In 1985 a friend saw my first handmade knife at a field archery competition and was so taken with it's beauty that he decided that he had to have one. This desire turned me into a hobby so that now I make about 30 using, hunting and collector knives, including some antique dagger and sword models a year.
Although I make a number of small light knives, my preferences tend towards knives used by archers. Such knives are very solid, some with blade thickness of up to 6 mm ( about 1/4"). I especially ensure that the grips are anatomically correct, filling the hand.
These are knives made of the best materials available. Some steels are only available in small quantity through my good connections with German professional knifemakers.
After etching the blade logo and sharpening to a razor edge, I have usually spent from 30-50 hours on one of my knives, with lots of hand work involved. I also fulfill just about any individual wish according to customer supplied sketches or after direct discussion with the customer. Looking at the knives it may seem unbelievable to many that this is only a hobby for which I have worked out the needed knowledge and abilities and which has nothing to do with my learned profession (television engineer) and my present official job. In the picture(s) you can see some detail of the work done on the handles. I demonstrate the processing of the handles at the craftsman and Middle Ages markets held here; I don't need any machines for this since this is achieved with file and emery cloth only. Rather than just demonstrating the work directly, It is much more important for me to show and to explain to the broad audience that even today, knives can still made by hand. I especially enjoy demonstrating the beauty and variety possible in making the knives (also as art objects).
PS. Although I now also have a professional belt grinder and a band saw, I still use the basic tools of the trade.
 | Mosaik-damascus, nickel silver, desert ironwood, Malachit; sheath: elephant leather. |
 | BG42, nickel silver, desert ironwood, mosaic pins. |
 | Pyramid damascus, damascus bolsters, desert ironwood, mosaic pins; sheath: inlay beaver tail. |
 | 6 strand twisted damascus fully integral, mammoth ivory, silver rivets. |
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E-mail:
Boehlke-Messer@t-online.de
Web:
http://www.boehlke-messer.de/