Scrimshaw Addiction

Wild Beast Tiger Scrimshaw Knife

Step 1 – 4/2/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next scrimshaw will be on a “Fighter Knife” that I made years ago. The knife blade is 440c stainless steel with Snake Wood, Sterling Silver spacers, and a Whale tooth handle.

The overall length of the knife is 320 mm, with a weight of 441 grams.

Here’s the knife with an ivory handle.

 

 

 

 

 

A close up of the handle to be scrimshawed.

Step 2 – 5/2/20

This picture shows the knife handle with the picture attached ready to cut out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3 – 8/2/20

This picture shows the Tiger cut out and black paint applied. I have masked the remainder of the knife with masking tape so as not to mark the knife as I work.

A problem had arisen, when I added the black paint; the ivory is quite porous and has soaked up the paint and left a cloudy effect on the ivory, I may have overheated the ivory when I polished it.

I think I will be able to overcome this problem, “here’s hoping.” (“here’s hoping” is a well-known saying of the world-famous “Hacker,” Gareth Herring.)

 

Step 4 – 20/2/20

This picture shows the areas with black finished; now the fun starts, the color.

Step 5 – 21/2/20

The background is now complete; next, I will do the Tiger. Because of the curvature of the Ivory, the picture looks out of proportion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the bamboo leaves to the left of the head are finished. This has been a major undertaking. Each of these leaves has taken hours of work to get right because the light filtering through adds a dappling effect. This is a perfect example of why it’s so important to find the right picture to copy.

Step 3 – 21/2/20

The colour is now applied, I have now finished the scrimshaw, its time for the base.

Step 4 – 22/2/20

I’m not sure what wood this is, I found it in the offcuts bin at the local timber yard. I made the nameplate from Mammoth ivory.

The finished scrimshaw.

 

The End.

Contact Rod: randclacey@bigpond.com