- IMG 3094
Steph's knife in progress - IMG 3090
Steph uses a rasp to shape his knife handle - IMG 3089
Craig uses a rasp to shape his knife handle - IMG 3086
Suited up and ready to work - IMG 3082
Before: Craig's knife (left) and Steph's (right) Palli led us into the back room of the workshop, where there was a large work bench with vises along the perimeter. We each put on an apron and Palli directed our attention to a selection of "blanks" to choose from. These were knife blades embedded in blocks of wood with animal horn hilts and butts. These are materials that have been available since Viking times, and we would be using hand tools to shape the knife handles, and sewing sheaths out of cowhide. Our finished products would be timeless souvenirs, hence the marketing of this as a "Viking Knife Making Workshop." All of the blanks had the potential to be beautiful. We made sure to choose different wood so that we would be able to easily tell our knives apart. Craig chose mountain ash with a reindeer horn hilt and sheep horn butt. It had a very interesting multi-colored grain. I chose walnut with reindeer horn hilt and butt. I don't usually gravitate toward dark wood, and I think that is why I chose it; trying to branch out a bit. - IMG 3174
While planning our Iceland trip, we found a great web site called Creative Iceland, which sets tourists up with local experts / artisans for various creative endeavors. We really liked the sound of the "Viking Knife Making Workshop" in a suburb of Reykjavik, where you spend 6 hours with a master craftsman carving and shaping a knife handle from wood and animal horn and sewing a leather sheath for it. What a great way to get into the local culture, and to have a truly unique souvenir to take home! So we had inquired about availability and booked a private workshop for our last full day in Iceland. The hotel had booked a taxi for us last night, and it was set to arrive at 9:10 a.m. to pick us up. After breakfast, the taxi arrived a few minutes early. We had a pleasant ride ~25 minutes out of the city to Knifemaker Palli's home in Mosfellsbær. - IMG 3078
Dessert at Icelandic Fish and Chips: skyr with chunks of chocolate, slices of banana, and peanuts. - IMG 3074
Dinner at Icelandic Fish and Chips - IMG 3077
Dinner at Icelandic Fish and Chips Sporting my Kattakaffihúsið shirt - IMG 3071
Dinner at Icelandic Fish and Chips - IMG 3060
Secret Lagoon - IMG 3059
Secret Lagoon - IMG 3044
Snowmobile base camp - IMG 3042
Craig gets a turn to drive the snowmobile - IMG 3040
Fun in the snow