Hollow Iron

A few years ago, while working in Norway, I found an old book about the Saami in a second hand book shop.

The text was in Swedish I think (I’m not good with languages.) but there were lots of fascinating illustrations so I bought the book and learned what I could from the pictures.

Recently I worked out that it was called “People of Eight Seasons” by Ernst Manker and I managed to find a copy in English.

A couple of the illustrations that caught my eye were of a tool called a “Holkjärn” in Swedish and translated as “Hollow Iron” in my English copy.

It seemed like a great tool for the deep bowl carving required to make a kuksa or ladle.

So I asked Dave Budd, a talented blacksmith and blade maker I know, if he could make something like the blade and I hafted it with a suitably shaped piece of antler to see how it would work.

While I am the first to admit that woodworking skills are not one of my strong points, I was very impressed with this tool and what it could do even in my unskilled hands.

When I actually get the hang of it and produce something worth showing I’ll be sure to let you know.

Bushcraft and wilderness skills should always be practised with respect for the environment and other users of the outdoors. Leave No Trace.

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