Olive wood

[JensJ]

My third knife (made in 2001), and the first one I was really happy with:
-OAL 17 cm (6.7 in)
-blade (cutting edge) 6.5 cm (2.6 in), width 2.5 cm (1 in), thickness 3.5 mm
-handle olivewood treated with Danish oil with brass pins, max. thickness 1.5 cm (0.6 in)
-halftanned leather sheath, without a belt loop-just to be put in a pocket.

It shows some details I have added to nearly all my knives since this one: a small choil to ease sharpening, bevelling of all expose tang areas…I added some simple grove ‘filework‘ on the spine, and one ‘arrowhead’ filework at the front (I’m not really happy about the filework, and have stopped doing it for now-somehow I prefer the look and feel of a nice, smooth spine). The handle is short, but long enough to fit my full hand-no three finger knife for a change. All in all, its still one of my favourite designs.

http://www.messerforum.net/_album/data/32bb90e8976aab5298d5da10fe66f21d/122_p2453.jpg

Ok, that’s it for now-no more knives to show. Time to get back to the workshop… :rolleyes:

Jens.

[shing]

Nice comfortable looking knife Jens

[dtalbot]

Nice knife, but the craft supplies catalouge says olive wood is agressivly corrosive with steel, anyone any experience of this, can it be used for handles without causing damage in the longer term?
David

[familne]

That's a very useful looking knife Jens

[JensJ]

dtalbot-I have no idea, never heard of any trouble with olive wood before. I know that it has a history of being used for handles, not only on knives, because of the low tendency to shrink or crack. A number of production companies are using it for knives, and lots of knifemakers are, so I can't really imagine any trouble occuring...

Thanks, guys :)

Jens.

edit: I have some scraps around somewhere-I'll knock some steel nails into it and see if anything happens in the long term.

[David Morgan]

Could you tell us what state you got the olive wood in? I've got a chunk (haven't used it yet) and it is extremely oily. I would imagine that it is these oils and the chemicals that they contain that would be nasty for steel, and bad for epoxy or other adhesives. If the wood were de-oiled (an acetone soak for example) enough for the epoxy to take then the reduced oil levels combined with the film of epoxy between the wood and the steel could be enough to avoid any problems.

[JensJ]

I received the wood in dry condition-but it was very oily, thats right. All I did was wipe the area where the epoxy would go with acetone a few times, and then epoxied it on. But that is recommended for all oily woods...I wouldn't soak the wood in acetone, as it is the oilyness which stops this wood from shrinking. The knife has been around for 3 years now, and the knifemaker who gave me the wood has been making knives with olive wood for much longer (and he uses mainly non-stainless steels)...so I think its no problem.

Actually, in fresh state, I could imagine that a lot of woods would 'enhance' contact erosion, especially with mild steels...but I have never heard of a knife blade/tang rusting because of the wood used...I also just did a google search on 'olive wood corrosion' and didn't find any information.

Jens.

[Tantalus]

imho the oily feel of olive wood is one of its attractions

seems a shame to soak it in acetone and remove the oil

just my opinion not tryin to start a massive fight honest

perhaps some protection between steel and wood would solve the corrosive aspect?
Tant

[jbaron]

fanatastic what a great knife i want it lol

[MushiSushi]

baring in mind oils usually protect steel rather than corode it I don't see there being a problem. As to soaking the wood in acetone to remove the oil ... you better replace it with something else quick because the oil is what preserves the wood and supports it's structure, remove the oil and you weaken the wood and increase the chance of it splitting

[JensJ]

fanatastic what a great knife i want it lol

Nope ;) This one is a keeper-somehow I can't let go of my early knives...

Jens.

[Tantalus]

hmmmmm ok

seems we wont persuade you to sell it :banghead:

how about if we suggest you make something similar ? :D

it really looks a pretty knife

Tant

[Trond]

Jens you are really impressing me with those fullers of yours, well done ! :)

[stonehard]

The spanish use Olive wood for knives and other steel tools I have not heared of them doing any harm. Puma have quite a lot of olive wood handles in their collection. Good enough for Puma good enough for me.

[stonehard]

On second thoughts I know for sure Olive wood is ok for steel
I have been olive oiling a cast iron skillet with it for about 20 years.
Mind you some of thos old Roman Swords might have been made with olive wood and look how they rusted.

[JensJ]

Thanks again, guys. I'm working on some new designs at the moment-but only on paper...by summer, I hope to have time for making knives again.

Jens.

[Coop747]

That's a beauty and carefully made. Congrats, Jens!

Coop

[JensJ]

Thanks, Jim :)

[TimHecht]

I've handled one knife in Med. Olive Wood I got from Koval Knives....beautiful marble like pattern to the wood...only two darn problems I had while making it:

1. As stated previously, very oily; clogged the sanding belts very fast

and

2. Smelling it while sanding made me very hungry; smelled like I was sauteing something; tasty!