Günter Böhlke  Parkstr.2 56412 Grossholbach born   21.04.1943
Back to my homepage                     roadmap

Personal notes

This is a short sketch of my Curriculum Vitae as knifemaker. Naturally it is my goal to be continually developing my skills.

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.

The unhardened blade blanks are cut out using a self-made band saw and then shaped in hollow or flat grinds with a self made belt grinder. After hardening/ tempering ( have this done professionally since consistent fire hardening of high chrome content steel is extremely difficult) the blades get their final finish, with subsequent installation of handles and fittings (guard/pommels). I make the leather sheaths to match each knife individually. After etching blade logo and sharpening to a razor edge, I have usually spent from 30-50 hours on one of my knives. 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).

The fascination this kind of knife exerts on many visitors compensates me for the toil and problems which arise by preparing for such market demonstrations. I recommend the Middle Ages markets and the accompanying knight games to anyone who wants to get insight into unusual and extremely interesting professions and Hobbies, e.g. like my friend Norman Hotum (110 KB)  who has made medieval book and document painting his profession.

PS. Although I now also have a professional belt grinder and a band saw, I still use the basic tools of the trade.

My logo, with which I mark my high-grade steel knives:

I don't disfigure Damascus blades with a logo. A small gold disc with a "B" is all I will use to not disturb the Damascus picture.

 

---