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’s a tough blade. There’s hardly a mark on it.
“I make my knives so they’ll stand up to being used,” he said.
Lozinski, who’s based in Regina, is a self-described “knife maker.” He started the craft last summer, but he’s 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.
“I discovered what hard steel it is,” 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.
“At Christmas time, I sold quite a few,” he said.
It’s a long process. Lozinksi torches a spring and pounds it on an anvil, straightening it out. Sometimes it breaks and he’s 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’s non-magnetic and soaks it in oil.
For the handle, Lozinksi usually works with wood or antlers.
“Deer antler handles can be very hard to split exactly straight,” he said.
Once Lozinksi inserts the blade into the handle, his work is done.
“They’re ready to work,” he said.
Lozinski draws his inspiration from early pioneers who crafted knives out of their traps.
“Out in the wilderness [at that time], only two things were made out of tempered steel: Your rifle and traps,” he said. “If you lost your main knife...you either made [one] out of a trap spring or you did without.”
Lozinksi discussed his methods and collection with passersby at the gun show. He showed passion for his work. His poster said it all: “This is all a very time consuming process, but the final product is meant to last a lifetime.”
