on the shop.  I'll drop you a line this week.  This is the first time I've been around here for months.  Big Brother at work has me locked out of this site and I don't do the computer thing much at the house.  Makes going to work actualy seem like work  :( .
Title: Re: Baleen Knife Handle
Post by: tippit on January 31, 2007, 08:52:00 PM
Pete,
Heck if you can't get on tradgang at work, I sure as all get out am NOT going to apply for one of them lab animal vet positions.  I thought corporate america was going to be my retirement home  :)   Only working 3 days a week now so I guess I'll stay in private practice.  I got my shop up & running so stop by...Doc