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This Knife Set has been "SOLD", but if you would like something simliar,

please email me at:
mark@decoustudio.com for more information.

Here are other Knife Sets I've built:





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Project Story

I am pleased to show this 2nd set of Custom Steak Knives. This set includes 12 knives, with an added hone/sharpener, and a can of Renaissance Wax. The display box was made from air-dried Kansas Walnut, that was cut at least 25 years ago, and had lots of pretty sap wood that was streaked with black spalting lines. I used a couple of knots to add turquoise-chip inlay. The overall design of this set is "refined-rustic," perfect for a western style, cabin style, log home, or cowboy chic designed interior.

The knives are held in place on their leather covered cradles with a board that bolts down with two nuts made from antler rosettes. The turquoise-chip inlay work on the walnut board is the first and last name initials of the husband and wife of the family that these knives are going to.

Thanks for looking,
Mark DeCou
www.decoustudio.com

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Here is a quick photo of the turquoise-chip inlay work. Just hammer the rocks into chips, fill the inlay, and glue. Course, there are some tricks, and pitfalls, but give it a try sometime.



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Here is my blog posting on this project:
Tonight, I Finished My Second Custom Steak Knife Set. Is it the Last?

Here is another set of knives similar to this Steak Knife Set:


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What is "Scrimshaw" you say?
Go to this blog, for a thorough discussion and examples of my past work:

A Scrimshaw Art Journey

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If you like knives, here are some other LJ project postings of knives I have built:

Damascus Steel Hunting Knives:
  1. Elk Antler with Turquoise Nugget Custom Knife
  2. Large Damascus Steel Blade Custom Knife with Antler, Turquoise and Brass
  3. Custom Hunting Knife with Elk Shed Antler Handle, Ivory, Scrimshaw, and Hand-forged Damascus Blade
  4. Custom Knife with Damascus Steel Blade & Whitetail Deer Shed Antler
  5. Custom Art Knives, set of three with Damascus Steel Blades and Scrimshaw artwork

Damascus Stainless Steak Knife Sets:
  1. Elk Antler & Fossilized Walrus Six (6) Piece Steak Knife set in a box
  2. Elk Antler & Scrimshaw Steak Knives for the Gold Bar Dining Room in Las Vegas
  3. Deer Crown Antler Steak Knife Set and Box with Turquoise Inlay

Folding Knives:
  1. Custom Folding Knife with Zebra Wood, Abalone, and Scrimshaw Ready
  2. Custom Folding Knife: Elk Antler Handle, Turquoise Stone, Abalone, Nautical Scrimshaw Artwork
  3. Custom Folding Knife with Elk Naturally Shed Antler Handle

Stainless Steel Hunting Knives:
  1. Commemorative Bowie Knife with Whitetail Deer Shed Antler Handle for a Retiring Navy Seal Veteran
  2. A Young Soldier's Commemorative Hunting Knife, with Elk Antler Handle and Scrimshaw Artwork
  3. Custom Hunting Knife with Elk Naturally Shed Antler Handle
  4. Custom Deep Cut Skinner Hunting Knife with Elk Naturally Shed Antler Handle
  5. Skinning Knife, with Gut Hook, Elk Natural Shed Antler Handle
  6. Custom Knife; Frontier Bowie with Elk Naturally Shed Antler Handle

Here is my website page with knives:
Mark DeCou Studio Knife Page Website

(Note: All photos, project design, and text is protected by copyright 2007-2012 by the author M.A. DeCou, all rights reserved, no unauthorized use of this material in whole, or part is allowed without expressed written permission.)

Thanks for looking,
Mark DeCou
decoustudio.com

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
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2,489 Posts
They still look as good as they did this morning on the blog. Boy, that's luck, huh?
 

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469 Posts
Another great project Mark. This is very impressive as usual.
 

· Registered
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9,145 Posts
Great project Mark. You going to be able to get it out to the customer, with all of the ice storms on the way.
 

· Registered
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939 Posts
Mark, another great looking project.
 

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285 Posts
Yes Mark, you have took another big leap towards your goal with this project. I might give this knife thing a try. Thanks Mark!
 

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2,000 Posts
Wow…amazing! I love the "live" edge on the top and bottom!
 

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59 Posts
Fantastic! You are a heck of a craftsman. Really love those knives and the box - wow!
 

· Registered
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6,840 Posts
Great creftsmanship, Mark!

What type of glue did you use for the turquoise inlay? I've done something like that with two-part epoxy.
 

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262 Posts
Impressive! I like this a lot and wish I was doing this kind of work.
 

· In Loving Memory
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2,704 Posts
Like I said Mark, I know you would'nt like to do the same thing every day, so maybe come out here to Michigan, teach me to Scrim and you go back to what you were doing and I'll give you credit for everyone I sell, promise. Of course I'll give you your usual say 2-3 % commission or we could talk about that. Oh almost forgot, beautiful work as usual. mike
 

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Beautiful!
You're going to need a lot of antlers, when more people see this.
 

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that's what I was thinking, Dick.. I'd better tell Rick to keep his eyes open!
 

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690 Posts
All I can say Mark is, YOU'RE GOOD!!!
 

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703 Posts
you all are so kind to me. I can see why I am so addicted to being an LJ'er. I think Wife is about to start up a website for recovering LJ addicts (she thinks I check in too often). I told her that there wouldn't be any members, since none of us want "help" yet. Then the term "intervention" was floated around.

We are in the middle of an ice storm, so I can only check the computer every few hours when I crank up the generator, a left over item from my Y2K preparations. Remember that one?

The glue I use for the turquoise chips inlay is CA glue, both thin, and medium viscosity. I have tried epoxy, but it creates bubbles when it mixes, and those are ugly in inlay chips. The only way to use epoxy for such things I have found is to use long-curing mixes, and pour it in a vacuum chamber, or let it drip down a long thin channel before it fills the void. Still, there are voides.

I fill the inlayed area with chips and dust carefully first, and then float some Thin CA glue into the cavity and let it cure WITHOUT activator. After about an hour, I hit it with Activitator. Let it sit for about half an hour,, and then fill it again, and reglue, and repeat the process, until the voids are filled.

Then I sand it all flat with a belt sander, and sand up through the grits, and then burnish mostly with worn out 400 grit paper on the oribital sander, and then hand sand with #0000 steel wool. Then, I saturate it with Danish Oil, let it cure for 24 hours, and then put a few light coats of Deft Satin Lacquer, and then hand rub it out flat with #0000 steel wool.

Nothing is easy and quick, but the look is hard to beat. I actually liked this lettering style better than the carved letters I did on the first set of knives. I was looking for something different, and I just happened to glance on the shelf and noticed my storage container of turquoise, and then idea sunk in.

The Danish oil gives the walnut it's deep luster, while the Lacquer protects the wood, and does some grain filling, and gives it that smooth warm buttery feel to the touch.
 

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Thanks Mike for the offer to help, it would be fun working with you, whether you are joking, or not. BUT, we have to wait and see if there are any more steak knives to build.

As for antlers: I am always looking for more. They are given to me quite frequently, as most hunters and ranchers don't really know what to do with them. After you've got a bunch of mounts already, and the wife doesn't want any more deer heads hanging around, they sort of just pile up. After seeing me put them to use, they sometimes gift them to me for my work.

There is actually a network of folks that work hard to gather Shed Antlers. They did an article on my cane and knife work some time back.

Here is a link to the articles:
http://shedantler.net/archives/2006/12/27/walking-cane-with-shed-antler-handle/

http://shedantler.net/archives/2006/12/27/projects-made-from-damaged-shed-antlers/
 

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Y2K--of all the places I expected that to come up--it was not in a MARK DeCOU posting--or anywhere on lj's for that matter….to funny…but glad you were ready!!!

ANOTHER GREAT POST--that is why I check everyday…great surprises…beautiful work..
 
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