Tips&tricks - Using linseed oil

When using linseed oil on knife handles, it is advisable to wipe off the oil from the metal parts when the oil is still wet, before starting to polymerize and harden, as it is a bit harder to do it later.

My first own design and build

This is the first knife I designed and built by myself. Ok, this isn't totally true, as the heat treatment of the blade was made by a company specialized in this. Anyway, this is what the design looks like. 

I used ground flat stock, I bought a piece 3 mm x 75 mm x 500 mm. This is O1 steel. 

At the moment, I finished the knife. I attached the handle and it is currently drying after 3 coats of linseed oil. I need to take and add pictures of the completed knife.

Lauri 120

This knife would be my first one. I decided to use a Scandi style blade, but I didn't want to use a short one (8-9 cm), so I chose this Lauri 120 blade (12 cm long). The bolster is made of aluminum (at the time I did the knife I didn't have any thicker brass, copper or nickel silver). The darker wood is oak. The middle part of the handle is made out of Black Locust. The spacers are copper and leather. I glued the handle with epoxy.

 The sheath is made of vegetable tanned leather. It is pretty thick - about 4 mm. I didn't make a belt loop, as I don't like to wear a knife in sight. As this should be a bushcraft knife, it can be carried in the backpack.

I forgot to mention the handle has about 3 coats of linseed oil on it.

Starting my adventure

I've been making stuff since all my life. I even  finished some of the projects I started. It seems this knife making stuff is getting a bit more serious than any of my previous passions / hobbies.

I was involved in building models - airplane models, ship models etc. That passion faded away when I discovered knife making.

This blog is my playground - I am trying to present some of the works, be it knives or other stuff I make.