ALL STARTED AS A HOBBY

Most of my hobbies involve using my hands to make things. Sailboat building was very demanding and yet very fulfilling. It was pure coincidence that I received a present of hand made knife with hand-forged blade from the Agricultural museum, the sheat of which fell to pieces a short time while after I began to use it. The person who was responsible for the knives at the museum was the late Åsemund Eknes (died 25.7.1981) helped me to contact Alf Magne Tverrstøl who was a student at the Norwegian School of Business.

He had written a detailed list of all blade smiths, sheat makers, and knife collectors in the whole of south of Norway. Through this list I was able to find a person who was able to make a new sheat for my knife. I experienced an evening toghether with one of the most well-known knife makers in the area known as Telemark, and was so impressed that I changed hobbies immediately!

In the late 1970's there were no books about knife making and there were no organised courses as there are today. In addition there was no real "knife environment" in Oslo. At the Norwegian Museum of Agriculture there were an amount of old knives that became the topic of my own study. My contacts at the museum enabled me to study the knives and 2 years later I sat on the Lawn outside the museum and made knives during the Nordic Hunting and Fishing Exhibitions in 1981 and 1982.

KNIVES BECAME POPULAR

In 1982 the interest for knives had grown to such an extent that I came up with the Idea to form the "Sheath Knives Friends" I still had the information I had received from Mr. Tverrstøl and this was used to contact other knife makers.

The question that went out in the letter was simple " Do you want to come to the Nordic knife makers meeting?"

I the course of 1983 I had collected a huge amount of information which I sent to the Agricultural Museum.  The information was considered at the museum and in 1984 the Norwegian Knife makers Association was formed in Elverum Norway.

My company " KNIVMAKERIET FGH was registered in 1986 and I became a professional knife maker.

I made knives, jewellery, belts, leather bags, and held knife-making courses.  FGH are my initials and are a registration mark for gold, silver and platinum products. The mark is used as a stamp on all silverware, as well as a logo on areas where marking is appropriate.

THE ANNIVERSARY

When I started out in 1980 there was no literature, any school or workshop on how to make knives. Therefore, the only way to learn this craft was through observing a local knifemaker or by trial and error. With no knowledge of the former, my "school" became that of self-teaching.

Since then, my total production of knives totals approx. 1000 of which 800 are numbered. My first numbered knife (1982) was exhibited at the The Norwegian Forest Museum's Knifeshow in 1983.

My work comprises 96 self-designed models. My work is original, although my inspiration is drawn from older and traditional knives. My specialty are knives designed for national costumes. The decorating elements are taken from these costumes' embroidery and silver jewellery.

Most of my customers are Norwegian, however I do receive orders from Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Austria, Italy, Oman and the US.

CERTIFICATE THAT FOLLOWS EACH KNIFE.

From 1982 I began to number the knives that I made, and mark them with the initials FGH.  

A certificate accompanies each knife, and this guarantees workmanship and carries a description of the knife.  All knives are documented  in a log and are photographed.

THE SPECIAL

           I have developed a surface treatment on the shaft that I call the "multi colour" technique. The colouring of the shaft is combined with oil treatment. This gives a special structure in the woods own gain and provides a shaft that is totally maintenance free.

SILVER RELIEF PATTERNING

On jewellery I build up a pattern in silver relief.  The knives that accompany the Norwegian national costume (called a Bunad) are very satisfying to complete.  Here the pattern made in silver harmonises with the embroidery and borders found on the clothing and form a bridge that connects tradition and culture together.

MORE ABOUT SILVER

On an amount of knives for the national costume of Norway I use a technique called filigree. This technique is carried out on all silver items both on the sheath and on the shaft of the knife.

REFERENCES

· Engaged by the Norwegian Museum of Agriculture as sheath                 maker during the display.  "Knives for handwork" 1983

· Chosen to take place in the cultural program for the 17th Winter                 Olympics Lillehammer 1994, where silverwork was given a quality                 mark by Norges Husflidslags (a Norwegian Organisation that                 specializes in high quality handcraft.

· Represented Norway with one of my handmade knives in Paris                1994 (Musee National Des Arts et Traditions Populaires)

· Registered in the craftsmanship register of Scandinavian                 collections

· Served as a member of Use Art Association in 1995.

· Registered in the Norwegian craftsman register and partook in the                 permanent display in Vestbanen, Oslo.