Everything Under the Moon

Has anyone made their own athame? And has anyone made the blade out of deer antler? I have this piece of straight deer antler (that was shed & not from an animal that was shot of course!) that's abot a foot long & if carved properly would made an awesome athame blade.

I'm unsure how to tackle shaping it. I was told by someone that it could be bleached & that would soften it enough to be shaped easier, but I don't like the idea of doing that to it. It would destroy the energy.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

well whats wrong with leaving it the way it is? it would still look nice me thinks

LOL...cause I'm a perfectionist! Hahahaa
Seriously though, it does need to be shaped.

I don't know about shaping it into a blade, though I think you could carve it if you were careful, it's really just bone.

My father in law took the plastic handle off a butcher knife (about 10" blade) and has attached a deer antler instead. He cut it in half and put the metal handle between them, I'm not sure how he bound it. Even cooler, the antler he used has a tine in the right place that allows him to set the athame so it's standing up like a picture frame.

i like natures imperfections. and antler is usually pretty well formed but whatever floats your boat i suppose, i hope you suceed because it would be ashame to waste such a thing.

take a small tree branch,carve a handle,carve a dull point, glue a sharp quartz crystal to the end.

Ah you're more of a wand person, then.

I actually have a reaaly nice wand with crystals & feathers etc. But I love athames.

I've met a few people who have forged their own and I've always been in terribly envious. I don't have a crafty bone in my body, so smithing my own is impossible even if I had or could borrow the tools. I'd probably come out of it with third degree burns

Recently I came across a page on a UK site where they were selling stone bladed athames. They were quite lovely and I suspect they were ground into shape from river rocks. I also know that there are sites that sell knapped flint blades and they might be suitable for an athame. I've also seen wood athames but I honestly am not certain what really separates them from wands other than name.

I'm still searching for an athame. Guess I'm just fussy!

Hearthwitch.

I also have a single deer antler that i found on a hike, i never thought of using it that way...it just sits on my shelf, thanks for the wonderful idea, i will have to keep an eye on the topic and see wich plan seems the most effect.

thank again
Karen

Just a question..do you know how to cast metal? We can cast at my school, it may help in making either the handle or the blade. If you can't then I will have to get back on another idea!

:!: Try a planer (a carpentry tool). You can get them really cheap at Home Depot. I got a small one that fits in the palm of my hand under $10. It has a blade underneath that you use to shave off what you want little by little creating a smooth side. Upside is the hardwork gives you a great upper body workout. Other idea if you have access to a drill is they have attachments that can go on. You can get a stiff piece of sandpaper attachment to sand it down. Good Luck.