ZOOM Meeting Time: October 30, 11am Central Time

~~REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED~~

The crooked knife, also known as the mocataugan, has an important place in the history of North American woodworking. Essentially a one handed drawknife, this ingenious and highly efficient tool was commonly used by indigenous people of the Eastern Seaboard and Great Lakes Region for making snowshoes, birch bark canoes, and more.

Join Jarrod as he shares the history of this tool and his experiences with using the knife for woodworking projects including birch bark canoes, ash baskets and snowshoes. He will share photos of various designs, discuss their nuances, and give a demonstration of how to carve with the tool while explaining what he has learned about the knife’s design. He will also talk through the steps for forging your own crooked knife blade and how to fit the handle to its user. This talk is perfect for someone who wants to make their own crooked knife or has carved with them before.

A limited number of finished tools, as well as blades and handle stock will be available for purchase on our shop page.

There will be time to answer questions after the presentation.

This Zoom presentation is FREE, with a suggested donation of $5-10.

DONATE HERE

Click {Add to Cart} below and check out through your cart as normal. You must receive an email confirmation to be registered—if you didn’t get one you are not registered.

You will receive an email invitation to the Zoom lecture 1 hour before the presentation, sent to the email you submit during registration.

Click here to view the References for The Crooked Knife Presentation.pdf

Directions on How to Put a Handle on a Crooked Knife Blade.

JARROD DAHL is a full-time craftsperson, teacher, and writer who has worked with wood professionally since 1996. With his wife Jazmin, Jarrod designs, makes, and sells woodenware for their online business Woodspirit Handcraft. He specializes in turning cups, handled mugs, bowls, plates, and lidded boxes, using a foot-powered pole lathe, a Japanese-style electric lathe, and a Western electric lathe. He carves a wide variety of cooking and eating utensils with axe and knife. Research at archives and museums informs his designs. Jarrod is also a tool maker and hand forges knives and other carving and woodworking tools.

He teaches handcraft nationally and internationally including at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, North House Folk School, Port Townsend School of Woodworking, Greenwood Guild London, Plymouth CRAFT, and Gifu Forest Academy, Japan. He participates in international exchange by teaching and studying abroad, as well as training craftspeople in his own shop.

Jarrod has extensive knowledge of harvesting and processing natural materials and the making and use of hand tools. He has a deep philosophical, historical and pragmatic approach to making, teaching, and advocating for handcraft.

Jarrod writes a blog, and has written for Popular Woodworking and Mortise & Tenon Magazines. He made two DVDs, The Art of Spoon Carving and One Tree about green woodworking recorded in Japan. He also has a forthcoming book with Lost Art Press on Spring Pole Lathe Turning. He lives in Northern Wisconsin. www.woodspirithandcraft.com instagram: @jarrod__dahl and @woodspirithandcraft YouTube: Jarrod Dahl