Neck knives are real handy. Old time black powder shooters mainly used them for cutting off the patch behind the ball, but traditional bowhunters have found many uses for them...wearing around camp for cutting meat, opening packages,cutting cheddar cheese blocks, pepperoni sticks and apples for lunch while out hunting (my favorite use for one), even gutting critters if ya get lucky from quail to deer ;) They are always in a handy place and don't weigh your pants down.
Commercial neck knives are rare, and even rarer are good blades for making your own. Recently Wingnut took over Helle blades here in the states and knowing my fondness for neck knives called me up when he found a neat blade from Helle that would make (pardon the pun) "one Helle va neck knife" LOL. So I ordered a couple sight unseen. Cost is negligible, about $20 shipped.
Came in today. All I can say is these are NICE. Here's a pic of my usual neck knife (made from bandsaw blade) and the Helle blade along with a Magnus broadhead for size perspective. Blade is 2 1/4" long and the tang 3 3/4" long for 6" overall.
I'm going to shorten the tang a bit and mount one in a piece of deer horn.Should make a dandy hunting/camp tool. :campfire:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06080001.jpg)
Nice looking blade
Dang, I know idea a Magnus BH was that big. LOL
Yep that little guy will find a home with me this year too.
Mike
VERY Nice looking blade. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
Yours Too Mickey :smileystooges: :bigsmyl:
Added to my wish list...'bout page ten though, its a big list... :p
Can't wait to see the finished product Mickey!
Ron the only difference between my blade and the Helle is..well.. a lot! :readit:
Oh yea and the Helle is really sharp already..I mean REALLY sharp :eek:
Thinking about doing a build along on this, so people can see how really easy it is to build your own knife with one of these blades.
i really like the design.........and just the right size..........a build-a-long would be GREAT :bigsmyl:
Mickey, Those Helle blades are hard to beat...but as you say:
Yea I build my gear with my own hands, keep it simple that's the plan, some of you will understand.....
Some of my unfinished neck knives plus a forged trade point...Doc
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/NeckerRebeccasQuillwork.jpg)
Now Tippet don't go tempting me with cool hand made stuff. Love looking at your wares, cool blades, awesome sheath, neat trade point.If I only had that kind of talent.
Beautiful knife Mickey! I can't wait to see that Helle finished :thumbsup:
Dazzling once again, Doctor! :thumbsup:
Mickey,
Finished products of things to hang around your neck. Dall Sheep horn & TX Sweat Ranch Dump bone...Doc
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/NeckKnives002.jpg)
Doc that quill work is amazing!! Your work isn't to shabby either. LOL!!!
Look forward to the buildalong Micky. I have never built a hidden tang knife, so it would be VERY helpful for me.
great looking blades there guys i recon im gonna have a go at making something like that!
I love BIG knives and small knives. And I like med size knives. They are great knives and ya don't even know ya got one on. <><
I likes knives - of all kinds!!!
I vote for a build a long. I waslooking at the Helle blades and never having built a knife before makes me kinda gun shy on a project like this.
wislnwings..it is really an easy project. First tape up your blade with masking tape or painters tape. Take your handle material, drill a 1/4" (if memory serves me) hole deep enough for the tang. I like to score the tang some with a file to give the epoxy something to bite into. (You could drill some holes in it I suppose).Mix up some 2 part epoxy and put a bunch in the hole you drilled in your handle material. Slide your tang down in until it bottoms. Take more epoxy and stuff it down in the hole. Use a tooth pick or blade from a broomstick and work it up and down in the epoxy to get rid of any air bubbles. Keep adding epoxy and working out the bubbles until the hole is filled. Let dry.
Been a few years since I did one but that's how I remember doing it.
Others who have made them please feel free to add your methods.
That sounds easier than I thought. I'll have to give it a try as soon as I'm done moving. Thanks.
:thumbsup: Awesome post! Just yesterday I got the itch to make a neck knife from a helle blade.
Made a couple of belt knifes for friends out of the "odel" blade from helle, but they seem too long for a neck knife.
I drilled two holes (tang width) next to each other.
The idea was to not give the tang any room to move. Turned out real difficult though, the drill kept sliding into the first hole and finnaly broke off. :rolleyes:
I'll post some pics as soon as I get my hands on a digi-cam.
P.s. Great hint 4nolz...will have to remember that the next time.
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Mickey, Those Helle blades are hard to beat...but as you say:
Yea I build my gear with my own hands, keep it simple that's the plan, some of you will understand.....
That's just plain cruel Doc, throwing a man's word back at him like that! :jumper:
I've taken a liking to neck knives too. Didn't think I would, but after wearing one around for a few months it's hard to deny they're handy!
Here are a few of mine:
Mike\\'s (http://home.earthlink.net/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://home.earthlink.net/~jsteflik1306/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/mikeg1.jpg&target=tlx_new)
Keith\\'s (http://home.earthlink.net/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://home.earthlink.net/~jsteflik1306/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/kd.jpg&target=tlx_new)
Phil\\'s (http://home.earthlink.net/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://home.earthlink.net/~jsteflik1306/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/phillip.jpg&target=tlx_new)
First off....I'll order one of those blades on monday Mike.... Second... Doc the shape and style of that Dall Sheep knife just does it for me, Sweet!!!
Mark
What is toooo small for a neck knife? I like them new Helle blade.<><<><
Ferret,
A friend of mine, Bill Nash, used to make knives from steel blanks and he did an AWESOME job at it. He was so impressed with the Helle knives that he now makes them out of their blanks, mostly. After he started using them, a bunch of guys in our Trad club started using them. A 14 year old young man in our club used two longer blanks to make two beautiful knives for friends of ours from England.
I took a Helle polar and had a neck sheath made for it and won't use anything else. Now, if I can just find some time to start building one or two for myself...
Jeremy,
Yea but I don't do a fraction of the stuff Mickey does. Just thought they might like to see some other types of neck knives ;) Doc
Mikey, Mike,
Not being too picky, but just where are these blades manufactured? I've become a bit sensitive about buying and finding that my money is going to countries that are not exactly our friends.
Lobo in West Virginia
Lobo, Helle is a Norwegian company. I'm not sure where their factory is though.
Doc, I'm just messing with ya! ;)
Helle makes a real nice blade. That Scandanavian grind had me confused when I first saw it, but I think that was more because the guy had sharpened it like you would any other knife! He just couldn't figure out why he couldn't get that thing sharp!! :jumper:
Jeremy,
Norway would be just fine!
Lobo in West Virginia
here are my latest three, two of which are the small blade you have there ferret....wish i would have had the sense to take a picture with the blades cleaned up before i gave them away.
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/sndmn11/PICT0306.jpg)
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/sndmn11/PICT0310.jpg)
Tippitt
Pleae get in touch with me. I would like to talk to you about making me a sheath.
Steve
longbws2@comcast.net
Ferrett -- I hope you can help out here with the blade names (durn fureigners!). I believe it's the same blade you picture that I used for my first Helle knife, with deer antler handle on shortened tang. But unless you grind the antler flat, it's too round and bulky for a neck knife. I gave mine to my wife. Also, that blade is high carbon steel, which is fine if that's what you like. But one of the best things about Helle is the remarkable 3-layer stainless composite blades that sharpen easy and dull hard. So second time around, I ordered a blade about the same size, but stainless and a short tang with notches to give it more adhesion in handle. This time I used osage orange and it's now my favorite blade (of too many!), though too small for elk. For that, I have two Helle "Fire" knives, with handles I could never improve on. Odd thing about Helle is that it has so quickly almost become the "official" knife for trad bowhunters (we can't all make our own from scratch, though I wish I could). It's also the official knife of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, which uses them for various membership promos. Dave
Mickey, Thats going to be a nice neck knife. I think that blades going to be my next project.
Dave2old..this is an Ola-kniven Knivblad #56 which I think translated meany "little knife"? LOL
I couldn't tell you what the material is. I'm not a metal expert, but I am a small knife afficianado ha ha. I can see where flattened sides on the antler tine would be helpful.
I have a couple of Helle knives I have made. All I can say is be very careful so you don't loose an appendage. They come scary sharp. I wrapped mine in a piece of thin leather and wrapped em with packing tape so I could work on them. Serves to protect the nice shiny finish and covers up that sharp edge.
QuoteOriginally posted by 4nolz:
and save some antler dust from sanding to add to the epoxy to blend it in at the surface.
Excellent idea!!
Teh Ola-kniven Knivblad #56 is a triple laminated stainless blade and is new for this year. The smallest before this was the Polar.
Mike
BTW Mickey you ran me outta stock on this blade. LOL Next shipment is due on the 18th or so.
Ferret,
Wingnut owes you a thanks. Loved your idea and bought three blades for making a neckknife for friends. (I have been trying to figure out what to make for them as they are all better bowyers than I.) This neckknife may become a good way for me to make somehting special for fellow Traditional friends.
John
OK here we go..first off I couldn't finsd a piece of antler that suited me. I needed straight for 3 1/2" and the most straight antler i had without cutting up some elk sheds in the garden were only straight for about 2" so I went to my overlay box and found a cool piece of wood. It was big enough for me to cut (2) handle blanks from 3/4" square by 3 1/2" long.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110003.jpg)
Next I drilled a 1/4" hole..3 1/4" deep into the handle. The 1/4" hole was a perfect fit for this tang and it snuggly slips right in.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110002.jpg)
Next I needed to decide what handle shape I was going to use. You can use your imagination here (within limits) and I think on one of these I'll shape it something like the red outline. The yellow lines shows where I'll take a dremel with a cut off blade and shorten the tang and make little notches in the tang for the epoxy to bite into. Of course final shape is liable to change some once you get to removing wood and wanting the handle to feel good in your hand, but this is where I'm going to start (after thinning the width some.) Leave it full width until after you drill your holes, this also gives you an option on using any side for the sides depending on grain pattern and orientation
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/knifeshape.jpg)
Just a couple of quick tips I've come up with while building knives from the Helle blades...
I don't like to tape the blades, because of the tape residue, so I make a blade cover out of a manila folder or thin cardboard of some kind, then tape it up good to keep the blade edge covered. If you make it snug, it will do the job nicely, but can still be removed when needed, then put back on.
Second tip is to keep someone from ruining drill bits. If you want to drill the tang on the Helle blades, you can't do it unless you anneal them. A small propane torch will do the annealing job...just don't let it ruin the temper of the blade. Heat it just enough to turn the metal blue on the tang.
Great looking blade, Mickey. Can't wait to see what you do to finish it up. I will have to get me a couple of them soon. Been meaning to make me a neck knife for a long time.
The top profile of the handle should look something like this..tapering from the butt to the blade
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/knifeshape2.jpg)
Because the hole is round the tang doesn't have a specific direction to go into the wood and you could actually put in in like this and do a whole lot less shaping
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110004.jpg)
it actually fits into your hand pretty nicely and gives a good grip with no sanding at all (just looks kinda funky)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110005.jpg)
Here's something to think about. On the knife I'm building (well on all knives I build whether commercial blades, bandsaw blades or flint) I try and put a little indent or leave some space between the blade and the handle
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/knifeshape3.jpg)
This gives a locator and a stop so your index finger doesn't slide into the sharp part of the blade when cutting down
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/knifeshape5.jpg)
and conversely, when you flip the knife over for unzipping a critter it does the same for your thumb and gives you somethig to push against
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/knifeshape4.jpg)
The tops of most blades are flat so you don't need a locator or pusher on top, however some primitive blades, especially flint are sharp on both edges and need locators top and bottom. (Tippits blade on the right in the bottom pic on page 1 is a good example of that)
well, I ran into a snag...handle shaping was going along nicely... here's the top profile next to the other handle block for comparison
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110015.jpg)
and the side profle
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110014.jpg)
It felt good in my hand too
but in case you didn't see it in the above pics, here's what I ran into
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110016.jpg)
stinking worm hole and tunnel (tunnel is right above my thumbnail) :mad: . I don't know whether to call it "antiquing" or "character" or JUNK! LOL
Trying to decide how/if to continue.... :banghead:
Mickey,
I noticed that in the first pic. I would call it character and continue, IMHO. As long as it does not hurt the structural integrity of the piece then it is cosmetic. In this case it's Mother Nature's cosmetic touch on your new knife.
You may be right Forester.
I taped off the blade with painters tape (low residue), cut off the end of the tang, and put little grooves in the tang for the epoxy to bite on to using my dremel tool with cut off blade. It's now ready you be inserted into the handle as soon as I decide whether to use this handle or not.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110017.jpg)
Mickey,
How much of the tang did you cut off and what overall length are you going to end up with ?.....stabow
Ferret,read your post last week and ordered the blade.Thanx for the build along pics and info.It came in the mail today.I pumped.
I just ordered 3 off them. See that there out of stock till the 18th. Looks like a good project this summer and give a couple to my hunting buddies......stabow
stabow I cut this one off at 2 1/2" from the little ridge because I may slot the front of the handle a little bit to pull the blade further back in. Gonna discuss it with my brother and see if he agrees that's a good plan.
Overall length should be 5 3/4"
BTW Wingnut called and said the wood I'm using is Mesquite from the southwest, AZ, Texas etc. It's a real pretty wood. I must have gotten itwhen Dianne and I visited AZStickman a while back.
Well there you go...wormy mesquite....prized by many in the southwest just like wormy chestnut here in the Appalachians.....your knife will be the envy of all! :saywhat:
Well I sanded out 100% of the worm holes and 95% of the tunnels. The handle is pretty small now but I actually like it better. Gluing it up was a piece of cake. Mixed up some 2 part 5 minute epoxy and using a popsickle stick put a bunch down into the hole. Slid the handle in and out a couple times to get rid of air pockets and then added more epoxy and slid the knife tang in. This time it filled up the hole to overflowiing which I wiped off with a paper towel. Then I sprinkled some sawdust from the sanding process per 4Nolz suggestion, and pushed it into the epoxy with the end of another popsickle stick. Blew off the excess sawdust and set it aside to dry. I still need to tru oil the handle and make a sheath with neck strap. Think I'll try and make it like the one Tippet showed on the bottom of page 1.
Here's the final knife pics
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06120001.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06120002.jpg)
One of the easier projects in traditional archery thanks to Helle. :thumbsup:
So whatcha think?
Really nice job, Mickey. Got me fired up to try one myself. Thanks for the tutorial,
Chuck
Looks GREAT :thumbsup:
Good job Mickey! I really like that little knife. Thank you very much for that build along. Your descriptions here make me think even I could make a serviceable handle for a Helle blade. Thanks again!
Thanks for the pics and info. Great job! Larry
That knife is awesome! Great job :thumbsup:
I'll send you some quills for your sheath if you want to add them.
Looking real interesting :thumbsup: ...can't wait to see it oiled!
I about have the second one ready for glue up. This one will go to my Bro Randy. He wanted his larger and oval in shape with some kind of plate between the handle and the blade. I found some neat horn in my overlay box and drilled a hole in it for the tang, then shaped it to match the handle.Still have to shorten the tang and put the grooves in it and glue it all together. This one is cut from the same piece of Mesquite mine is out of
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06130002.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06130004.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06130003.jpg)
Forester this is so easy a group of cub scouts could make good looking knives out of them. Chunk of wood, 1/4" hole a little deeper than the tang, shape the handle and glue it together.
Someone with real talent could make a fancy handle block from several pieces of wood cut on angles and glued together and make an awesome knife like the one in Shells avatar.
Or someone could find a piece of wood that grew that way, like Tippit did for Shells knife! It is the most amazing piece of cocobolo I have seen - that blond piece isn't glued on - it's natural!
natural blonde...just like me :D
Ok...no jokes please... :p
I like the antler idea, I have some mule deer antler a friend gave me that I could combine with the wood that would look good......stabow
Dang it Mickey! I can't keep up with all the projects I have going on right now, with making bows, arrows,strings,quivers, trying to learn how to knapp and wanting to do cane arrows. Now I gotta make a neck knife :saywhat: . There is just no end to all the cool trad stuff to build!
I don't know how you find the time but I'm glad you share these things with us. Thanks for another great build-along....Terry
ok Mickey, lets see the finished pic's PLEASE
( i like the wood and horn combo :bigsmyl:
Just finished up the sheath for mine (Bro Randy can make his own ha ha)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06140002.jpg)
Whip..no kidding that was a single piece of wood? Amazing!
:clapper: :clapper:
Mickey, man that looks great, the stone point really set off the sheath!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup: :notworthy: :clapper:
BTW this one for Bro Randy
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06130002.jpg)
was made by mounting the blade in the position shown in this photo
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06110004.jpg)
and basically rounding off the corners. Super easy.
nice looking blades there Mickey. I think one of those would fit rather nicely in an armguard sheath of sorts.
Here is one that I made from that style of blade. Its not a neck knife but a buddy wanted one made and I figured this to be a good one for him. (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e349/trdtnlbwhntr/IMG_0702.jpg)
Mickey
Nice job! :thumbsup:
Lat pic..finally finished. I ended up putting a matching horn butt plate on Bro Randy's knife and then put a couple black accent stripes on the seams to set if off. Got some more tru oil and each knife got 6 coats with light steel wooling between the coats. Baby butt smooth now.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/theferret111/2007_06170038.jpg)
Been a fun and easy project.
Nice job
Nice lookin' knives Mickey. You did an excellent job as usual. That knapped head is really a nice touch to the sheath. Did you knap it? It is beautiful.
VI Archer..I think you're right
Dustin..nice looking knives
Thanks Joe and everyone else who has looked in and commented onthis thread
Notice how the blade looks large on the small handle and small on the bigger handle?
Chuck, no I didn't knap it, I got it in a trade a couple years ago. I don't know who the orignial knapper was. Cool head though.
Absolutly Beautiful great job
Nice work lil buddy!
Fine looking knives :thumbsup:
Nice work. Thanks for sharing.
to top for Shakes
Thanks Mick!! :thumbsup: :archer:
Way to go Mickey. Those are both very nice. This thread was the straw that broke the camel's back. I picked up a pair of Helle blades at ETAR. I will be happy if my handles/knives come out half as sharp as yours! But I'm going to give it a whirl.
Excellent Reference Material Micky!! The "Neck Knives" dont need any "Rivets" for lack of other words? Like the Big Knives have?
Looks Good Mickey..
But whatcha working on now? ...Just cause its a 100 today is no time to lay up. :D
G
Geno been working on my chapter for TBB4 all day. You guys don't know how much work goes into writing by someone elses standards ha ha. Will be working on some flint tipped cane arrows soon.
No even when used for dressing and skinning they don't need any rivets. Heck my belt knives don't need rivets. Now if I were using my knives as camp knives where I might be splitting wood or pounding on them to split a pelvic bone I might consider rivets or pins, but that's what a Hawk is for ;)