Cutting edge of shop class
Knife-making a popular addition to Rankin class
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
An industrial arts (shop) program remained a sharp choice for a number of students at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI), as it concluded its third year this past week in Rankin Inlet.
Darren Saumik displays the result of his knife-making course at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo
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The knife-making course was introduced by shop teacher Kyle Johnston in 2013.
This year's program saw 32 students complete their knives, many of which were given to relatives as a gift.
Johnston said a number of students are taking shop right now just so they can make a knife.
He said there are other students drawn to the knife-making program who don't normally attend school regularly.
"We start with blank, one-eighth thick 440 C-grade stainless steel," said Johnston.
"The students draw the designs of how they want their knives to look, and everything's cut-out and filed by hand.
"The program is open to senior students in grades 10 to 12, who start their knives in January and usually finish right around the end of May.
"This year, we had 34 of 72 shop students opt to make knives."
The knife-making program has been highly successful, boasting a completion rate of more than 90 per cent during the past three years.
Johnston said the students really try to bring a personal touch to their knives, many of which have their family name etched on the blade.
He said they also make statements of personal style with the cases they make to house the knives.
"They choose the colour of the case, and they also select the style of the case and the handle material of the knife.
"It's a really personalized project.
"Most of the knives are given to the students' dads or grandfathers as a gift, or, in the case of the female students, they're given to a boyfriend or family member."
The knives are meant to be used and they're extremely sharp when completed.
The MUI program has an outstanding track record of safety to date, with no notable accidents having taken place during the making of the knives.
Johnston said there's never been a stitch required during the knife-making program.
In fact, he said, there's never been a serious injury at all during his six years of running the shop program at MUI.
"These are 100 per cent hunting knives.
"The students aren't allowed to make a dagger or a throwing knife.
"It has to be a drop-point skinner.
"It's a knife made to skin animals with."
Each knife costs about $80 for a student to make, which could be perceived as a nice bargain when compared to programs that see students make a qamutiik, a qamutiik box or an ulu.
Johnston said he would like to continue the knife-making program in coming years.
He said he will often have 17 to 25 students in the shop working on their knives and they will be all business.
"I often come in at the start of the class and everyone is already here, sitting down at their own little bench or vice, and working away with their shop coats on.
"You can hear the radio playing quietly and clearly in the room because they're all very, very into their knife making.
"The students take this program very, very seriously.
"It's exciting to run a program like this when you see the students show so much ambition while working on their projects."
