Birth of Helmi

Stainless steel blade, vulcanized wood fibre, brass plates, curly birch, heated curly birch, brass ferrule blank, waxed thread, sheath leather, few rivets, materials for sheath reinforcement, epoxy, wood oil and leather conditioner.

Grinding the spine for the ferrule and straigthening shoulders so that the ferrule fits as good as possible.

Glueing the first block. If all blocks are glued at the same time there would be unnecessary haste with three minute epoxy.

Blocks, brass- and wood fibre plates in order and in place. Shaping may be started..

Grinding the back profile into the shape of coffin...

...and from that into the shape of cut herring. It's starting to fit in the hand although it is far from ready.

Shaping the front of the handle and the ferrule.

Shaping the "belly". Ergo shaping the front arc...

...and shaping the rear arc.

Shaping the back of the handle.

Finishing the belly and arcs, rounding edges and the final grind then the handle is ready.

Polishing brass parts and oiling. Colours starts to live.

Making of the sheath starts from the reinforcement. Cutting outlines of the blade.

Carving the reinforcement and fitting the blade.

Shaping the reinforcement with leaving some extra into the tip...

...so that the back of the reinforcement narrows towards the tip nicely. Glueing and grinding the cover for the reinforcement. Finally oiling the whole thing.

Cutting and wetting the sheath leather.

A plastic wrap for protection, couple of needels,a thread and a piercer. Sewing the sheath straight over the knife and the reinforcement with saddlemakers stitch.

The seam has been sewed but the sheath is still quite shapeless.

Shaping the sheath as it dries.

When the sheath has dried adequatly the pattern can be done.

Glueing the back of the seam so that it won't sneer later and adjusting the final tightness of the sheath with a rivet.

Making and installing the belt hoop. Finalizing the seam and treating the leather with conditioner.

Thank you for your order, P.