Old Bulgarian knife
- Eustace
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Old Bulgarian knife
This old knife gave me a friend. He told me it was his great-grandfather. Ask to make a handle. I tried to do something as close as possible to what was 150 years ago.
I'm not happy with the result, but for the first time I make something like that.
I'm not happy with the result, but for the first time I make something like that.
- edge213
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
I think you did a great job.
David
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"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
- philco
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Eustace I think you did a wonderful job of restoring that knife for you friend. I'm very impressed !

Phil
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- jerryd6818
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
I don't know what your problem is Georgi. It looks fine to me.
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The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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doglegg
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
If he isn't, send it my way, I think it looks great. Good job.
- Eustace
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Thank you for good words!
- Mumbleypeg
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
I say "Well done!"
Ken
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If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
- glennbad
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
I see nothing wrong with it, looks really nice!
- OLDE CUTLER
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- Eustace
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doglegg
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
You do great work Eustace. Does the antler handled table ware have a name? Is it a particular style?Eustace wrote:New handle of Old Bulgarian...fork
- glennbad
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Wow, very nice!
- orvet
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Nicely done! 
Dale
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- Eustace
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
This is my contraption. I had an old broken fork and a piece of horn, and I thought about what I could do. Free style.doglegg wrote:You do great work Eustace. Does the antler handled table ware have a name? Is it a particular style?Eustace wrote:New handle of Old Bulgarian...fork
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doglegg
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Here I have seen dinner ware with antler handles referred to as Lodge ware. I don't know that that is an official name. But I sure do like it and yours are very well done.Eustace wrote:This is my contraption. I had an old broken fork and a piece of horn, and I thought about what I could do. Free style.doglegg wrote:You do great work Eustace. Does the antler handled table ware have a name? Is it a particular style?Eustace wrote:New handle of Old Bulgarian...fork
- Eustace
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Renovation and new handle of a Bulgarian shepherd's knife from the end of the 19th century. It is forged by the San Mai method or as it is known in the Balkans "damar-chelik". The rough handle with a "dirty" look is a sought-after effect. 
- orvet
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Nice work!!
I like the rustic look, it is nice with the old blade!
Well done!
I like the rustic look, it is nice with the old blade!
Well done!
Dale
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- Eustace
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Thank you, Dale!
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doglegg
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Eustace, glad to see you back in the shop. That one turned out good. The handle is perfect for that blade. 
- Eustace
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Thank you, Floyd!
- Sharpnshinyknives
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Eustace, nice work. I’m curious, what would they use that knife for?
SSk Mark
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- Eustace
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Sharpnshinyknives wrote: ↑Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:32 pm Eustace, nice work. I’m curious, what would they use that knife for?
Now we could call it multi purpose outdoor knife. Its use is associated with the way of life of Bulgarian shepherds for hundreds of years. Most of them were wealthy people with nice houses in Bulgarian villages, but they actually spent 9 months a year in the open air. The sheep graze from early spring to late autumn in the mountain pastures and only in winter they are harvested in the sheepfolds. 3-4 shepherds and several shepherd dogs guard the sheep. 2-3 times a month someone goes down with a donkey to the nearest settlement for flour and onions.
So, the use of the knife is for everything - To cut branches for shelter or fire, to slaughter a sick sheep or to cut bread, To defend against thieves, wolves or bears.
I have seen many such knives. The length can be 35-50 cm, but the shape of the blade is very typical. The thickness of the blade is usually about 8-10 mm at the base and gradually tapers towards the tip. Convex grind, unlike a yatagan, which has the same shape. The shape of the yatagan is borrowed from the shepherd's knife (most janissaries are of Bulgarian origin), but unlike it the yatagan is designed to be only a weapon and therefore has the typical hollow "T" grind.
- Sharpnshinyknives
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Re: Old Bulgarian knife
Thank you Eustace, I would not have guessed that blade was that thick. I figured it was likely a defensive knife and being that thick you could cut brush with it too.
Interesting connection with the janissaries, I have read about them in quite a few of my history books.
Interesting connection with the janissaries, I have read about them in quite a few of my history books.
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