Handmade fixed knives from the "Waldviertel".
Nothing works without coffee and a pipe.
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Design of blade shape and handle.
The Adventure begins
Each blade is forged by hand with little mechanical assistance, hardened and finished to the final knife.
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I make only fixed knives from various steels. On the one hand rustic knives, often with partly still visible forging skin. On the other hand, noble semi-integrals, depending on the steel with Japanese hardening line "Hamon" or Damascus pattern.
The starting materials are round steel, square steel or often old steel such as car springs, old files and rasps.
The blade is largely forged to final shape, ground on the belt grinder, hardened in the hardening furnace and then tempered according to the intended use.
The parry element/jaws and handle are adjusted. Finally, a leather sheath adapted to the knife is sewn.
I mainly process traditional, non-stainless steels:
• Pure carbon steels such as C 60 to C 105
• Low alloy tool steels such as 1.2510, 1.2833, 1.2842
• Nickel steel 1.2767, 1.5634
• Scrap steels
They offer them a very fine dense cutting edge, which can be stripped or resharpened with simple means if necessary.
By the way, with a little care, these steels do not rust so quickly. However, they can become discolored or stained when they come into contact with fruit acids, mustard or vinegar.
I work with natural materials, i.e. native and exotic woods, deer or buffalo horn and animal bones, mammoth ivory or tooth, and hybrid materials (stabilized wood or mix of wood with colored resin, micarta, etc.).
I use vegetable tanned leather (also used for my handmade belts) which is dyed, hallmarked and hand sewn with waxed thread.
For kitchen knives a wooden sheath or cassette is made.
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From hobby to second profession - a short portrait:
My name is Andreas J. Mandel, I was born in Vienna in 1962.
After completing my HTL education as a chemist, I worked in the chemical industry for 10 years. Since 2001 I have been a freelance appraiser.
Already at the age of 18, knives were fitted with new handles and rebuilt by me. The passion for knives developed continuously and about 25 years ago I built the first knives from knife steel. This finally led me 10 years ago to the forging of blades and the production of "sharp unique pieces" (Scharfe Unikaten) from one hand (blade, handle, mounts, sheath). Since 2015 I have the appropriate trade license and offer my "sharp unique pieces" (Scharfe Unikate) officially.
I live in the lovely "Waldviertel", where my workshop and forge are located. There I can indulge in my hobby profession and create my "sharp unique pieces" (Scharfe Unikaten).
If you still have questions, you can contact me directly here.
