Joe Lozinski is a trapper and a hunter, activities that require a lot of time and patience. When he bags a deer, he uses his personal knife to split the brisket. It鈥檚 a tough blade. There鈥檚 hardly a mark on it.
鈥淚 make my knives so they鈥檒l stand up to being used,鈥� he said.
Lozinski, who鈥檚 based in Regina, is a self-described 鈥渒nife maker.鈥� He started the craft last summer, but he鈥檚 already created over 20 blades. He brought his varied arsenal to the Yorkton Gun and Collectables Show last weekend.
Years ago, Lozinski had to replace several springs in his older traps. He thought it would be a five-minute task until he started working with the material.
鈥淚 discovered what hard steel it is,鈥� he said.
Recently, Lozinksi retired from his regular job. With all his new free time, he decided to make a knife. Remembering his experience with traps, he constructed the blade out of an old spring.
When his friends saw the finished product, they asked if he could make them one. Lozinksi obliged and his work has snowballed from there.
鈥淎t Christmas time, I sold quite a few,鈥� he said.
It鈥檚 a long process. Lozinksi torches a spring and pounds it on an anvil, straightening it out. Sometimes it breaks and he鈥檚 forced to start over.
He cuts the spring into the shape he wants and drills holes for the handle. Finally he heats the blade in his forge until it鈥檚 non-magnetic and soaks it in oil.
For the handle, Lozinksi usually works with wood or antlers.
鈥淒eer antler handles can be very hard to split exactly straight,鈥� he said.
Once Lozinksi inserts the blade into the handle, his work is done.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e ready to work,鈥� he said.
Lozinski draws his inspiration from early pioneers who crafted knives out of their traps.
鈥淥ut in the wilderness [at that time], only two things were made out of tempered steel: Your rifle and traps,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you lost your main knife...you either made [one] out of a trap spring or you did without.鈥�
Lozinksi discussed his methods and collection with passersby at the gun show. He showed passion for his work. His poster said it all: 鈥淭his is all a very time consuming process, but the final product is meant to last a lifetime.鈥�
