Finish on Scandis

[dtalbot]

Hi All,
I've got a couple of nice Skandi blades from Brisa and am planning to make a couple from scratch based on one of them so quite a bit of Scandi work going on. Looking around some scandis appear to have the unground areas of the blade left as it came from the forge more or less while some are polished. Is one of these the traditional scandi way or can it be either?
Cheers
David

[TGW]

In my opinion most of the traditional Scandis are polished, though blades with a "rough surface" are becomming more and more popular. :)
I will be happy if show us the progress of your makings.... :biggthump
:thanks:

[Mike Blue]

It's really the interpretation of the maker. Some smithy types leave the firescale surface because, I suspect, that shows the talent of the hammer in forming the bevels, tapers and general shape without having to hide mistakes with a grinder.

I too, have been fascinated over the years by the variation in surface grinds with polished flats and bevel grinds that are maybe 80 grit. However, the general focus of the Nords seems to be a working tool for a blade and the real decoration in the handle and sheath. The blade just needs to get the job done, you're going to scratch it, or forget it and let it get a little stained, you only see it when it's out.

My two cents.

[Tacol]

One of the reasons why the rough surface blades are popular is because the amateur can see and show that his knife is a piece of hand work.
The market is flooded with industrial blades, perfectly polished.

I love mirror polished blades but it seems that people try to acquire more and more rough blades.

These are the blades I sell the best in my region...

[Trond]

Most of the scandis i make has not beene grinded on the sides, just remowed the scale with a wire brush, and pollished. I for one think that if you are making a knife, then the blade should look like it is hand made too, also what Mike said about the skills of the smith, you can not grind flaws away when you make them this way. I guess it comes down to taste.

[TGW]

I agree with you Trond. In my opinion, it is a must to have a handmade blade in a Scandi. :)
A few years ago, in my early beginning of making knives, I made one with a blade from a very well known fabricator here in Norway, not to mention any name, which I presented at the knifeclub. Nobody even boter to look at it :confused:
:noggin:

[narsil]

I agree. I don't think that there is much point in mirror polishing a handmade blade unless there is a specific reason to do so like showing a hamon which obviously dosent apply to traditional skandis. If you've taken the trouble to hand forge a blade why make it look machine made?

[Sajuma]

In Finland, there is two major opinnions about this, the one that says to leave the blade from the forge and the one to polish the blade. I dunno witch one I'm with... :confused: Maybe the second one...

Sometimes the rough blade seems to me that the smith has not finished the job. If the blade is stricktly for working then it would be ok but grinding and polishing is an other skill that not many have. Masterbladesmith Hankala has no such blades in his repertoire and those my friends are forget and hand made and there is no question about it. :biggthump

There is also the aspect of cutting and staining. Highly polished blade seems to cut better, I'm talking about wood, and the patina that you have during the years of use is often nicer than rough blades.

There is also this other thing that if the blades side is black and scaled, it is not always certain that the blade was forged. Many makers like J.Marttiini, I.Jarvenpaa, Laurin teras and others use blades that have those "forged" features but are in facto stamped from sheat and stock removed.
It is a faster and cheaper to make knives this way and if puplic is buying them... :rolleyes:
It is bit like sand/bead blasted blades, it's easier to hide mistakes and it's fashionabe. Go figure...

Here just my 2 penni. :p

Juha

[Dave Barker]

I think that it has been said!

in my experience, I think it very much depends.

In 99.9 % of the knives I make i use a blade that is hand made. However there is always an exception to this rule.

Living by the sea ( and I mean about 100 meters from the atlantic) the atmosphere is somewhat.. well salty at certain times of the year.

When fishing I wouldn't want to use a carbon bladed knife, and have a couple of blades from helle that I use for this purpose, I also have a knife with a stainless blade from frank, and have a couple of filleting blades that will be finished asap.

If people want a truely habndmade knife, then it is only fitting that the blade is made by a blademsmith and not a factory.

just my 2 p too!